Every third generation ‘Cuda is worth something to a Mopar guy, but the options list can make a huge difference. Take this project for example. The seller has all the parts to build a 440 Six Pack and the car is wearing the Track Pack option and bright orange paint. That all makes this a very desirable machine! There is one little problem though that could turn this big project into a big gamble. Take a look here on eBay and let us know what you think.
The engine is out, but that’s not the biggest concern here. The seller has a 440 block that has the correct date code on it. They also have a Six Pack setup for the car. If you don’t already know, Plymouth’s Six Pack consisted of three two-barrel carburetors. It may have added complexity, but it also allowed for more fuel to be sucked into the engine. Everyone wants a Hemi today, but this setup was almost as potent for a lot less money.
As already mentioned, the options list can make or break a muscle car like this. This car obviously has some neat stuff. Things like these fish gills rocker moldings are very cool, but how do we know someone didn’t install them during a previous restoration? The current owner has owned the car since 2001, but they don’t know much about its past. Only the build sheet or fender tag can tell us how the car really left the factory nearly 50 years ago.
Unfortunately, that precious piece of paper is nowhere to be found. The seller does mention a fender tag, but there are no photos of it in the listing. That’s a shame too because a real 440-6 could be worth up to two times more than a base model car. That shouldn’t stop anyone from saving this ‘Cuda, but it could make the restoration a gamble. Then again, this could be the perfect project for someone who is more concerned about driving their car than making money off it. With the kind of money these cars are going for these days, it is hard to ignore the dollar signs though.
UPDATE: We searched for the seller’s photobucket account and found this shot of the fender tag. Anyone up for decoding it?
Hmmm, what’s odd is that it isn’t the first time it’s been advertised, and he mentions the “data plate”. If it’s the fender tag, it would tell all. Yet no picture…
It is in the photobucket he mentions
We just added a photo of the fender tag. Anyone want to decode it?
V code= 440+6
BS23:
Plymouth Barracuda
Special, ‘Cuda
2 Door Hardtop
V0B: 440 390HP 3-2BBL 8 CYL
1970
Dodge Main, Hamtramck, MI, USA
113332: Sequence number
E87: 440 cid 3×2 barrel V8 (High Performance) 390hp
D32: Heavy Duty Automatic Transmission
EV2: Hemi Orange Exterior Color
H6XW: Trim – High, Vinyl Bucket Seats, Black/White
000: Full Door Panels
903: Build Date: September 03
011432: Order number
EV2: Hemi Orange Top Color
A32: Super Performance Axle Package w/4.10 Ratio
A62: Rallye Instrument Cluster Package
B51: Power Brakes
C16: Console w/Woodgrain Panel
C55: Bucket Seats
G36: OS Dual Racing Mirrors
J45: Hood Tie Down Pins
M21: Roof drip rail moldings
M25: Wide sill moldings
M88: Decklid Moldings Treatment
N41: Dual Exhaust
N42: Chrome Exhaust Tips
N85: Tachometer
R11: Radio Solid State AM (2 Watts)
V5X: Body Side Stripes, Black
Y05: Build to USA Specs
26: 26in Radiator
EN1: End of Sales Codes
Thanks for that! I had no idea MOPAR tags were so detailed.
Unlike mustang or chevy of this period, engine serial # will also definitively tell if this is original or just a date code correct replacement. Mopar date coded virtually everything down to alternators, heater boxes and even voltage regulators.
Nrg8,thanks for the decode! I could cruise with the look alone ! Even 318/torque-flite. Pretty special order on this car. Would love to see it as per original build. Don’t think there is any other way…Based on the buck tag,hard to not gamble on the beast !
20 k and hasnt hit reserve—shame about the condition…good luck to new owner.
The paper build sheet adds only a few details to the fender tag on a Mopar.
Isn’t this the same car featured on your site on Dec 6th, 2017?
https://barnfinds.com/oklahoma-dreamer-1970-plymouth-cuda-440-6-bbl/
Yep, they must have relisted it.
