After years of neglect, this 1974 Plymouth ‘Cuda in Sparks, Nevada seeks an owner with the vision and bank account to become the first person this century to twist the key and drive the mostly original V8 pony car. Cheap ’80s wheels mark the only noticeable deviation from stock on the Tahitian Gold ‘Cuda. The 318-powered three-speed manual classic looks largely unchanged from factory, according to the mostly legible fender tag. The listing here on eBay describes minimal rust. At least 12 bidders have the market value on this two-door hardtop above $10,000, which seems about topped out considering high powered specimens from a few years earlier generally fetch $15k to $20k in “needs everything” condition. Never underestimate the power of Mopar Madness.
Stock-looking air filter housing and exhaust manifolds bode well for originality elsewhere, as high-schoolers everywhere ditched those components as soon as they could flip enough burgers to afford a cheesy chrome air filter housing and headers. Nothing suggests recent attempts to start the engine, which is probably for the better. Between its 1967 debut and a 2002 curtain call, the LA 318 cid (5.2L) V8 powered countless Mopar cars and trucks, earning a reputation for reliability and (when properly modified) performance. My Grandparents bought a 318-powered 1969 Dodge Coronet and immediately took it on a six-week trip “out West,” pulling a travel trailer. The 318 earned my Grandfather’s respect and contributed to a lifelong belief that engines with more that 318 cubic inches were simply wasteful.
Nearly a quarter century of desert sun leaves this Plymouth’s plastics more baked than Snoop Dogg on a Saturday night. Factory tinted glass all around may have helped, but only to a point. Rust on the turn signal lever and steering wheel spokes suggests more corrosion beneath the original-looking carpet. The factory A6XW trim popped the contrast with white vinyl bucket seats and a black carpet and dash. Thanks to RealDash for some details.
The seller describes the roof as “very solid,” though disintegration at the base of the C-pillar may require some repair. The V1W Full Vinyl Top in White is probably a tattered original and V6W Longitudinal Stripes in white could be original as well. The “BS23” VIN makes this a ‘Cuda model, the sportier variant of the BH23 Barracuda. While this desert castaway could become anything under the sun with Hellcat power or a classic 440, I’d like to see it put back to original, and I hardly ever say that! Do you picture this long-parked Plymouth becoming a fire-breathing resto-monster or restored to original with the modest 318?
How sad!!
No A/C, and either the power steering pump is missing or it doesn’t have it. I’d be worried about rot, too. As of this writing, bidding is up to $10,355, which is surprising to me. I can’t see it being worth anywhere near that, especially with just a 318. 340 or better, maybe, but not a stripped, rotted 318 manual. I must not know enough about these.
Over 10k and the reserve isn’t met!? I’d give 2k tops for this heap.This car needs everything including full quarters which were bondo packed at one time.And it’s only a 318 car.I just don’t see the logic in spending that much on this.That’s just me though.glwts….I’d take the high offer and run if it didn’t hit the reserve at the end.
You lost me at “has the bank account”
Some people don’t deserve to own nice things.
I am tired to hear all the negative comments from those who probably don’t own a classic car. Especially a ‘Cuda. I own a 1974 ‘Cuda with the original 360 with a 4 speed. This car featured is worth 10 grand all day. Yes, it will take 20 grand to put it in proper condition (I would go with a 440 4 speed) – easy enough to do and would cost under 8 grand. Then spend the rest of the money on the body and interior. Hey, it’s a ‘Cuda! For those who think it’s too much money – what do you own? For those who say it’s too much money, are you an armchair quarterback with no money who would complain about the price of eggs? Classic cars are not cheap! They take time, money, and skill to reconstruct them to what they were. So get a job, save your money, and maybe someday you will be able to appreciate classics like this.That’s what I had to do. Don’t dis what you can’t have now!
Thank you, Walt – I’d bet many complainers would spend that much for a trashed 307 Nova , and then turn it into a ss 396 without a thought about how much money they put into it.
I have always been retro lover I always look for a/c no a/c no buy u must have been a moron back in the day to not spend the extra 100.00 for a/c.even at the drag strip turn the darn a/c on & let me whoop u r butte
Stu lynch – folks in hot climates were faster to adopt AC, but many people in those days thought power options and AC were like a double hit to your wallet, making you pay when you bought the car and again whenever they broke and had to be fixed. Also the fresh air vents in older cars were often giant-sized and flowed tons of air when you were moving. I drove my non-AC ’66 Dodge Coronet a couple hours each way one day when it was 90 plus and we rolled the windows up on the highway because the air coming in the giant vents was enough to keep us cool. The extreme might have been my parents ordering a Plymouth wagon with AC. To get the other items they wanted like wood grain and nicer interior, it had to come with AC, but they never used it even in the summer because it was “wasteful.” Now you can’t find a used tin can car without AC. I’m with you, though. I’m restoring a ’72 BMW and it will have modern AC blowing through an original dealer-installed Behr AC case. Thanks for your comments. Happy motoring!
I just got done restoring my 74 “Cuda, it had a 318 and still does, but it has 435 hp. Bought the car in 77 ,stored it in 84, pulled it out of the barn in 18 and restored the whole car, valued at 80 thousand ,and I love it
Seems some people take other people’s post personal 74 not most wanted hemmings has a 74 360 cuda for 39 grand again 10k is bid if you take it to a shop you will be in it all it’s worth and what other problems you may encounter
I think in 74 only engs where 318 360 one post says 80k not sure