This 1970 Barracuda convertible started life with a Slant-Six engine and 3-speed manual and has been restored to look like a ‘Cuda with AAR stripes and a 472 cubic inch Hemi. You couldn’t get Chrysler to build this car for you when new, so it’s an automobile that is one of none. It’s a beautiful red-on-white drop-top that looks like no effort or expense was spared in pulling it together. Located in Portland, Oregon, it’s available through a dealer here on eBay for $95,000. Thanks, Barn Finder Marty, for the heads-up on this unusual set of wheels.
Although the graphics in the AAR stripes say 426, the Hemi under the bonnet now is a later 472. The seller provides a litany of details as to what was done mechanically to the Plymouth to get it to its current state. The result is an engine that produces 576 hp with 545 foot-pounds of torque. The level of detail here looks like this motor and all its trappings were there from the get-go. Add to this an A833 4-speed manual transmission that shifts as it should through a NOS pistol grip and a new clutch and flywheel. Completing the drivetrain equation is an 8 ¾ rear end with a 489-center section with Sure Grip and 3.23 gears.
This big powerplant breathes through two 4-barrel carburetors using a 6-barrel air cleaner. One thing that the transformation didn’t include are power-assisted brakes, so you’ll have to lean on the pedal to bring the 576 horses back down to Earth. At least it has power steering and a front end that was beefed up for the weight change from the 225 I-6 to the heavy Hemi. Since all the work was completed, just over 3,000 miles have been added to the odometer reading.
We’re told the donor Barracuda used for the transformation was a rust-free car on which a quality red paint scheme was applied with white AAR strobe stripes. Instead of the AAR logo from that limited edition of the Barracuda, the “426 Hemi” script was used instead. The satin black accents on the hood, door tops, grill, tail panel, and spoilers are all freshly applied, and the fiberglass AAR hood was adjusted to fit properly. Period-correct Rallye wheels are on all four corners, with wider examples outback with Goodyear Polyglas tires all around.
I’ve never seen a ‘Cuda with a red dashboard and carpeting surrounding white leather upholstery and door panels. The white top and tonneau cover both look to be in great shape. The rally gauge cluster has been rebuilt and it’s all said to be in perfect working order. If there had been an AAR Hemi ‘Cuda in convertible form built-in 1970, is there any reason to think this isn’t what it would have looked like perform like? And if you wanted to replicate this car today, given what basket-case Barracudas go for now, could you get the job done for less money than you’d spend buying this car instead?
🎵Blinded by the ‘White’ 🎶🎶🎶
Love the look of this one BUT
Try keeping those seats and door trims clean !
And guaranteed to burn the nice lady’s thighs, after 30 min parked in the summer sun.
This looks silly with the pseudo AAR strobes and mismatched interior to any serious mopar fan.
This is no where near stock so why not invest some cash for a good set of disc brakes all around? And while you are at it, a modern suspension. At least all convertible bodies came with torque reinforcements, else they would probably otherwise have never been considered.
Could be a turned into a really nice restomod by a knowledgeable person. Just isn’t “finished” now.
And power brakes too, and I certainly hope they strengthened the body if this was not originally a convertible. 95k for a car that seriously needs work is too much.
Yeah, JohnfromSC, this guy is now where near a knowledgeable person, is he….right? Not a lot of car guys on BF.
One of zero? Many re$ource$ went into building this vehicle to make it just another make-believe ‘Cuda … OK another make-believe AAR ‘Cuda but a convertible this time. To a MOPAR enthusiast wouldn’t a 1970 slant-six, three-on-the-tree Barracuda convertible be more desirable than a $95k poser like this?
I’m not sure of that but I’d figure that most Barracuda ragtops were 318 or 340 and Torqueflite, not that many takers in the day for a “Prices Starting At” convertible.
I think the 340 would make it a ‘cuda. Only S6, 318, and 383 2v in Barracuda in 70.
I knew all this was coming as soon as I saw the photo ! C’mon guys what is happening to the old car hobby ? Your pickin all the fun out of it. This is a cool car. Leave it at that !
I beg to differ with you, Chester. I think that, like so many things, mass media and changing perceptions are the root cause here. Think about it…
Before “American Pickers”, people threw things away or yard sold them when they’d outlived their usefulness. Now EVERYTHING is somehow a “collectible”, causing people to become hoarders. Ask your local EMS department what that’s led to.
In the pre-Internet era there was nothing to compare the value of your “treasures” to so we got bargains. The prices people are paying sets the market, not the other way around. Nobody *needs* a Hemicuda, Lionel trains, or a Browning Golden Eagle, but they frantically outbid one another because they absolutely *have* to have it!
When people restore things and then sell them they have to at least try to recoup the value of their work.
Politics has no place at a flea market. It boils down to this: how badly do you want it (for the prospective buyer) and do I want to sell it or have to take it home (for the seller)?
