HEMI Barn Find: 1970 Plymouth Cuda
Update 10/11/24 – This amazing find has been relisted here on eBay. Do you think it will find a new home this time around?
From 9/18/24 – If there is a Holy Grail for Mopar enthusiasts in the classic world, that honor probably falls to Plymouth’s Hemi ‘Cuda. These rare beasts offer stunning styling with exhilarating performance. This 1970 model recently emerged from a forty-seven-year hibernation, with the seller returning it to a running and driving state. Cars of this caliber come at a price, but the auction action suggests people are willing to pay for the privilege of owning this stunning survivor.
The information supplied by the seller is confusing, although there appears no doubt that it only recently emerged from a long slumber. The Fender Tag confirms that the existing Tor Red paint gracing its panels is correct, with the seller stating that 90% of it is original. It retains a healthy shine, with no evidence of significant cosmetic issues. Rust can be a problem with these classics, but the news seems extremely positive in this case. The underside shots reveal nothing but the occasional area of dry surface corrosion. The seller states that the floors and trunk pan are original, and there has never been any steel penetration. The glass is clear and the trim looks excellent, and the only criticism I can identify is the visible scratches on the factory Rallye wheels. It looks like someone has fitted and removed trim rings many times, with the paint scratched in that area. Another set of rings would hide the problem, but sending the wheels for restoration would add the perfect finishing touch to the exterior.
Plymouth offered 1970 ‘Cuda buyers a wide selection of V8 engines to power their new purchase. However, the undoubted king was the 426ci Hemi beast. It placed an incredible 425hp and 490 ft/lbs of torque on the table, making it easy to understand why so many people consider it one of the best American production V8s produced during that period. It was also expensive, helping to explain why only 3.8% of 1970 ‘Cuda buyers ticked that box on the Order Form. This car is 1-of-284 Hardtops where the first owner teamed the Hemi with a four-speed manual transmission, allowing the car to storm the ¼-mile in 13.1 seconds. That number looks respectable against modern vehicles but made the car’s first owner “King of the Kids” in 1970. The seller states that this car’s Hemi is original, although they believe someone treated it to an upgraded camshaft. It recently received a new dual-row roller timing chain, oil pump, fuel pump, clutch, pressure plate, and alternator as part of its revival. It runs and drives, but it is unclear whether this classic is genuinely roadworthy.
The positive vibes continue inside this ‘Cuda, with no evidence of abuse or aftermarket additions beyond an oil pressure gauge to monitor the Hemi’s health. The Black vinyl trim is free from visible rips and other problems, with the same true of the dash, pad, console, and carpet. The driver faces a Rallye gauge cluster that includes a factory tach, swapping cogs with a beautiful pistol grip shifter. It isn’t luxurious by modern standards, but when there is so much performance potential lurking under the hood, most enthusiasts would be satisfied with the AM radio, which is the only creature comfort.
This 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda is a fantastic find, and it seems I am not The Lone Ranger when it comes to that opinion. It has attracted thirty-nine bids since the seller listed this classic here on eBay in Manchester, Connecticut. That action has pushed the price to $125,100 and, unsurprisingly, that figure falls short of the reserve. The sky is the limit with this Plymouth, and I wouldn’t bat an eyelid if it climbs past $200,000 before the hammer falls. Do you agree, or do you have another figure in mind?
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Comments
Must have been a listing error as the auction has ended. Those are the wrong year rims, but they may be installed so this could be shod with the Bias Polyglas tires and run in the F.A.S.T. series. It is remarkeable to see these high dollar cars being thrashed down a dragstrip at E.T.s that were never possible back in the Day.
A prime example but a LOT of scratch…
The wheels are correct for a ’70, since Chrysler’s rally wheels never changed, unless they’re the wider wheels from a B-body (which make an E-body handle better), only the center caps (from a ’72 and up) are incorrect and the trim rings missing.
It has passed $250,000.00 on a new listing, but the reserve is still unmet.
