Some classics are genuine muscle cars, while others are mere pretenders to the crown. This 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda raises no such questions, providing performance that stacks up well over five decades after it rolled off the line. It is a garage-kept gem that has been part of the same family since 1982, but the time has come for it to head to greener pastures. The seller has listed the ‘Cuda on behalf of the owner here on eBay in Allenton, Michigan. Cars of this caliber invariably come at a high price, with the BIN set at $299,950. However, the seller will field offers above $200,000 for the owner’s consideration.
The Second Generation Barracuda range was one of Chrysler’s E-Body cousins, sharing its underpinnings and styling with the slightly larger Dodge Challenger. Plymouth split the range into three trim levels, handing the iconic ‘Cuda badge to the sporting variant. This ‘Cuda rolled off the line in 1970, resplendent in dazzling Rally Red with a Black vinyl top. The seller confirms the car was repainted after 1982, and the owner decided to ditch the vinyl. However, the trim is intact and in the trunk, so reinstating it is possible. The paint shines beautifully, with no signs of flaws or defects. The car’s leading edges are the most prone spots for chips, but none are visible in the close-up shots. There is no evidence or mention of existing or prior rust problems, and the Plymouth’s garage-kept history for the past four decades means it should be rust-free. The Black stripes look crisp, and there are no issues with the trim or glass. Those stripes and the stunning Rallye wheels indicate this ‘Cuda is more than a pretty face.
The American muscle car scene probably reached its zenith in 1970, and Plymouth was one of the market leaders with its ‘Cuda. There wasn’t a genuinely slow car in the range. It was just that some were faster than others. The must-have for those with enough money was the Hemi ‘Cuda. Its 426ci V8 churned out a mind-blowing 425hp and 490 ft/lbs of torque. That was enough power and torque to rotate the planet on its axis if the owner could find tires with enough grip! The first owner was 1-of-368 ‘Cuda Hardtop buyers to team the Hemi with a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, making this a rare and desirable classic. The phrase “stormed” probably best describes its ¼-mile ET, with the journey taking 13.5 seconds. Keeping the pedal to the metal rewarded the driver with a top speed of 144mph. When you compare those figures against many modern high-performance models, this ‘Cuda can still hold its head high. These cars can command eye-watering prices, but the numbers-matching ones are the most highly sought after. This Plymouth ticks that box, with the claim verified by photographic evidence. It doesn’t see regular use, but the owner meticulously maintains it in a turnkey state. It runs and drives perfectly and is ready for some muscle motoring with a new owner behind the wheel.
Assessing this Plymouth’s interior reveals one of the few faults requiring attention. The seller confirms that the dashpad has cracked, which is a typical problem with these classics. It isn’t the end of the world because several companies produce high-quality reproductions for around $400. Otherwise, even though the images are poor, it appears to need nothing. The Black vinyl trim is in good order, and the faux woodgrain is excellent. The Rally gauge cluster includes a factory tachometer, while other luxury touches include a console, an AM/FM radio, and a factory 8-track player. The seller indicates they will supply additional photos, which will prove essential for a more detailed assessment of the interior condition.
This 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda is a stunning classic that should provide its owner with plenty of power under their right foot. Its numbers-matching status and overall condition mean they can enjoy the vehicle immediately, while its value is almost guaranteed to climb, courtesy of its desirability and relative rarity. The seller’s price is hardly pocket change, even if interested parties submit a low-ball offer within their suggested range. That means that while the car will appeal to many, only a few will have the funds to realize the ownership dream. Do you think the seller will achieve a sale at the asking price, or do you feel a lower figure is more likely?
Beautiful car. I would put the black vinyl top back on it. And one small quip…the center caps on the wheels are from 1971. In 1970 they were silver, not dark argent as these are.
Funny thing I was just about to post”thank God they got rid of that ugly vinyl top.”
To each there own.
This ‘cuda was actually third generation, not second. 1st gen was 1964 – 66. 2nd Gen ’67-69.
It’s to each ( their ) own!! FYI I like it!!
Respectfully disagree, this car looks far better without it. I know the eBay listing has ended but I wonder if there’s a Govier report or anything else verifying that this is a true Hemi Cuda. For the asking price, that’s the first thing I would’ve asked.
