Just a few days ago, we featured a fine example of this car’s corporate cousin here on Barn Finds, a 1970 Dodge Challenger T/A. This time we have a 1970 Plymouth Cuda AAR, both of which were created to satisfy the number of street versions that needed to be manufactured so they could qualify for racing in the Trans Am circuit. Not many of either were made, with Dodge rolling out 2,399 Challenger T/As and the Plymouth numbers only slightly higher at 2,724 AAR Cudas, so they’re both pretty rare and quite sought after. If you’ve been in the market for a high-performance small-block E-Body, this one would probably do the job nicely, and it can be found here on eBay with an asking price of $87,500.
The AAR stood for All American Racers, a name taken from Dan Gurney’s team of the same name, and this one’s a legitimate example with the fender tag still in place displaying code A53, plus its second Trans Am tag beside it. The seller doesn’t mention how long he’s owned the Cuda but thinks the car is mostly original and has never been fully restored, although he does state that it’s had an older repaint in the original color of FF4, Lime Green Metallic. The strobe stripe compliments the finish nicely, as does the flat black fiberglass hood and ducktail spoiler.
The AARs came equipped with a 340 and an Edelbrock manifold plus three 2-Barrel Holleys on top, rated at 290 horsepower from the factory. This one is paired with a 727 TorqueFlite automatic transmission, both of which are said to be the original factory components. There’s no word on whether or not either has ever had a rebuild, but the seller does say that the Cuda runs and drives great. Another cool feature about these cars is the dual exhaust system, which exits on each side in front of the rear wheels, made possible by special shocks and modified leaf springs that raised the car’s rear end almost 2 inches to provide adequate clearance.
We get to view a handful of photos that show different parts of the interior, which looks pretty good for a driver but the seller states that the dash and door panels will need to be redone if the next owner is striving for perfection, although the headliner is described as perfect. The underside is said to be solid and untouched, with most of the original undercoating still intact. This is one desirable but not cheap E-Body, however, if you’re finding the price a bit out of reach there’s also the option to make an offer. What are your thoughts on this 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda?
I was a buyer, but the auction ended before the article was posted lol
Sharp car,I’m not crazy over the green interior tho and of course the pistol grip shifter
Yes if I had the money I would be looking for that 4 speed to wind up the small block without a doubt! And 290 horsepower ? Snicker lol pretty sure there was sand bagging going on!
For sure! I have a 340 out of a 72 Duster and it has a single 4bbl, claimed at 275hp. It’s now in my 68 Satellite and after a bore and complete rebuild with top of the line pieces, it’s 420hp. That 6 pack option has to be worth more than 15 ponies.
Great looking car for sure
It would be interesting to see what real HP they make, The Boss 302, TA/AAR, and the Z/28 all had an advertised HP of 290. The Z was actually around 400, pretty impressive to say the least. The Boss around 350, but no idea of the Mopars.
Jon, like most cars built back then were under rated beefcake just like today auto insurance companies started raping people not based on their driving but based on how many ponies you had under the hood
I like these and the Challenger,I had a 70 440 4 speed. The 340 was a great engine . A guy down the road from me won an AAR at a local car show.
Some people still scoff at the little 340, but at the 2022 Pure Stock Drags a 340 finished ahead of eight 440s, five 426 hemis, and all the 383s.
It would be interesting to see what real HP they make, The Boss 302, TA/AAR, and the Z/28 all had an advertised HP of 290. The Z was actually around 400, pretty impressive to say the least. The Boss around 350, but no idea of the Mopars.
In a rare Cuda like this AAR, HP would not be my main concern.
I’m not at all concerned either, I am just curious as to what power they actually made in stock form. I am more the aware of the advertised HP BS from back in the day, I graduated high school in 1970. I grew up in Chicago, so I was fortunate to be able to go to places like Nickey and Grand Spaulding Dodge. Grand Spaulding Dodge offered a 340 six pack Demon, and in 1972 a Paxton blown 340, cool stuff. I would imagine the TA/AAR’s were in the neighborhood of 350 HP… I wasn’t able to purchase any of my dream cars back then, and the Army called me in 1973. I bought my first “muscle car” in 1973, and have had at least 1 in my posession ever since, I still have 4 at 70 years old.