This Cuda was originally powered by a 440 V8 that had three two-barrel carburetors on top! It wasn’t a Hemi but it was a more affordable option for muscle car guys who wanted to compete with the best of them. This particular project is going to require a lot of work before doing any stoplight drags but the dream of bringing something this special back to life is an alluring one. Find it here on eBay where it’s listed with no reserve!
As evidenced by the floors or lack of them, this car has some serious rust issues. Supposedly a previous owner sent the car off for a paint job and it came back in the wrong shade of blue. So they parked it and left it to rot.
Unfortunately, the original engine is long gone. The seller claims it blew up and someone replaced it with a 383. That’s a good engine too but obviously the value here is in what it once was. A real Mopar fanatic could track down a 440 and the carb setup to make this car right but I’m starting to wonder if it would be worth the effort.
The other side of the car shows more corrosion problems. You can also see evidence of that color change with a lighter blue showing under the topcoat. This would be one bad muscle car after a full restoration! The job will be a big one but not impossible. Obviously a few people think the job would be worthwhile as evidenced by the current high bid. Do you think this Cuda is worth rescuing?
What a mess.
At least people can’t complain about lousy and misleading pictures or the seller being greedy since he started the no reserve auction at a low price.
The auction for his other 440-6 Cuda project is more interesting.
Steve R
Whoever wins the auction on this one is going to have to have a lot more than a six pack in THEM…..going to have to include some hard liquor and greatly impaired judgement !! Maybe some wine too……to go with this “swiss cheese” !!
Ok, I went to the auction listing. Come on. On the road for 8 years from 70-78 and this is the condition. HOW? Parked on gravel that was continuously wet so the lime could just eat it away? Stored on the bottom of the ocean?
Under that seat, is that a Build sheet, what eaten by mice? No fender tag? Why? 8 years and no fender tag? No one knew in 1978 that this car would EVER be worth anything EVEN IF mothballed and perfect. I can NOT believe the level of rust and rot in this car??!!!
HOW is the auction over $10K on this? No original “great 440 motor with the 6 pack”?? gone, after 8 years? Auto trans. Total POS….Sorry I am just typing out loud.
Let’s complete the 3rd comment. It has “what’s left of” the 3 speaker rally dash & being in such bad shape does it even matter? UGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom, you should go back and re-read what I wrote. Who cares about this car. The interesting one is the other 440-6 Cuda he has listed for sale. The One with matching numbers, 4spd, Dana 60 and shaker.
Steve R
These Plymouths absolutely exemplify the “Live fast die young and leave a good looking corpse” adage. To this guy’s eye, they’d still look good after a visit with a crusher. Amongst other obvious things, is too bad that it is an automatic, but hello Graveyard Carz, do you have an opening for me – I have a blank check with your name on it.
Back up the Brinks truck on this. GYC to the rescue? Even they would turn this one down.
So, the owner was so upset about the paint job that he let it rot?
Even with the 383 running if you hit the gas hard enough this thing would blow apart. Not a pretty sight.
Everybody knows the rule if your car isn’t painted the exact shade of blue just park it and let it rot away….for years and years. Forget all the other great things about it, what a strange story.
If somebody wants to rescue it by all means, do it. Without the 440-6 anymore is it just another fish with smaller teeth? Bidding is close to eleven thousand right now.
Bs storie .
Agree with the others! The story smells more than a little fishy; as did it end up swimming with the fishes?
Actually the pair has been offered up for sale before and they are not getting any better. Better be like WalMart and do a price drop !
They are both currently listed with no reserve auctions.
Steve R
Sorry, only the one featured by this write up is no reserve.
Steve R
Laughing all the way to the bank
I didn’t realize rust was so expensive.
What’s under that vinyl top is concerning to me!! The quarters and trunk floor are replaceable but the roof could be a can of worms you don’t want to open!! Good luck to the buyer!! The metal york alone is going to be a while!!!
Those fiberglass belted tires are interesting.
Did they ever make radial tires with no steel belts & just fiberglass belts instead or aramid?
Would seem to me such radial woulds last longer – less cases of belt separation.
I have not seen a rot free 70’s project Plymouth Cuda or Dodge Challenger in at least 30 years. They have all been been beyond saving, in my opinion, but they still sell for outrages prices, due to the Hemi myth. Auction marketing has made any big block mopar pony, the gold standard for collectors. Never mind the majority having been 6 cycl. and small block cars. The mythical street hemi, ran great if you had your own mopar tech, a blower, dual point distributor, headers etc. You wonder why they never outsold Camaro’s, Mustangs, Firebirds etc. Any builder knows their replacing 90% of structure anyway for a clone project, that some unicorn buyer has to have. I wish that they would have put a mopar Starion in the first F and F film, i’d be sitting on a goldmine!
If what you say is true, a dynacorn may be the way to go, tho i wish they made the shorter & narrower cuda, instead of a chally dynacorn. Or both.
Surprised few of these factory cars were never driven in bad weather – high mileage don’t matter – ez to replace mechancal parts – as long as 1 did not get into a serious accident – good original structure & body is what counts on the originals.
SOLD for $13,472.
1970 – 71 Barracudas will always be worth more than any non-Mopar lunatic would be willing to pay.
president of the more money than brain’s club.
I would forget this car, unless you are a body man…to restore this would cost a fortune…and with no original 440, what do you have? It would be easy to find an original car in good condition, put your money into the price…rather than panels and labor at the body shop!