When I sell at a hamfest I tell them to make me an offer I won’t refuse. Everyone knows what stuff is worth. But…
Years ago I was selling a set of Heathkit Twins and this kid, maybe 12 years old, kept coming around. He seemed to be knowledgeable, so when he came back as I was prepared to leave I asked him how much money he had. He was a bit short, but I didn’t want to bring them home, so the look on his face when I said “take ’em” I’ll never forget.
He came back with his dad, who said “You don’t have to do this”, and I smiled and said ” Yes, I do”.
Many many years ago at Carlisle, PA there was a ‘70 red Cuda convertible decked out like an AAR with a 340-6 barrel that was originally a slant 6 converted in the car corral for $10k. The seller indicated everything was done correctly but I didn’t bite then although it was a very nice car.
I don’t mind this except for the white. It just doesn’t go with the rest of the car. Black would have been a far better choice.
In your opinion, am I right? And we all know what they say about opinions…..everybody’s got one, and usually, they stink. You guys pick on this, for one reason….you can’t afford the wheels. Knock it off…this is a car lover’s place, not a place for thumb sucking whiners.
I don’t understand all this work and no power brakes. I think building a phantom convertible is cool. It was this guy’s idea of the perfect Cuda. Is it my idea? Maybe not but that is hot rodding. You could do donuts in this thing and not worry about ruining the economy if ya break something. Come on guys, have some fun.
If you’re not building a car for go, or driving at 10/10ths, then manual brakes are just fine. Even on older cars with the single circuit brake systems, since those cars aren’t going to be exposed to a corrosive environment those systems are just fine as well.
This generation of E-body was designed with the 426 Hemi in mind. All of the correct parts needed are readily available today. Assuming that the builder used all of the correct factory parts, then there is no logical reason to believe that this car won’t operate as well as a car that you could have bought from a dealer in 1970. And that car came with a 5 year/50,000 mile warranty.
On the other hand, a phone call and a few hours of work is all it takes to install the factory correct vacuum booster and master cylinder for a power brake upgrade.
The original configuration was quite a unicorn. I don’t mind doing this to a mass market 318, but here a restoration to factory specs would have more value to my eyes. Base cars have a honesty to them.
Yeah, Blueprint…..and this is just plain dishonest….they guys obviously a crook, right, Blueprint? You need to go get an eye exam from what you’ve said here. Sheesh….
Robert, you have been slinging mud at the BF commentators, instead of commenting on the car….
How ‘s things at home mate, a bit bit of unresolved issues there ?
The white interior IMO would be a bear to keep clean, but it looks to be well done as well as the exterior. IMO if it was done closer to a real AAR it would be more attractive to more people. Whether a Z-28, a GT350 or AAR the small block engine helps keep the car nimble and fun to drive on the street. Though the Hemi install looks to be handled well I wonder how this one would drive on the street? To me this looks to be a an attempted drag car, I’m sure it can accelerate well on the strip but how does it handle on the streets and highways, which is where a car like this would spend most of it’s time, assuming it’s put on the street?
I’ve seen this car at a car show a couple years back and have met the owner. He is a car guy and really likes this car. Dunno why he is selling it but it sounds awesome and is a runner. Seen him do a burnout with it. I’d love to have it.
Looks like a real beast in every way, but if I saw the AAR graphics from a distance I’m thinking 340, not 426.
Don’t care either, its a cool car that hauls _ss, draws plenty of smiles (maybe not on this site), without worry of destroying an original rare big dollar Hemicuda.
Its one word….Hemicuda….yikes!
The stripes and white interior make it look like what we used to call a “secretary’s car.”
I like this, very nice but the white interior is not for me.
Sure looks nice too me
OK, AAR stripes were the builder’s choice. But could they have at least put them on straight? Looks like they were homemade. The white seats, red dash, black hood, red body, white stripes just doesn’t work for me.
All red, shaker. Red with White bilboards. AAR clone with black stripes and insides, ok.
I don’t mind the colors here, which may polarize some. I figure anyone who drives around in a ‘Cuda convertible doesn’t mind calling attention to themselves. This may sound petty, but my real objection to the way they went with the design on this car is that it seems confused. I would rather see either a true AAR tribute or a true Hemicuda tribute. Either way you would have a restomod you could drive the wheels off without worrying about destroying a piece of history. But as a Mopar enthusiast, I just say please… pick just one icon to copy.
A white interior is one of the most inviting interiors a car can have. I’ve owned several, and they were always a favorite. Yes, a bit harder to keep clean, but this would never be a daily driver, so who cares? Black interiors seem to be the ‘go-to’ for many restorers/rebuilders. Color matching isn’t a problem, and black goes with most anything. The problem is that black interiors always give an interior a ‘cave’ feeling, particularly on a coupe with a black h/l as well. Boring and depressing is my take on black interiors. My present collector car has a black interior since that’s how it was built, and it’s a perfect, original in all respects, 56 year old factory interior. I would like the car’s appearance much more if it had a matching blue or a white interior (both were available), but it is what it is. This Cuda looks so much better w/a white interior than it would with a black one (IMHO).