Pictures of this 1973 Plymouth ‘Cuda 340 four-speed in Sherburne, New York depict flow-through ventilation of many panels due to rust… the kind that triggers head-shaking or a sympathetic sigh. Lively bidding here on eBay has driven the market price beyond $6,000. Come on, people; surely the registration sticker from 1974 and the faded “CB’ers Make Better Lovers” bumper sticker demand more than that!
The lack of sheet metal surrounding the rear wheels could offer an opportunity to fit larger tires, and nothing says “budget racer” like raising the rear end with a $12 set of shackles.
Of all the amazing Mopar muscle cars, these E-body cars garner the most attention. A four-speed manual transmission with the “Pistol Grip” shifter changes gears, as befits the high-revving 340. Apparently the sale includes an under-dash CB radio and a vintage cassette tape. Please submit your best guess in the comments below as to what album best suits this fine automobile. I’m going with Led Zeppelin I.
Unlike most Ford and General motors products, Chrysler cars of the muscle car era received body color paint in their engine compartments, adding a pop of color under the hood and helping support the idea that this ‘Cuda wore Petty Blue from its birth. The original Plymouth brochures here on lov2xlr8.no list this car’s 340 cid V8 as the largest and hottest engine available in the 1973 ‘Cuda, with only the standard 318 below it. By 1973 America faced an oil crisis and gas-guzzling engines like the 440 and 426 street Hemi seemed wasteful and unpatriotic, and these 340 cars were known for their ground-hugging looks and nimble cornering. This is a running and driving car, folks, and will be stunning when completed. Considering that and also the significant metalwork required, what’s your high bid for this bright blue pony car?
WOW! lot’s of rust Mostly in the rear. I would check the frame to make sure it is solid even though it is said to be a driver.
Another drive it and fix it little by little
Led Zepplin 1 was 5 years in the rear view mirror, Houses of the Holy would be the age appropriate tracks for 1973. Over the Hills and Far Away would serve this ‘Cuda well. Love the looks of this year Baccaruda, even though it was losing horsepower it retained its charisma.
Excellent choice and far better than my first choice.
PS to Todd – I love your humor, especially in these recent Mopar listings.
Hi Barzini. Thank you!
Breaker 19. Got your ears on?…for some fine Lynyrd Skynrd Second Helping..my guess, anyway. I’ve seen worse, so I suppose it could be a driveable project.
Todd, where did you see a reg from ’74? He said he’s driving it every day. And he must have a custom registration, as the blue plates went away in ’73.
He seems to indicate that you could drive it every day. Give the fact that it has a current NY state reggie and inspection sticker on the windshield, I guess it’s seen some recent test drives. As far as those classic orange on blue NY tags it’s wearing, NY state now lets you register vintage cars with old style license plates as long as they match the style or series of the year the car was built.
Hi Boatman. In the straight-on picture of the rear it has a registration sticker from “4-73” so probably in the five seconds it took me to look at that and switch windows my slippery mind converted it into “74.” Good call on the details. Thanks!
Likely a $30-$35K car when fully restored. Nice car with 4sp pistol grip and Ralleye dash, and mostly correct parts under the hood, but soo..much work here. Don’t forget besides the body, interior and drive train, likely the entire suspension needs renewing. Hard to imagine getting it all done without being completely under water, even doing much of the work yourself.
Yes, I think that’s pretty close. A good original is currently going for $66K. I’d peg a good, correct resto in the $35 – $40K range, with a value that’s sure to climb in the next 5-10 yrs. And yes, it will be a labor of love. One would definitely be upside down it it when completed.
I like interesting questions like what album would fit this rig, I’ll say Machine Head by Deep Purple, or maybe Volume 4 from Black Sabbath. By 1981 I’d be expecting some trouble makers to be blaring Everybody Wants Some by VanHalen as they smoked the rear tires on the way home from continuation high school! I’m getting carried away here.😋
You just described me. It sure was fun though. Hahaha.
Vance, while I like your selections, I think Troy is a little more dialed in on what tunes were floating through the cabin. If it had the 440 or 426 up front, that cabin would be changed to a cockpit.