Yes…tried selling it before….hint – if it comes close to your reserve price – drop the reserve…and let another person have a crack at it. Don’t we get tired of watching these cars get relisted.
This one I’ve been watching…just to see if can get a new owner !
Been listed before, and the tag isn’t attached to he car. I’d want to make certain it all jives with the claim.
Surprising that with all the hemi E bodies even clone hemi E bodies sitting pretty at their unattainable prices being little more than trailer queens that this one hasn’t sold. These have mostly returned to the earth. They were beaten on, wrecked, or just plain rotted away. Still the right boxes seem to justify a rebody like a hemi convert. Where all you have is a title, vin plate, fender tag, windshield frame, and a top assembly. Then cutting up a lesser model, or the body repop option or one panel stitched in at a time. Dunno it looks good to me, like to see the bottom clearer but. I can’t recall seeing a trunk pan that solid. Options match the tag, most parts are there. You use the date coded block or just rebuild it put it on a stand. Repower it with a new 5.7 hemi and have reliability. Yes couple of dings, like nothing for rust. If you’re not chasing perfection, you could get this on the road nicely and affordably. And still ride the coat tails of the hemi cars because you still have a 440 6pac trac-pac, non match but date coded and driver quality. If you had skills, this could be 100 k car if the E body hemi cars countinue to turn to gold and rise out of Joe Dirt’s grasp. Or something like that
I am saddened that my generation (The Boomers) mostly can no longer afford these cars. Many of us had them in our youth, but now when we have a reasonable amount of spending money as we are at retirement age, the rich boys have ruined it for us. Even the more common 225 and 318 cars are out of our grasp because of foolishness such as this. I imagine without the incredible rise in prices, reproduction parts would have never been made, so maybe they would all have been crushed anyway, but just seeing my youth from afar and not being able to personalty relive it leaves a sour taste in my mouth. Maybe this one should be put back in the mud to rot as it obviously did for years. I miss the old car hobby as it once was…the love of the automotive, not an investment or something to show off how well off you are.
You make a solid point; a good bit of the classic car market has been ruined by flippers, and the Graveyard Carz type. Cars are OVER-restored, and sell for outrageous sums that most of us schmos cant afford. Further, most of those cars become trailer queens, never getting their tires on some real pavement. I continue to be amazed at the prices these basket cases command. If I held onto my 68 Mustang, with a base 289, rotted floors, banged up, and rusted, painted w/a bomb can], or my 67 Mustang with a rust free body, but rotted front frame. I’d be sitting on a gold mine.
I just want to make it clear, I do not condone the stupid money that has been attached to these cars value, I understand economics, supply and demand, the way the media drives the trends, how this, that was a hobby, is now a multibillion dollar business. I remember when these were 10 y/o my dad wouldn’t go in on anything bigger than a 318 and that would have to be a hell of a deal. My brother instead got the high mile leaning tower of tired power newer Aspen that was 7 y/o but had rust like a 20 y/o. There were all kinds of low mile big block for sale, cheap, and in the early to mid 80’s no one wanted them, except the kids that were in auto shops in high school. The teachers, you know 2 kids, maybe an ex wife, would see these kids roll in with these first cars and literally jaws would hit the floor. And in all honesty you could see the bitter tear when the kid came back from the weekend and the he would say he totaled it. Then have another one the following Friday. I can think of 6 cars lost to outta control speed and unsafe cars cause there wasn’t a yearly inspection back then. Go to your local weekly and find another. Fix while you drive lol, tuned first everything else later. Saw too many under a tree, wrapped in a tarp, sink in the ground, stolen parts, rodent damage, only to be dragged out by a wrecker after they were too far gone, and turned into scrap metal. It is what it is
Cuda-Shuda-Wuda
billy, it is true that us boomers had it good in the 70s and 80s.I had a 70 440 cuda,fc7 purple 15″ rallys,heck it was loaded with options and only 57k. Paid the orig. owner the $1000 they asked for and after a repaint it was as new. Loved it, but soon after it was finished I was offered $8000 and let it go. I also had a 70 340 cuda ,and a 70 barracuda-both convertibles’. and a few other cuda parts cars.
