340/4-Speed Project: 1972 Plymouth ‘Cuda

Whenever the urge hits to tackle an automotive project, taking over a vehicle that’s already a work in progress often creates its own set of challenges compared to starting from scratch.  However, this 1972 Plymouth ‘Cuda actually seems to be at a decent point for the buyer to jump in and complete the restoration.  While it may not be a walk in the park, much of the heavy lifting and mechanical work has already been completed, and hopefully, this one will be roadworthy without excessive additional effort.  If you’re ready to take the reins, this one’s located in Anderson, California, and can be found here on eBay, where the current high bid is resting at $5,700, which is still under the reserve.

Thankfully, the fender tags are still present, and that’s plural, as this one came loaded with options from the factory, so it required two of the metal plaques under the hood.  The BS23 confirms this one’s a real factory ‘Cuda, and that it did indeed come equipped with a 340 V8 and a 4-speed manual transmission.  The seller reports that a date-correct 340 is in the bay now, having been recently rebuilt with zero miles.  Ditto on the transmission, as it’s also received an overhaul, along with the 8 3/4 rear end, which features 3.55 gears.  Hopefully, there’s not a lot left to do mechanically, other than get behind the wheel and enjoy the drive once the rest of this car is finished.

The only specifics the owner provides about the body are that it’s nice and has no rust, along with a confirmation that the original color is True Blue Metallic, with the underside already painted in this shade.  There’s no confirmation on whether any significant sheet metal work was performed before the exterior was sprayed with gray primer, but the panels appear straight and sturdy, so it’s possible that this one’s not too far from being ready to receive a fresh coat of GB5 blue.  A few of the outside parts are reported missing, but the seller confirms that both bumpers and all of the lights are included.

Quite a bit of interior work has already been done, including a restoration of the dash and fresh material on the front buckets and the rear seat.  It’s often puzzling when someone gets this far along yet isn’t able to complete a restoration, but life happens, priorities change, and funds sometimes run short.  Thankfully, this 1972 Plymouth ‘Cuda appears to be a very decent point to take over, and I’m guessing there’ll be lots of competition among those eager to continue where this one has stalled.  Is this an E-Body you’d be interested in completing?