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1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda Garage Find!

It’s great to see an ad for a rare Mopar muscle car like this 1970 AAR ‘Cuda from a seller with an impeccable feedback record. They have written a very detailed listing as well. You can find the auction here on eBay where the opening bid is $35,000. The car is located in Denver, Colorado, one of my favorite places to visit.

The seller tells us that they purchased the car in Midland, Texas and that it has been stored since 1982. They have documented it as a true AAR ‘Cuda and that the car is quite solid (think small patches, not new panels). The car was originally painted Ivy Green.

They also have some rare components, including this mint 340 6-Pack air cleaner housing and over $6,000 in parts purchased to convert the car to a manual transmission (it was originally an automatic).

And here’s the manifold and carburetors to go with the air cleaner. Rated at 290 horsepower and 345 lb-ft of torque, the AAR (named after Dan Gurney’s All American Racers) ‘Cuda went 0-60 in 5.8 seconds; pretty darned good in 1970.

Not only is this car complete with a numbers-matching block, but the magic trim tags are also intact and the build sheet has been recovered. This find won’t be for everyone — is it the right one for you?

Comments

  1. Avatar Woody

    Not for everyone? This classic won’t last long! First thing would be to paint it original color,I like this over the Hemi Cuda and the price is great start for a rare AAR!

    Like 24
    • Avatar PRA4SNW

      Woody, I think the exact same thing about this car. I’d choose one over a Hemi Cuda.

      I this case, with matching numbers, I’d keep it factory stock, column automatic and all.

      Like 3
  2. Avatar Woody

    Anyone going to Colorado? I might start packing my bags for a road trip!

    Like 5
  3. Avatar douglas

    is that a 53 corvette in the foreground? would love to see closeups of the wall art too.
    my bad – ’56

    Like 1
  4. Avatar Sidney

    So much better buy then the hemi

    Like 7
  5. Avatar Dave

    Dodge needs to build a version of this car with the AWD six cylinder.

    Like 1
  6. Avatar Fulm

    Some cars just look good with side exhaust, this is one of them.

    Like 12
  7. Avatar Steve

    Great car. I think they should have only come with 4 speed manual transmissions since it’s a “road race” car. Rear axle gears 3.54 or 4.10 only.
    I would like to see a 70 AAR or T/A with the absolute best handling oriented modern upgrades (rack and pinion, coil overs, triangulated 4 link) maybe even an independent rear suspension axle.
    I have seen them in yellow with black stripes and that color combo is stunning!

    Like 2
    • Avatar Stinger

      Rear axle gears 3:55 or 3:91 are the AAR optional 8 3/4 rear gears.. The 3:54 and 4:10 were the Dana gears and you could not get a Dana in an AAR. FYI

      Like 3
    • Avatar Waltguy

      @Steve I love that idea for a resto modded Cuda! But please start with a 6cyl manual donor!

      Like 1
  8. Avatar Brad k

    There is no such thing as a six-pack Plymouth.

    Like 4
    • Avatar Lynn Dockey Member

      Not true. AAR was a 6 pack.

      Like 5
      • Avatar Rusty

        Plymouth was a 6 barrel, Dodge was 6 pack

        Like 10
      • Avatar jim d walker

        yes the air cleaner says “six pack” right on it… i own an all original air cleaner for the 1 my dad owned… and it came with a dual point distributor… and they only came in 2 colors… limelight green and tor red.. except for the white aar which was only 1

        Like 0
      • Avatar Stinger

        The AAR Cuda came in 21 optional colors. While I’ll agree white (EW1) was a bit of a rare color, there was a lot more than 1 made. As of 2017 there were 63 known to exist and only 1 Sand Pebble Beige as of that same date. For specifics on registered colors you can contact the AAR Cuda registry.

        Like 0
    • Avatar PRA4SNW

      Didn’t Plymouth, and maybe Dodge too, use the term “6v” (for 6 venturis) also?

      Like 1
    • Avatar GreenEyedMoparLady

      Sweet!

      Like 0
  9. Avatar 86_Vette_Convertible

    Knew a guy growing up (my older brothers class) that had a Nicky SS427 after high school then a 4 speed AAR Cuda after that. Thought I was going nuts as I thought this one should have had side graphics on it like the above did, then I noticed the comment about already having a repaint.
    Never saw Jim race his Cuda on the strip but I did see it engage in a little street action and it definitely was fast. Didn’t hurt he knew how to drive it also.
    Not sure is this one is worth the $$ or not, going to take some $$ to make it right and could get upside down quite easy on it but it could be worth it if someone does it for themselves.

    Like 3
    • Avatar Troy s

      Just curious, which was quicker.. the AAR ‘Cuda or the Nickey 427, which I’m guessing had to be a Camaro? My uneducated guess would the Nickey Camaro by a little .

      Like 0
      • Avatar Stinger

        The Nickey Camaro would not be by a little, it would be by a lot. The Stage III Nickey was reported to have 425 Hp from the Big Block whereas the 290 HP from the small block 340. No comparison really. Getting the Camaro to hook up was the biggest problem.