I hope this one gets a good home but not mine. These bring to much $$$$ for me to afford.
I do have 2 71 dusters that are projects. The best one is a twister that is a stick/v-8,8 3/4 rear, disk brake and is a orig. fc7 purple car. got it free 10 years ago and mostly rust free-very straight . At least I have these.
Add care for an aging parent into the mix and even though you may have the desire for a car of your youth, you wont have the time, money, head space, or patience to see a car project ( or sometimes even a drive) through. Just getting through a day without an irrational discussion about their care is achievement enough.
I do love the Twister mentioned above!
Get a new crate motor, have someone fabricate a toper for it that looks like a six pack air cleaner. Done, more power, better reliability and the look you want when you pop the hood.
Hmm. Wonder if a Hellcat crate would fit in there. Hmm.
BS23VO ‘B’aracuda-‘S’pecial -2′ two door -3’hardtop -V’ 440-6 -0′ 1970. They switched it from ‘M’ for the 1969 1/2 six pack and the code for the 1970 340/6 is ‘J’. Here’s a link for the engine codes for Chrysler. https://www.allpar.com/mopar/enginecodes.html
I would like to add, what possible reason does he have for removing the fender tag? It doesn’t look like he did any body work that would require the removal?I’d be suspect of it. I know for a while they were using a coping saw blade to remove the tags UNDER the plate so the top of the rivet was still as dated as the tag and then either super glue or bond the tag onto another vehicle.
The fender tags are held on by two Philips head screws one painted one unpainted it was probably removed for safe keeping as it is a very important piece of the cars pedigree.
Friend of mine has a 73, always wanted one but they are way over priced IMHO. He picked his up out of a field and his wife thought he lost his mind when he brought it home it was in such bad shape.
Bounce the Vin Number off of the Cowl and Core support Numbers.
love these but the prices are insane, I too missed out when they were affordable
Plymouth Duster Twister edition? I’ve heard (and seen) the Hang Ten edition and the Sun Dancer and Sun Vertible option on Plymouths. But never heard of a 1971 Duster Twister. Got pics?
Current high bid is $22,500 with reserve not met. I’ve been watching Barrett Jackson live on TV the last couple of days and it seems this car is worth about $60k RESTORED! The seller has a $32k buy it now, I’m assuming their reserve is pretty close to that. So IF you buy it for $25k to $30k, you’ll have AT LEAST $30k restoring it. At that point, it seems you’ll break about even (minus sales commission if your selling at an auction). That’s a lot of time, effort and money to break even. It would be a “labor of love”, no money to be made on this one. How much do you think it would cost to restore this one?
JamestownMike: ” So IF you buy it for $25k to $30k, you’ll have AT LEAST $30k restoring it.”
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Where do you get those numbers? Lets draw a important distinction, are you talking checkbook rebuild/resto?? If so, then I would guess you might be in the ballpark depending on the resources you have. (Shops and craftsmen).
But to do most of the workyourself or networking, I dont see how a rebuild/resto would be anywhere near those numbers.
When I ran a shop full time, and now I only dabble a few projects but I still do the same thing. I do a cost/benefit analysis before I do anything. I make a list of parameters and goals.
Then I do a hard look at costs for parts, what I have to farm out to others for work, and then estimate my labor.
On my keepers/personal projects I dont consider my own labor/time to be a significant issue but I still look at it and weigh my options. IE: Repair or replace certain parts
But over time I have a pretty good formula down for what real world costs actually are. *IF* I am going to sell something I often include that info in the sale. Its a selling point and I document the rebuild carefully, along with often a photo album.
Some people have ZERO clue what it takes to do a build, but most CAN be educated, and have a better appreciation and it ALWAYS enhances the value over some secretive builder who likely cut corners and did shoddy work you will only learn about later. Real quality and honesty HAS value and some, not all, but some can appreciate that.