Even though it’s from a few years later (’79), the perfect musical tie-in to this car would be “Rust Never Sleeps” by Neil Young.
Led Zeppelin did pretty well despite the Rolling Stones opinion
This is a nice find. This is a rare car. I have never seen the rear of Cuda. I did not know it has round tail lights. They look really good.
Car like this that runs, has matching numbers and is essentially a classic never to be manufactured to the same proportions because of National Highway Safety Transportation Administration safety standards, probably might go for $60,000.
All 1972 to 1974 Cudas and Barracudas have the round tail lights.
Not a bad starting point. These 340s were good little engines and the car handled well for the ’70s. I had a ’73 340 ‘Cuda auto in 77. Chrysler cleaned up this engine with exhaust blead jets in the intake manifold. Helped with detonation, but made for a rough idle. Put it back as a good solid driver and enjoy it.
where’s mark worman when you need him?!!
I love it ..but rusty cars are all I can afford..I’d drive as is..I’m a hillbilly..this speaks to me in volumes. Creedence chronicles must be the tape
Jumping railroad tracks will help remove the loose rust
New York must have very lax inspection standards… too far gone for me to consider… I’d go buy the 2009 Challenger with 18k miles down the street for $19k first.
Looks like It already has some extended shackles.
Shame to see it like this. This, too me, is such an ideally optioned specimen. Hated seeing so many these ‘72-74 E bodies poorly cloned as ‘70-71s.
Captain Beyond’s self titled album. “Dancing Madly Backwards” jamming while giving it a little hell out on some back road. For cruising around, early Cheap Trick or The Cars.
Love Captain Beyond! Thanks!
And if you have some spare time, click this. Thanks for the heads up Jubjub. https://www2.bing.com/videos/search?q=captain+beyond&&view=detail&mid=A9FC2F4E6E34E265152AA9FC2F4E6E34E265152A&rvsmid=A2E0FF2C3E99D0A1AD06A2E0FF2C3E99D0A1AD06&FORM=VDRVRV
Love the shackles. looks complete and might be affordable if u want to take it on. Buyer beware tho lotsa work here!!
Good luck to the new owner/
Keep the clean side up and the Greasy side down Good buddy—
I grew up in Western New York – ’73 ‘cudas were rusted like that in about, oh, 1979 or so.
Mine was, in Massachusetts.
I was jamming to Zappa a lot in my 73 Duster 340 with an FM converter cassette deck back then, mostly to Zappa’s ‘Billy the Mountain’
I had the same car, same color in 1983, but with the vinyl roof. The ‘Cudas were more desirable than the base model, as they came with the cooler hood. Mine was actually nearly as rusty as this example. I paid $400 for it, with no engine, pulled a running 340 out of a junkyard (which was easy to find at the time) and bolted it in. No good repro quarters were available, so I did the best I could with JC Whitney panels and bondo. Cragars, shackles, and a pep boys cassette deck completed the mullet mobile. Had a great time with it for a couple years and moved on to a sad faced 73 Challenger. It’s amazing how many of these were around back then. They just weren’t as popular for teenagers like me as a Camaro or Nova. The guy who bought my Cuda dropped in a 440 and drag and street raced it. He was bummed on the initial swap as the 72 and up cars weren’t designed for the weight of a big block and he had to redo the front suspension.
It wasn’t that big motors were unpatriotic, it was the over zealous policing of the 55mph speed limit that drove me out of them. I hated that limit, got so many tickets for 59 or 60. What was their problem??? Those points were on my record long after the speed limit was raised, there should have been an forgiveness program. Cost me for years. Nowadays I can do 70 on virtually every interstate and never raise an eyebrow. I hated 55.
So, the cassette player has Sammy Hagar’s “I can’t drive 55”?
Daytime-”Take it easy”, Eagles. Nighttime- ”Radar love”, Golden earring! Summer time cruising baby!
Mark-you beat me to “Radar Love” by Golden Earring; “Driving My Life Away” by Eddie Rabbit.