        APRIL 67 edition of Popular HOT RODDING. The best street tire quarter mile time for this car was 14.22 @ 105.60 MPH (absolutely no traction!!) BUT with slicks the car ran a best of 11.43 @ 124.73

        Compare that to the average 14.5 from an AAR… no comparison really.

        Like 2
  10. Avatar Lynn Member

    Leery about the tranny and color changes

    Like 2
  11. Avatar Mark N

    I owned an AAR in high school and a year or two after. It breaks my heart not to take advantage of this sale. Unfortunately, all my money is tied up in real estate of which I would gladly sell at least one of to get my hands on another one of these. Can’t get the wife to agree just quite yet. Wonder how’d she react to a sign in front of the house. Hmmm. I guess I’ll stay married instead. Don’t like the column shift and bench seat anyway. How anyone could order a car like this that way is beyond me. But, I’d keep it all original if it were mine. A car like this should never be cannibalized. Not only would it kill the value, but would also take away from the uniqueness this car really is. Heck, it’s growing on me as I write this. Maybe a column shift and bench is better. There may not be another out there. Hello, Joe Real Estate agent? How quick can you sell this house?

    Like 10
    • Avatar Stinger

      Regarding the column shift, I have a story that was told to me by a gentleman who was making new car purchases in that time era.

      He tells me that people thought of the floor shift as cheating for street racing as you couldn’t see the “hand on the shifter”… “Picture this, you pull up to the light, look to your right at the Camaro beside you, hand on the shifter, he knows you want to race.” If the car was floor shifted (talking automatics here) you could have put the car in first gear and the guy beside you wouldn’t know what you’re up to…cheating…lol Was a bid of an odd story but I get what he was saying. It was not a performance thing, it was street racing mentality in the day. Kinda cool story, who knew ? lol

      Like 1
  12. Avatar Jay E.

    Back in the day these were fast and good looking and reliable. Many preferred these over the hemi cuda as they could go around corners too. While I think I’d look silly ( grandpa driving a hemi) I think I could still enjoy something like this in patina. But really, I lost my love for tinkering with cars anymore so Id rather drive a new one.

    Like 10
    • Avatar Lynn Dockey Member

      I agree Jay. I have 2 replacement knees and that makes it tough to crawl around under the car anymore. Age 60 and it’s time to buy a new car when the warranty runs out on the current one.

      Like 9
  13. Avatar Tom Justice

    I looked it up and was very surprised to see more of these were automatics than sticks!! And just to add flame to the fire, Dodge was Plum Crazy and Plymouth was In Violet.

    Like 1
  14. Avatar PRA4SNW

    If you trust Hagerty’s valuations, this car is looking like a deal.

    Like 0
    • Avatar PRA4SNW

      Not sure why the top of my last post got cut off, but #1 condition is $135,000. Also, not sure why they would mention anything about a Hemi because it obviously wasn’t available for this car. And this is the entry they have for an AAR Cuda.

      Like 0
  15. Avatar SSPBill

    In college a friend of mine and I built an AAR clone. 340, 4-speed and clearly not real (‘74 not ‘70). Never showed it but man did it get a lot of attention. Even next to much higher end cars.

    Shortly after selling it I was discussing Mopars with a fixture at the local pub. He said “stop by the Moose Lodge Sunday”. I did and found him to be the original owner of an extremely well preserved, black, 4-speed ARR (they look wicked in black!) Well preserved but used because he beat the hell out of it that afternoon. He past away maybe 15 years ago. Not to be disrespectful but I keep thinking that car is sitting hidden away somewhere up here.

    Like 0
  16. Avatar Troy s

    Used to be one parked near juvinelle court in San Diego back in the early eighties, saw it for the first time and just figured it was some tricked out ‘Cuda, a street machine so to speak. I was surprised to find out Plymouth and Dodge actually built these hot rods, side pipes and all with a scoop. Very mean looking car indeed! 340 had loads of ability even with one 4 barrel carb let alone three deuces.
    Not being from those glory days meant I had a lot to learn which has been a wonderful experience in itself.

    Like 1
  17. Avatar Bob Miller

    Remember my old Cuda 318″ -70, imported to Sweden in 1976. It was red, and I decided to repaint it BLACK !! I was soo pleased after that, and with new American Racing rims with 285/45/16 in back, and 215/45/15 in front, I felt like I was The King of the Street at that time, here in Gothenburg, Sweden 1976 (:

    Like 2
  18. Avatar Del

    I want this

    Like 0
  19. Avatar mark houseman

    I looked at one identical to this one in West Palm Beach, Fla. in the early ’90’s. It was in a garage off of Forest Hill Blvd., same (orange) color, a complete car but had quite a lot of rust. It even came with a complete extra roof cut off a donor car. Are you ready for this??????? Asking $5500.00. I wanted it so bad but that was an absolute fortune for me………

    Like 0
  20. Avatar Moparman Member

    One day left…0 bids.

    Like 0

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