Many enthusiasts consider a known history crucial when searching for a classic to park in their garage. This 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda ticks that box comfortably, having had only two owners throughout its life. The seller has been its custodian for five years, but feels the time is right for it to head to a new home. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder T.J. for spotting the ‘Cuda listed here on eBay in Bloomington, Illinois. Handing the seller $99,900 could allow you to drive this low-mile classic home, though they may consider offers.
Sadly, vehicle manufacturers have moved away from the “win on Sunday, sell on Monday” marketing mentality. It only took one manufacturer to leverage sales from racing success, and others would soon follow. It is this approach that gave us the Mustang Boss 302, the Camaro Z28, and the Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda. All were homologation specials for the Trans Am series and were thinly disguised rod-going race cars. Plymouth produced the AAR only for the 1970 model year, with a total of 2,724 cars built. Many of these vehicles led a hard life, while others fell victim to rust. Therefore, it is unclear exactly how many survive to prowl the nation’s roads. This ‘Cuda is a two-owner classic that received a repaint in its original Code W1 Alpine at some point. Beyond that, it is claimed to be an unrestored and rust-free survivor. The paint is in good condition, the panels are straight, and the distinctive decals look crisp and clean. Interestingly, this beauty retains its rear spoiler, but the front Dive Plain (or Chin Whisker) spoilers are missing. That isn’t the end of the world, because high-quality reproductions retail for around $100 per pair. The ‘Cuda rolls on its correct Rally wheels, and the exhaust exits in the proper location on both sides.
Plymouth adopted an interesting approach with the AAR ‘Cuda. While Ford and Chevrolet produced their road-going Trans Am homologation specials with engines that fell below the 5.0-liter class limit, Plymouth equipped the AAR ‘Cuda with a 340ci V8. Cubic inches count, and the company equipped the V8 with a “Six-Barrel” induction system to generate a factory-quoted 290hp and 345 ft/lbs of torque. This classic emerged during a time when companies often understated engine performance, and there is widespread belief that this motor actually produced power well beyond 300hp. This beauty also features the optional three-speed A-727 TorqueFlite automatic transmission, an 8¾” rear end with 3.91 gears, and power front disc brakes. The seller claims this Plymouth has a genuine 63,000 miles on the odometer, but doesn’t mention verifying evidence. However, the vehicle’s overall condition and the included documentation may erase any lingering doubts. Potential buyers can consider this a turnkey classic with no known mechanical shortcomings.
The first thing that caught my attention inside this ‘Cuda was the AutoMeter gauge cluster. Placing my cards on the table, I am not a fan. Thankfully, the seller retained the factory setup, which I would reinstall ASAP. The other distinctive feature is the column shift for the TorqueFlite, with the seller stating that only around three hundred of these classics were so equipped. That increases this car’s rarity, especially if the claim can be proven. The rest of the interior is standard ‘Cuda fare, trimmed in Black vinyl. Its condition is everything you would rightly expect from a low-mileage survivor. There are no signs of wear or abuse, and no crumbling plastic. The pad is crack-free, and the carpet is excellent.
If you rely solely on the fine folks at Hagerty, the seller’s BIN figure for this 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda looks realistic. That is despite values falling marginally in 2025. However, I don’t accept everything the company says as undeniably true, preferring to rely on recent successful sales results as a more realistic guide. That leads me to believe the seller’s price is pretty competitive, particularly if the odometer reading is verifiable. I would definitely reinstall the original gauge cluster and source a set of Dive Plains to give the car a more “complete” look. Do you agree?
Years ago, probably around 1980, a friend and I climbed up a stack of cars in a salvage yard to check out a t-boned AAR balanced at the top. It was red with black vinyl and a red interior. When we saw that it was a column shift auto with a bench seat, and not knowing much, we assumed an owner had probably added the stripe to a plain barracuda, so we kept moving. Not only was it probably authentic, but very likely one of one with that combo.
My uncle bought one new back in 1970. He traded in his Superbird Roadrunner on it. His was a four speed with console. Very very purple. Seemed fast to me, but I was like 13 at the time. In later years he told me that at some point while he owned it, he swapped the “six pack” out for a single four barrel manifold and carb, and that it performed better at the drag strip then.
I own a highly restored AAR B5 blue, Brilliant blue interior, original sheet metal car. With the six barrel set up, mine is faster than my Mach1 390 4 speed. Besides the horrible dash gauges, this one is missing the compact spare tire, bottle and jack ($2K). The heater box fan is wrong and someone has played around with the master brake cylinder. I suspect on further examination one would find more things askew. The 3 on the tree is relatively rare but not desirable compared to the console. Also rare is the lack of a vinyl roof, if that is substantiated by the build sheet.
However if this is an all original sheet metal, matching numbers car it’s worth the ask. One could correct the minor things. Most of the restored AARs have very little original sheet metal remaining.