The Plymouth Barracuda was redesigned for 1970 and lost its six-year lineage with the Valiant compact. Public response was favorable as sales improved by 50% over the prior year. That included the ‘Cuda performance editions that could be equipped with some big-time powerplants, like the 426 Hemi. More popular were those equipped with the 340 small-block V8 like in the seller’s car. This one, located in Middletown, Delaware, is finished in EK2 Vitamin C paint, one of Plymouth’s Hi-Impact colors. It’s available here on eBay where you’ll need to break open the piggy bank as bidding has reached an even $100,000 so far.
Two words not used by the seller are “restoration” and “numbers matching” except when referring to the 4-speed manual transmission. So, the motor may not be original to the car. The 340 was a great combination in these autos as it made for a better handling machine due to less weight over the front suspension. A Govier Report on the ‘Cuda details how it was equipped, including the A31 391 rear-axle package.
This ‘Cuda has only 57,000 reported miles, so there’s a good chance that the drivetrain hasn’t been gone through (the seller makes no mention either way). ‘Cuda convertibles were a rare breed at 547 copies for 1970, but those with the 340 and a 4-speed numbered just 88. Of that, just 19 had the A31 axle and only 23 convertibles overall wore this shade of orange paint, which was redone here last year. At that time, a new shaker hood and bubble were added, along with an OE elastomeric front bumper and black stripes.
The interior compartment looks spotless with no mention of it having been refreshed after more than 50 years. A more recent Blue-Tooth actuated stereo sound system resides in the dashboard. The car has a set of 15” Rallye wheels with correct Goodyear Polyglas GT F60 tires on all four corners. These Plymouths command big bucks these days and this ‘Cuda should be no exception, even if the engine may not be numbers matching.
Beautiful car!
Yes, but 100K? You would be better off in the long run buying a new Dynacorn body and putting together a brand new car with modern engine and suspension components. That is the best of both worlds, plus a driver that you are not afraid to drive. This is just going to go into some rich guys vast collection, BFD. I am so tired of the 1% hoarding cars and driving up prices for the rest of us.
Good luck with that, even someone that’s part of the 1% can’t build one of these from scratch since Dynacorn doesn’t make Cuda bodies.
Steve R
I think most people would settle for a Challenger body, close enough if you ask me. Of course, they only make 1970 bodies, and we all know the 1971s were by far more attractive. Oh well. Of course, a 1%er could have a Cuda body 3D printed or something, after all, its just money. Not like it could be used for anything better, right?
Wow. Envy much?
100 K for a not numbers matching repainted not original Plymouth with 1970’s build quality . Nice color , though .
So why does a car with only 57298 miles on it need a NEW / REMAN engine, New Paint, New. Hood, New Shaker (BUBBLE), New Stripe Kit. New Bumper. MAYBE JUST MAYBE IT WAS BUMPED IN THE FRONT. At least it’s NOT a YELLOW PUZZLE BUT FOR $100,000.00 Someone needs to ask a lot of questions and see what the answers are.
Beautiful car and to me worth every penny because this car has a soul. These cars talk back to you with those 1970’s squeaks and rattles… the ones that the newer generation car owners complain about. A friend of mine just sold his newer Vette because it was too perfect. He never really enjoyed driving the car. He’s back in another ’65 again…I understood. It’s a boomer thing I suppose.
Oh yes, I remember cutting up old socks and sticking them in my dash board to try to get rid of rattles and squeaks back in those days. Oh yes, such pleasant memories. Modern cars are a Godsend. Great MPG, reliable, comfortable, more power, and they last 200K miles and then some if you buy the right ones and give them a little love along the way. Boomers should try to live in the present, it isn’t all bad ya know. I recall some very unpleasant times in my youth, many of us do. Today is not so bad.
This car has it all; scarcity, beauty, and that glorious 340.
Beautiful car . Tooo rich for my crib. For that cash I would want to put a down payment on a “Original Batmobile”
Or a reproduction “Batmobile” Woooooooo 100k on a beautiful car not for me .Someone will buy it
Gary, buy it for $100,000. and resell it for less so someone with no money can buy it for less if you truly cared.
Also, did you buy one years ago and save it as you drove it for someone else, or as an investment?
Neither did I.
I bought the 1969 Daytona’s.
E bodies were too small for me. And my wife’s new cars today she buys are electronic crap. Her backup camera made her stupid. She has had two minor backup incidents because she did not use the side mirrors.
