Prowl was indeed a 280ZX police car in the original cartoon, later changed to a Lambo Diablo. It was changed to a decepticon called called barricade that transforms into a Saleen S281 for the movie for the 'subversive nature' of a baddie police car.
Yeah thats him. there is a car that looks like that parked up in a chase scene in the film. Did any one else notice it? It was on screen for only a fraction of a second.