Police Hemi: 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda Clone
This is an interesting car. It began life as a 1970 Barracuda Gran Coupe with a 318 cubic inch V8. Now it has a 2016 Charger Police Interceptor 5.7-liter Hemi. And cosmetically it’s in the process of being rebranded as an AAR ‘Cuda. So, when you get done, you’ll have a 1 of 1 kind of automobile. Located in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, this unusual Mopar project is available here on eBay where just one bid has been cast at $27,500. And there’s no reserve.
Plymouth gave its Barracuda a new lease on life in 1970 with its platform (though shared with the new Dodge Challenger). Sales jumped by 50% to 48,867 units that year, of which 4,742 would have been the Gran Coupe hardtop with a 318 V8 like the seller’s car originally was. In addition, Plymouth built 2,724 AAR ‘Cudas that year as a requirement to participate in the SCCA circuit. Those cars were unique in that they all had a 340 V8 with a 6-pack setup, not otherwise available. The seller’s Plymouth is something of a mishmash as a transformation is underway.
The seller has a lot of history on this Plymouth, from the time it was purchased new in Virginia, moved to California, and ended up with the seller in Minnesota. Only two owners are said to have possessed the car. As a Gran Coupe, it was fully loaded with some of those goodies remaining, like the overhead console, light package, and air conditioning. We’re told that a pic of the build sheet will be added to the listing, but that hasn’t happened yet. The door tag has very faded lettering and you really can’t make out much of that.
If the paint is original, it looks to be Hemi Orange, which would continue to make this one usual car. The seller has added a police Hemi from a ’16 Challenger and an 8HP transmission from an SRT Challenger, both purchased to further this project. They’re said to be in the Plymouth, but no photos under the hood are provided. And the trunk is unusual with some alternative floor covering I’m not familiar with.
We’re told the interior is clean, but the front bucket seats at a minimum will need to be redone. It seems that everything you’ll find to finish this project will come along for the ride, including new tires and Rallye wheels. The seller indicates he/she has $20,000 alone invested in all the parts and upgrades seen here, so if the bidding doesn’t start to heat up, this vehicle might be sold at a loss. What do you think of this work thus far, and – if you bought the car – would you complete it according to the seller’s vision?
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Comments
Trunk is covered with sound deaden-er
/insulation.
That is to muffle the screams of the new owner when he discovers this car is an automatic.
From the look of those quarters and the pics of scabby undersides in the eBag ad, I suspect that may be what’s holding the trunk pan together.
Something hiding under it
nO, nO, nO, No more ‘fake’ AAR’s. I’m just getting ready to list my ‘perfect
one and it makes it harder and harder. You could but a ‘set’ if dash side vinyl, slap it on a Hudson and poom, you own an original AAR.
That will make your car worth more. Keep on cloning, real buyers want a real one
It all comes down to affordability. Yes real ones are worth more but many are not able to afford them. The most cloned car available is the Cobra and it hasn’t diminished the price of the originals and the buyers of the clones are still “REAL BUYERS” not everyone has tons of money.
Okay, so I need help here. I have been very sick for almost a year and that has forced me to sell my perfect AAR. Of course I have tons of paperwork, extra spare parts, pictures and on and on but I have absolutely no idea how to get the best deal on it. Of course, I know about auction houses like Barrett Jackson and e-bay motors, you guys and on and on, but my medical bills are really destroying our family, so I need to try to get a good deal on the car (to try and pay some of them,) and at the same time not to try and take advantage of anyone. If you can help me do this the right way, I’ll make sure you receive a finders fee or something.
Sorry to hear of your medical issues. I would run an ad in Hemmings Motor News. Many classic, high-end cars get listed in there. You might try to find someone in your area who is an expert on these/similar cars and let hem help you set a price.
I wish you all the best!
Ask as high or higher than anyone else ever has. You can always come down but getting $x more doesn’t work.
There are several places to advertise for free or very little. If others here don’t help, I’ll make a list.
Sorry to hear of your illness~~ Auction is way to go. Even if it is a local auctioneer~~ THEY know how to get top dollar for you!! There is a huge demand for these cars now. Put the reserve extremely high.. Best wishes on your illness>
Ken Vrana – Let us auction it off right here on Barn Finds! We can send a professional photographer and will get top dollar for you. Here’s more info: https://barnfinds.com/auctions/about/
Unbelievable . Don’t beleive this bid is legit. I would buy one that’s the real Mccoy an leave this sitting where it’s at. Never never buy something like this without seeing it in real.
It’s not the original color, you can see what is likely the original light green through the trunk of the rear inner wheel wells.
Sorry to hear your sick Ken,my thoughts are to find a value for your car,if its numbers match and no rust its worth more,
I would do a trial run on EBay, and ask 15 k more than its worth and not sell it on the first run, pay the fees, take the hit and guage the interest.
Mopars are crazy money, if someone wants it , let it go.
Get well soon
I was ready to SCREAM! As long as it’s a clone they can put a slant six in it. BUT!…Nobody, and I mean Nobody replaces a 340 AAR with a 5.7 fake Hemi!
Eden Prairie is perhaps the richest suburb in the Twin Cities. A lot of very wealthy people live there (most of the professional sport stars in Minnesota reside there). I would think a person of means from that place, would have the money to finish this, but maybe they have decided the numbers decided the numbers do not work and decided to dump it on some unsuspecting trusting soul.
The Barracuda Gran Coupé may be rarer than the AAR Cuda, without the drama. And definitely without some trying to drive it like Dan Gurney.
Will a ZF 8HP transmission even fit between the “tunnel” underside and the Transmission Crossmember/Torsion Bar anchor/connector? I know the Mercedes NAG-1 won’t. Have someone build a 727 and bolt it up to the Gen III Hemi or even better to a 360 Magnum, with EQ-318B heads and bolt up your favorite intake and Carb(s).
Then sell the Hemi driveline off to someone else….
Everything you need to know about the quality of the work done to this car is in the undercar photo showing the header and transmission. What in the double-I-beam Red-Green horsef__kery is happening there? The first half of this project will be undoing what someone else hath wrought: complete butchery.
This was a one-butt-cheek attempt at cloning an AAR in the first place. The conversion to Stellantis’ prolate semi-ellipsoid corporate truck V8 has even less heart. Is anyone surprised none of the wiring is done?
Ten-foot poles, fools and their money, etc.
Decent examples of these cars are hard enough to find; stop chopping them up for moronic flavor-of-the-month swaps.
I would contact Gavin Govier, I believe he’s in Wis.
Or Mark Worman from Graveyard Carz. Both are Mopar Gurus….