Hard to believe that 13.1 is the best it could do. I had a ’64 Dodge 440 with a 365 HP 426 stock except for headers and turned 13 flat at 99 MPH.
It beats my Yamaha XS650. It could only do the quarter in a pokey 13.5.
Wow…something horrific must have happened inside that crankcase!
And where is the skid plate? Mine has one .
Love it
Retirement fund addition accomplished
Glad engine survived racing…
From the looks of the oil pan, something catastrophic happened in the crankcase at some point.
Too many changes from original to be called a survivor.
That trunk pic scares me…..but other than that it’s a nice car…..but there are others just like it for sale.
Car is relisted. That area of CT is prime Mopar country with many experts. The local club is Mopars In Motion and if anyone is serious about this car, they have members that can give you a highly accurate assessment. http://www.moparinmotion.com ( no “s”in url). I used to be a club member before I “escaped” with my cars to SC a few years back.
Relisted. Bid to 77,877.00 currently with reserve unsurprisingly unmet.
Relisted since, and ended early again due to “error”. No bids. All this listing and relisting is starting to smell fishy.
I had an issue of SS& Drag Illustrated Magazine from 1970 where they took delivery in Detroit of a new Hemi ‘Cuda project car and street raced it heading home and then around town. I remember the one line in the article to this day. “Never losing and always winning by two car lengths”.
Wrong center cap’s
Cool Jim, good eye.
That’s a lot of coin for an imperfect/unrestored car. No A/C or power steering limits its appeal.
Here’s your tip for the day. No 426 Hemi car was ever built with A/C. And it’s very common for performance cars from this era not to come with power steering in order to save weight.
Ignorance is bliss!
There was no room under the hood for a factory A/C setup in the Hemi-equipped cars. Same goes for the B-bodies. FYI.
If it was “built for racing”, it should not have a radio, heater, power brakes, or disc brakes.
With such low miles, why would the steering wheel have peeling paint, & the driver’s door panel look like that?
& why would the rear wheelwell(s?) have rust?
😂 some of you guys are too much.
It’s pretty obvious, most Hemi Cuda’s were either street racer and or pressed into track service. Regardless of options, these cars were designed from the factory as high performance/ race eligible units. Disc brakes would’ve been a wise choice if you planned on driving in competition events. Only a very few and rare cars left the factory as radio, heater delete.
The minimal cosmetic issues you mentioned are simply the result of less than perfect storage and lest you forget the car is 54 years old.
There are times when it’s best to remain silent and be thought a fool as opposed to opening your mouth and removing all doubt.
Good day.
I seen plenty of hi po mopars with manual 4 wheel drum brakes which racers know are lighter & have less drag. My ’74 firebird even with a non sd 455 is no race car but it has no power brakes or heavy fact radio or any other options – they all had to be ordered – not fact delete.
Chrysler knew that hemi cars were headed for competition, formal or informal, which is why, after the purchaser shelled out the big bucks for the hemi and a Track Pack (one or the other was mandatory with the hemi, but had to be ordered separately), their warranty was reduced from 5 years/50,000 miles to 90 days/4,000 miles.
Well Said!
Another needle in the haystack has been found! 🤙🏽🍻💚
To run a 13 sec 1/4 mile on polyglass tires is pretty impressive.Real hp/torque figures are actually aaround 480 and 510.Run drag slicks and sub 13 sec times are easily attainable and running 100+octane gas.the only kind of leaded pump gas you can get now is av gas.either LL100 or AV100.just go to your local municipal airport with some gas cans….
Boy this has come long way from the car that was sitting in that barn. Are you sure this is the same car? Just saying
I was 14/15 years old when these cars came out. A neighbor had a 641/2 Baracuda that was black with gold stripes. I build 3 1970 Cuda models, all different, including one like a Superbird.
Just peeking at the pics, my very first thoughts were X-racer don’t know why but it’s my gut feeling.
Is that a serviceman’s sticker on the right rear bumper ? Still kinda high priced but it’ll bring what it will bring….
Again what is with the Philip head screws in the VIN plate???