This Plymouth Cuda looks a little sad sitting in this shop with no wheels and tires and the hood askew. The beautiful Plum Crazy Purple paint that used to shine bright when it was new in 1970 is long gone. The paint has been replaced with surface rust, body filler, and primer but there seems to be a decent project here if you can get past the first impression. It can be found here on Craigslist with an asking price of $16,500. Located in Denton, Texas, the VIN tag is still in place, which may be the most redeeming part of this car. Let’s take a closer look at this project and thanks to Wayne W. for the tip on this Mopar.
As you can see, the interior has been mostly stripped. The seller does say the interior is complete including the original bucket seats. Other features include air conditioning, Rallye dash with three speakers, and console. There are some photos of the interior components that are on the floor. The ad does say there is quite a bit of sheet metal work that needs to be done. You can see in the photos that the floor pans are pretty rotten.
Obviously the original engine and transmission are gone. This leaves a few options for the new owner. First, they could try and source a date-coded engine that would be exact to what was originally in the car. Second, you could go with a standard donor engine. Third, how about a monster crate engine? Crate Hemi or 440? Hellcat? 1000 horsepower Hellephant? What would you do?
The trim pieces are said to be 90% there. By looking at the photos, it looks like the major pieces are present. I’m not sure how many are usable, but that probably depends on the level of restoration the new owner will commit to. After looking at the sad state of this car, you can look at this one for some motivation. These cars continue to be sought after and popular with no end in sight. What do you think about this one? Is it worth saving?
$16,500? Is that normal?
To a MoPar E-body lover it is. Not to me!! There isn’t enough of this `Cuda left to save. No engine, tranny, dash, steering column, etc. However, I realize alot of parts are being reproduced for these, it still doesn’t help that this is basically a shell for $16,500. I’d pass, and look for the very best one you can afford for your money. This would be well over $120K to put back together.
I would much rather have a Dynacorn reproduction shell. All strong new metal, straight, solid. You are going to spend a fortune anyway without a car worth anywhere near what it will cost, so might as well have the best.
A brand new Dynacorn body would be nice, if they made one. They only offer Challenger bodies.
Steve R
Challengers are nicer anyhow. I like the 71s, though. The grill and tail lights are cooler. Just think, a new body and a nice little 225 3 speed, what a machine!
I grow weary of these skeletal hulks for 5 figures, of which they seem to be coming out of the swamps lately. Clearly an exploitation of a current trend. I suppose the mindset here is, like a Spring snowstorm, better plow it before it melts.
Right on Howard! Barn Finds used to feature realistic “barn finds”, but more and more we see hulks that were obviously dragged out of the junk yard, apparently awaiting some deep-pocket moron to make an outrageous bid.
“After looking at the sad state of this car, you can look at this one for some motivation”….Sure, either it will make you cry at how bad the remains of this car are, or laugh hysterically at the asking price!
I don’t think a second gen. Charger in the same condition would even bring that…
She sure was sitting in a junkyard for a long time before the flipper found it ! The trunk and glass must have been picked years ago and let decades of rain inside.
Part of the cars value is the original color , whether the car itself is restored or the body tags end up on a base Barracuda .
Looks like another “back row beauty” from BHCC.
I don’t think a junk yard would take this if it were given to them for free.
You could buy a nice complete 1970 barracuda with a 318 for less than $40K. Cheaper to pull the engine and put in what you want than to buy this heap. I can’t believe that $$ number is legit.
Get your POS…
Or
Monty Python
Bring out your dead 💀
Bring out your dead 💀
https://youtu.be/GU0d8kpybVg
Old rust is the new Gold!
junk
Never knew they had swamps in Texas!
I think they do in East Texas.
It only needs four things. A new chassis, drivetrain, body and interior. What’s not to love? I’ll give you two dollars for it.
These flippers are a joke…..really hate they are in the same state…..have to correct them often on their posted sale cars – they don’t know original from squat….they re-sale a lot of REPAINTED – cheaply repaired cars as restored.
Its the fault of all the fools who have bumped the values up so high. In the better world that once was, this would still be slowly dissolving back into the soil. Then we might have only repo bodies to make us happy, then we would have competition on price and some of us might actually be able to afford a nice one.
This fish did not fair well when Houston flooded.
I am waitin for a 69 Coronet RT I found, Hemi, in Houston some years ago. Was sittin next to a 69 Charger RT SE Sunroof, air car I picked up.
Things people do.
Cool Joe! the bullsh#t never ends does it? Lol
Let this thing just rust in peace.
The ad says “the car has some rust issues” Lol
My gosh, too much water under the bridge
Waaaay too much for rust
Crusher
Anything including this car and worse can be restored.
Everyone laughed many years ago when asking price for these bodies were $4500 but unfortunately very few are available now with good title paperwork.
I was an employee of Chrysler Corporation from 1973 to 1978. I was working there during the “heyday” of these “E” body masterpieces. I can tell you that the overwhelming majority of these cars left the factory equipped with a 318, automatic, P/S, P/B, R&H. and an AM radio. Good luck finding one of those today. Every time you see one for sale, it’s a big block, or HEMI, 4 speed, fully loaded, yada, yada, yada. They were cool back then, but even I am amazed as to the status of these cars today. To buy a shell like this and properly restore it even to its original state will set you back over 100K. I gentleman I used to work with purchased new a 1970 Challenger Convertible with a 225/Slant 6 and a 3 speed manual floor shift. I have not seen him recently but as of about 10 years ago, he still had that car. And it was in nice (not show) condition. Now that car I would pay good money for because you will not see another one like it.
Have a 70 Barracuda for sale myself. 318, auto, air, and it is cold, factory two tone lime, with white top. Not vinyl. Tow package, 11 inch drum, factory. H D brakes. Luggage rack, 6 way seat. Zero rust! What would anybody pay since no one wants this rusty car? Just curious. Have it in Fort Walton Beach, Fl.
Wait!! You have owned just about every Hemi or 440 muscle car Chrysler ever made and you sit here today trying to peddle a 318 car?! Lol Wow, surely it’s a unique factory show car or a special order execs car?? Joe, don’t disappoint us!! Lay it on heavy like you always do!
Lol… Just Cool Joe doing what Cool Joe does….being cool.
Chris M, call me. You have my number
I do have your number Joe. Calling BS. Lol
callin mark worman where are you? Another c—K MONSTER ON THE LOOSE. HELP !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MUST B SOME GOOD S–T CAUSE THEY SURE ARE OUT THERE.
It matching numbers! Worth any price!
To: i8afish: I would be hard pressed to give $2.00 for this, how about twenty 10cent Michigan returnable Pop cans for it. More pristine aluminum for the cause, The hey day for the Hamtramck assembly plant for E Bodies built on line one the Big Line which built Challengers, Barracudas and yes DUSTERS one the same line 2 -9 hour shifts 6 days a week were 1970 thru 1973 In 1973 the two lines at Hamtramck Assembly Plant turned out over 500,000 units!!!!!
It is just like the production line they just keep coming one every 72 seconds to perform your operation.