It is ALL on how you present the facts. Some buyers its a point of pride to show off,,,,,,,,”Yeah it cost a lot, but quality like that is hard to find!” and thus, despite being perhaps a little higher than the market place you turn a negative into a positive. Its all how you manage the narrative.
But on my wifes 69 Chevelle,, its a total nut and bolt rebuild and our budget is a fraction of $25k and we are not cutting corners. But other than the engine block, crank and cyl head machine work we are doing ALL the work ourselves. She is building the motor, trans and rear (her first build) and I am doing the rest.
I just think its super important when throwing numbers around how important it is to be realistic about what is involved.
I have a friend who just packed up his bikes and selling at Vegas for the big bike sales even soon,,, He operates the same way and does a number of investment quality builds per year for resale.
Heres a picture with loadout of the machines. (Cornell Saftencu collection, Just like a Chicago election, Bid early and Bid often, You can also follow the bidding online.)
Love those rocker panel mouldings.
Another problem with these, when they were affordable, they were pretty much uninsurable to young folks.
Surprised no one has chimed in with the usual buy a new Challenger yet. Yeah, they’re reliable, better made and faster but these originals are so jaw droppingly handsome AND like a licensed driver equivalent of having the biggest, baddest hot wheels or slot car track set up you can imagine!
In 1973, I was looking for a ’70 Chevelle SS when I saw this “for sale” notice in the classifieds for a ’70 Barracuda. I watched the price drop from $2100 to $1900 to $1700 over the course of three weeks. I had never even heard of a Barracuda! I went and looked at the car and fell in love with it. The original owner worked for the dealership and he had full service records. It was a one-owner car with 47K miles in excellent condition. I paid $1700 and felt like I got a great deal. The car was lime green with black body-side moldings, color-matched front urethane bumper and was fully optioned out as a dealer showroom car. It had the Rallye wood-grained instrument cluster, AC, Slap-Stick shifter, Hi-Back buckets and a 7 speaker Am/Fm eight-track combo. It also had factory fog-lights, black Landau top and a trunk-mounted chrome luggage rack which held my snow skis for many trips to Mammoth Mountain CA from Santa Clarita CA. That 727 Torque-Flite tranny – even with 3.23 gears – would chirp the tires going into 2nd gear every time! loved that car! It got 12-14 MPG whether I babied it or raced it but gas was only 33 cents a gallon. Haha I worked at a Standard gas station and my best friend – Mike W. – and I had lots of fun working on our cars and profilin’ on Saturday night on Lyons Avenue in Newhall. He had a ’69 Dodge Charger with a 383 which he bought about 6 months before I got mine. Good times. Other friends from Canyon High School class of ’72 owned a custom yellow Camaro – Mike G. – and a gorgeous ’69 El Camino. I believe Ed M. still owns that Hot Elky! I drove it until I graduated from college in ’77 when I sold it. I remember waiting in line to buy gas in 1973 when the Oil Embargo was in effect. My license plate # was odd and my girlfriend’s was even so we were able to keep driving. I bought my first Volkswagen at that time because I couldn’t afford the gas for the ‘Cuda. Wish I had that car now…
It’s 6 barrel when referring to a Plymouth. Dodge, it’s a 6 pack.
Yes, I’ve watched so many episodes of Graveyard Cars that this is now drilled into my head.
All I know is that my first car was an E body, and I’ll never be able to afford another.
Now I recognize some of the codes, it’s a 440. Because of the codes like A32 that’s HEMI fenders and some of the other codes are hemi parts. The engine is a 440 I believe six barrel, six pack was dodges name not Plymouth. Now the reason why they do this is because the regular and less potent engines had parts built around them. Take for instance that the 383 also had single exhaust port outlet, not two. This shows that it has a 440 or a 426, but it doesn’t have the 426s code of E74.
Too bad it isn’t a 71, then they designed it to look more like a barracuda fish. They added stuff like the revised grill and the side vents that look like gills.