We’ve covered quite a few E-Bodies here on Barn Finds recently, from some very nice rides that seem raring to go along with a few others which appear like major time-consuming projects. This 1970 Plymouth Cuda here on eBay would fall into the former category, and not only does it tick a lot of the right boxes to begin with but the car’s a real beauty just like it sits. Of course, an example this nice comes at a premium cost, and so far bidding has already reached $65,100 and I’m guessing the price is going to continue climbing. If you’re wanting to get in on the action, plan a visit quickly to Floral Park, New York to see the Cuda in person.
The seller mentions that the car lived on the West Coast for most of its life before he acquired it about a year ago, and fortunately, there have never been any major rust issues. He says the body is in great shape and claims it isn’t a fixed-up rust bucket, although there has been a repaint at some point in the Cuda’s history. Along with a good array of exterior photos, we also get a couple of walk-around videos, including this one, which seems to show a body that lives up to the seller’s description. The tires are also stated to be fairly new with lots of life left.
That’s the original 440 Super Commando engine under the hood, which is claimed to be untouched, and at 57k miles it’s still sounding strong and that exhaust rumble is just music to my ears. Unfortunately, the factory 4-Speed developed a crack on the case so it was changed out, but the replacement component is correct, just not numbers-matching. More good news is the rear end, which is the original Dana with the Track Pack, making this a very desirable drivetrain. The owner says the Cuda runs and drives great, but just doesn’t get used as often as it should. Hopefully, the next owner can change that!
Also original is the interior, which appears to have held up far better than in many of these cars and seems a testament to how well this car has been cared for through the years. A couple of things inside that are not functioning include the original AM radio, the clock, and the tach is said to act up a bit, but that’s all pretty small potatoes since everything else is claimed to be working properly. The floors and trunk are also said to be super clean with no patching anywhere, and if I had room plus the cash I’d probably want to try for the high bid and take this one home. No worries, as I have neither, but I’m curious just how much further north the price is going to travel before this auction is over. What are your thoughts on this 1970 Plymouth Cuda?
I can’t even imagine how you break the case on an 18 spline gearbox. A standout car though. 440 four barrel cars are much rarer than sixpack cars.
Hey!! I just found the other half of that other Cuda!
Oh my – this is nice. Real Nice.
The price will climb and climb.
Of course.
I still find it weird that they painted the front bumper and chromed the rear.
Probably a rubber front bumper. They were body color.
I think urethane bumpers were a factory option to save weight.
maybe the boys at blessed mother mopar thought the chrome rear would blind the bowties running behind it when they flashed the brights to pass lol.
on topic sweet ride, even though i prefer these with the small blocks
Excellent , thoughtful reply!
Same as some GTOs
Several other cars also came painted up front, chrome in back …
’69 camaros with optional front endura bumper
’73 corvettes
All ’70-73 firebirds
’73 mustangs with optional front bumper
’70-72 Cudas(not sure about BARRAcudas) with optional front bumper
(tho oddly those body colored front bumpers were not avail on any ’70-72 Challenger! – i think)
I thought you could get the painted bumper on the Challenger, just more rare than the Cuda. Don’t forget the GTO with the paint in front and chrome out back.
Actually 71-73 Mustangs could have a urethane front bumper.
That was an option, front or both, my convertible has the front also.
No Reserve!!
You must be a GM fan or lived under a a rock most of your life. Everyone knows that something is worth what someone is willing to give and obviously it’s worth more than what your willing to give and I don’t think I have seen you bid anything on it, so you don’t have a dog in this fight.
The 70 440 4bbl Cuda’s with the track pack 4 speeds were tuff competitors back in the day.
I know of a few of my friends that had one, and a few Challenger R/T equipped this way. This car is a very nice and ready to roll cuda, so $85k is not a out your mind final bid.
I will say my 71 Duster 340 4speed with 4:10’s a cam, intake, 750 Holley & valve springs went heads up with them, the red line on the cuda 440 was about 5,800 and my duster was 7,200 rpms mine was from Coletti Chrysler and these guys knew small blocks. my car weighed only 3,040 pounds. But I’m liking this car
It’s a great buy, and thank God it’s not lime green 🍏
Very rare car being a 440/4bbl w/4spd and 3:56. Probably less than 150 built. I would take this over the Six-Pack for drivability and especially collectability hands down. Not an original painted rubber bumper car, ‘A21’ would be on the fender tag if it was, it was probably added when re-painted. The fonts for the vin # stamped on the block look legit so may be true numbers car but should be inspected up close to verify (every one’s re-stamping these to match the vin so be careful!)
The font and details on the fender tag are legit for a Los Angeles produced car and the tag itself looks legit and not re-popped. This could reach 100k and worth it. Also agree that a hot 340 will beat a hot 440 on the street every time! :)
Back in the day, I personally witnessed many a 340 A body show it’s taillights to 440 B & E bodies as well as GM & Fomoco cars….these were all mostly stock 340’s with 4 speeds & 3:91 rears…..though the 727 tranny cars ran strong too….we used to day, “Never underestimate the 340 Mopars….they were great street racers . …..
100 horsepower differential, and much more torque, 340’s were great, but tit for tat, with 2 good driver’s, both 4-speeds, same tires etc. The 440 is smoking the 340,but back in the day, different mods, driver’s technique, tired, traction aids, etc. Would of contributed to some 340’s whipping a 440 car.
“340 will beat a hot 440 on the street every time! :)” However that 440/4bbl had sooo much torque it felt like the front wheels were gonna come of the ground when you punched it on a Cuda or especially a Challenger with it’s long hood…fun!
Don’t know how many times I have heard this, but I had a 73 Challenger with 340 auto and 3.55 gears. It ran good, would run with other small blocks all day long. I also have had a couple of 70 Challengers with 383 Mag and a 440 in them and that 340 would not run with them. Those big blocks would just put your ass back in the seat and go. One had 3.55 gears and the other had 3.91 gears. Nothing wrong at all with a 340, but would rather have a big block any day.
72-3 340’s do not run anywhere near as good as the 68-71 340’s. They were low compression and did not have as hot of camshaft nor were the heads as good with their small 1.94 intake valves. Comparing apples to oranges there.
Yellow Jacket 🐝
Wadda Car shes a BUEATY gonna Hit 80,000 for sure!
I just played the youtube video on the car with it running and my desk stated vibrating and it sent a chill down my spine! I’ll take it!
Fine looking car but looks unfinished under the hood, after market cap, wires & coil look out of place as well as the vacuum line running from one breather nozzle to the other? plus it is hard to see but possibly is not an RB engine. Can’t imagine them saying that it is if it is not plus if numbers matching it would be easy to check out.
Good catches Jack! There is more…looks like the top alternator bracket may be incorrect as it has an empty hole at the thermostat housing, cam bolts have paint all over them (sloppy looking), a hole above the master cylinder that needs a body plug? Looks like it has been a driver and not a trailer queen, but a weekend under the hood, it could be made pretty nice. 70-74 Cudas are one of my dream Mopars to own and I have let several go over time, that I wish I had snagged up. But, overall, I’d take this one in a heartbeat, as others have stated previously how rare a 440 4bbl car is. Plenty of 383’s, 440 six barrels & seemingly hemi cars, but a 340 or 440 4 bbl is kind of scarce now. I’d clean it up a little underwood and drive this one on nice days.
It’s not special because Don Johnson drove one on TV! Sucker’s
His was a 71 convertible, hemi clone. Nothing real about his as far as rarity goes. I believe it was even a 318 car originally. Brought crazy money at auction though because of the provenance.
Ugly color! Lose the yellow plug wires!
Sold $75k.