And I disagree with you respectfully lol
A car that’s a factory Hemi you leave it alone!! ✌️
Glad he removed the vt. They hold moisture plus their ugly
Beautiful Hemi Cuda. Hmm, it has been in the same family since 1982, yet “There is a bank loan on the vehicle so you will need to meet at the bank yourself or with your representative to handle the financial part of this transaction”. I can understand a 30-year loan at today’s prices, but 42 years at 1982 prices?
Probably borrowed against it for something or the other as it is a valuable asset.
Yeah, that’s what I figured. I think I would have mortgaged the house instead.
Will, it’s better to put your car at risk than you home. I’ve known people that paid for toys with home equity loans, got into financial trouble and lost their house.
Steve R
Steve R, that may be true, but there are two sides to that. My friend who was a Chevrolet salesman called me in 1984 (I think) to come look at a new Corvette Indy Pace Car replica. I asked him “how much?”, and I think it was somewhere around $35-40k, which was about double the cost of a “standard” Corvette, and more than my house was worth at the time. I laughed and said sure, no problem; I’ll just sell the house and buy the car. Without missing a breath, he said “Well, that’s not a bad idea, because you can sleep in the car, but you can’t drive the house to work.”
In June 71 I was 21 and just back from the Army… bought a dealer demo 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe.. high trim.. 318 column automatic.. A/C.. ps pb. Same red with white vinyl top.. and the houndstooth interior and overhead console.. regular buckets. 5 spoke rallye wheels and 3 ring whitewalls… It was VERY sharp in our small town.
Drove it for real in Ohio and Michigan winters.. The salt finally won and sold it in 79 with 117k miles for 800 bux…AFTER I patched it up and painted it.. Loved that car.
Back then rule of thumb was a plain Jane with the big engine cost about the same as base V8 with automatic and air… and Hemis were overpriced
2 schools of thought..
That car in premium shape would command good money. By buddy back in the day had a 71 Grade Coupe with a 383 4 speed blk car white vinyl roof!!
Agree… and sorta knew it at the time… but i didn’t have alot of money… What i didn’t say was that the body was loose from the rear spring attach points… holes in the trunk floor. Nonetheless… the night before the buyer came for it I took it out and it still did 115… the body was a BIT loose…
I’m with you Rocco. I would put a vinyl top on it if it came without it.
I actually think they should have replaced the vinyl top when they painted the car. It looks good both ways but the vinyl top gives it a more “Gentlemen’s” hot rod sort of vibe. And it is the way it came. Isn’t that what the people want? Stock? Otherwise it would look very cool with a set of polished aluminum slotted mags. 50’S and 60’S with white letter tires. “80’s muscle”.
I think everyone has missed the point. 200k he better replace the dash pad. Lol it’s a beautiful car
Beautiful car. For the asking price the dash should have been taken care of. It’ll be a nice car to take up space in someone’s garage. As far as the center caps go, they could have come on the car, some Joe was most likely in a hurry to get to the bar and didn’t think much about it. No big deal.
Apparently there are still diamonds in the rough out there!! A trip to Graveyard Cars for a refresh and then sell it at Mecum or Barrett Jackson!!
For that money I highly doubt it gets driven by new owner or at much at all anymore. That’s the sad part about these rare and expensive rides.
Ebay listing has ended.
Yep, ended with the famous “because there was an error in the listing.”
Yes the pricing was wrong. I think they put the comma too far to the right.
Glad there’s no added rear wing on top of the trunk lid.
Yeah I’m with you, brother bitten! I mean, if this is not the holy grail of muscle cars, then I obviously have missed the point, and the guy’s wanting 300 large for it, so I have to hope that some folks will hold out because of the lack of the vinyl and the looming repair needed on the dash. Because, if I’m going to spend enough to buy a pretty decent house (even in today’s market) then it’s going to have to be as pristine as it can be, and needing work to achieve that as well as having a major trim item completely omitted kinda sours the deal for me. But then again, if I was going to shell out that kind of loot for one of these I’d probably shop around and find a different color. Not that this isn’t a completely stunning automobile, and ticks all of my boxes, but that’s a helluva lot of money to spend on something you’re not totally in love with..and personally, I’m not a huge fan of vinyl tops, but again, for 300k, I would expect that all I would have to do is slide down behind the wheel and try my best to keep the drool off of that nearly pristine interior..
$300,000 for a car that’s been repainted, original vinyl top remove, not a manual and in an average color. Plus needs work, including cracked dash. Good luck to the seller. And, the buyer (???)