All the airbags on a vehicle today will not fix the airbag driving them.
P S, her new car seat bolsters are so damn uncomfortable.
There’s more, but todays millennials have a short attention span
Joe, I am with almost 100% certainly that this car wasn’t bought in our day and saved for an investment by a savvy person. This car was used and abused by many different owners, younger as they go. Eventually it ended up in a corner of a building or maybe as an outdoor eyesore for years. Then it had an expensive restoration. Do I like it? Of course, but is it worth that kind of money? I stand by my comment that only someone who doesn’t work like you and I do for their money can and will own this. If you really are my age, then you remember the country we once lived in and how much it has changed for the worse, at least as far as economics for the average man goes. And Chris, word is not envy, it is lament. Wouldn’t it be nice if these cars were still reasonably priced so the people of my generation who have an emotional (not economic) connection could afford them? I understand capitalism, and in almost all cases it is a good system, but when it becomes so lopsided, it causes many problems and heartache.
We haven’t had true free market capitalism for many decades. We have govt directed cronyism now, which as several commenters have explained above it has made things worse for the average American. We need more free markets, less cronyism
Check out the Seller’s other offering, a ’70 AAR Cuda 340 four-speed.
The 70 AAR Cuda is a much faster car and more to my liking. But I can not afford that car either.
These cars are still affordable, they’re called Hot Wheels, LOL. I’m a Boomer from right in the middle, 1957. I even bought a 57 Chevy convertible for $900 once. I work for my $, do a little buying and selling to help support my car addiction, (I’m a flipper, oh no!) and think it’s a little sad that prices are so high, but no BFD. There is a help line for the big crybabies who think rich people are so evil, call 1-800-WAA-AAAH!
I just saw a 70 Cuda convertible for $28k, a 6 cylinder go figure, I think I submitted it to BF, too rich for my blood but not boohooing about it.
Does this car make me look wealthy? As they say in Russia, tough shytski.
What did I miss that makes it 1 of 19? I don’t see anything special especially for 100k
Very nice, great color.
joe
Thank you for the laugh
All the airbags on a vehicle today will not fix the airbag driving them.
it’s worth what someone will give for it. forget the price
beautiful car, love the color,
4sp I would rather eat worms than driving a automatic. quit whining, if you ain’t buying.
no reply needed. great car.
1 of 19 , and then the guy puts stuff on the car that it didn’t come with originally ? for that kind or rarity and for that kind of money spent , I think I could live with a chrome bumper and a non shaker hood .
I guess if you have $100k left over from a powerball win ticket or some crypto cash that one made 50,000% on, then blow it on this. But I owned a ’71 ‘Cuda 440 conv triple black with 22k miles back in ’78 bought for $3500. Terrible handling if you enjoy driving 20+ over posted, on hills & curved roads & streets back in CT. Of course now this one will most likely never see rain, but if so tempted, NEVER take out in the rain as it liked to get you wet over the top of the windshield no matter how many attempts at ‘fixes’. Lousy sealing along the door windows as well but some reason , always smelled musty or damp on days that followed, so water getting in elsewhere I assumed. Best thing about it was the pistol grip shifter even though it was a cool factor look, I swapped to the ball for a more positive grip. Sold less than 8-9 mos later & in ’79 bought a ’71 Challenger R/T conv w/ 440 6-pak, MUCH better handling overall & fit in the garage a little better without having to climb over the console & exit the passenger side like the Cuda. These ‘Cuda’s were as large as my ’70 Ford XL conv.
How did you buy a 71 Challenger R/T convertible with a 440 six pack when they NEVER offered the convertible as an R/T in 71 and the biggest engine available in the 71 Challenger convertible was a 383? As for the handling and build quality the Plymouth and the Dodge were equally poor. Also the U code 440 4 barrel wasn’t available in a 71 Cuda in any form. As for the lousy sealing around the windows I couldn’t agree more, I’ve been caught in the rain a few times in my convertible Challenger.
As for the driving pleasure of a car like this , there are plenty of choices that will beat it hands down
A cheap fourth gen camaro firebird will serve you very well
Having the nicest looking car is not a blessing as it draws too much attention and stays in the garage …
Enjoy life cause we are not getting any younger
is ist really a full convertible or is ist one if these opened thin cans? I do not recognize anything under the boot, boot looks like draped on the ends for the photographer…sorry
But is that car an original shaker hood car? If it is I’d like to see the proof