1970 was arguably the pinnacle of the muscle car era. From the Hemi ‘Cuda to the Chevelle LS6, automakers were making their highest horsepower street machines around this time. With emissions restrictions and the oil crisis on the horizon, many automakers began to restrict performance starting soon after this 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda rolled off the line. It can be found here on eBay with a current bid of over $105,000 and the reserve hasn’t been met yet. Being offered for sale by Past & Present Motor Cars in Ocoee, Florida, they say the car is an original paint survivor with less than 43,000 miles on the odometer. Let’s check out this awesome car!
Unfortunately, the 426 cubic inch Hemi engine is not numbers-matching, however, according to the seller, the original engine was replaced under warranty with only 4,000 miles on the odometer. While this car would certainly command an ultra-premium price if the engine were numbers-matching, having a period-correct warranty replacement is the next best thing. While the Hemi gets most of the attention from Chrysler fanatics, there are some people who feel the 440 was actually a better-performance engine (more cubes/less weight). What do you think?
The interior is really striking in this car. The ad says that there were only 3 cars produced with a red interior and red body stripe in 1970. There’s no information on whether any of the upholstery or interior bits have been refurbished or replaced, but since this car is supposed to be a low-mile original-paint survivor, it is probably original as well.
This car includes two broadcast sheets along with other documentation. The asking price for this car on the Past & Present Motor Cars website is nearly $300,000! I doubt with a non-numbers-matching engine, they will get that price, but you never know. What do you think?
Is there a rule at BarnFinds that you have to feature at least
one overpriced “1ofX” Barracudas/Cudas every day?Just like the
Broncos,this is getting really old.
MORE affordable vehicles please.
Do you get tired of the rotted piles of Chargers , Mustangs and Camaros ?
Nope. I disagree. Keep em all coming.
All varieties – just like we used say about conquests; Eight to eighty, blind, crippled or crazy.
I agree! I love the whole spectrum of cool cars and trucks they feature!
I don’t know about the eight part…
It has become something like the money-laundering scheme with ‘fine art’.
not over a half hour dead. hehe
I think it’s kinda funny that even in 1970, the original owners knew these were going to be collector cars, and many are low mileage and we’ll taken care of, and if I remember correctly, ppl didn’t collect stuff like the last 40 years. If I had bought one of these, I’d have driven the wheels off it. I would have had one of these or a Hemi Road runner guaranteed !
What Mike K said. However, I know a man now in his 80s, who bought a NEW 1965 fuel injected Corvette, drove it 1,500 miles and heard GM was not going to build anymore fuelies. He put the car in his basement, covered the carpets with newspaper, the seats with Holiday Inn towels and left it there until 1977, when he sold it. The car today has 1,571 miles. This guy had a crystal ball mind. Last time it went to auction, it was a no sale at $490,000. The heck with the stock market.
The question was asked whether a 440 or 426 Hemi is better on the street. Happens I used to work with a guy that had both, a 69 GTX and a 69 RR.
Though he said the Hemi was a beast, he preferred the 440 on the street.
I’ve had a small Hemi but that was in a pickup so it’s not a fair comparison.
As far as this one goes, it looks good but not $300K worth.
It’s hard to imagine having the privilege of deciding which one I wanted to drive to the store lol. It’s like deciding what I like best, the mini gun on my Apache helicopter or the hellfire missiles.
It sure is different looking in black, with 18 or so color choices Chrysler had back then it seemed the only black Mopars were old government vehicles. The red gut reminds me of all the Fords I used to see in black with a red interior. the
I special ordered a ’71 Challenger RT with the vaunted 426 Hemi. LOVED it until gas crisis hit California in ’73 (could get only 8 gallons every other day). Had no clue it would be valuable. I was 24 and clueless. It was my daily driver when gas was $.35 a gallon. I needed more than 8 gallons every other day.
$124k now and reserve still not met, the seller has other muscle cars listed.
The only thing muscular about these cars is their gasoline consumption. Everything else so so la la.
Hey Mitch, what’s your description of a muscle car?
With only 4000 miles on it an explanation as to what happen to the original engine would be nice. I can only assume blown. BTW…I bid $129,699.00 knowing full well I wouldn’t be close.
A stunning original car, even if a few people think too many of these are being offered. This one brings back every good memory from my high school days when only the rich kids had cars like these or Corvettes. We had a full tail Bumble Bee in the parking lot every day it diod not rain.
I own a late 1960’s BMW R60/2 in the rarer white with a factory warranty replaced motor with ALL DOCUMENTATION including letters between the owner and dealer, dealer and US Represntative and then the US Rep and Germany to finbally get approval.
I think that might be a better and rarer ownership story than any all matching numbers machine no matter the age or number of wheels on the road.
I had a lowly 1959 Cadillac, M&M bodied, GM silver with black wrinkle paint roof end loader hearse I’d gladly reaquire if it could be located. I’ve been informed it was the only one painted like that.
A true 120+ mph roadship (DC area Dulles airport access road & 75-80 Drag-Way) with a 390 4-barrel under the hood, a picnic table dash, Caddy’s best ever chrome grin up front, tailfins and dual lights that looked their best on the hearse body vs. the sedans or even fleetwood limos, a front bench seat for 3-4 including the driver and lets just say room for plenty of bodies or camping gear in the back 😎😖
You would have to be up there in age to remember when these were affordable and you could find them in the newspaper classifieds?