Reassembly Required: 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda
The Barracuda was Plymouth’s “pony car” and actually beat the Ford Mustang to market by 17 days in 1964. But it never enjoyed the same level of success with 1970 being a high-water after a redesign finally gave it a platform of its own. This ’71 Cuda coupe has a “puzzle” written all over it and comes with a variety of new parts to complete the reassembly. It’s a rare find in that just 501 ‘Cudas were produced in 1971 with a 383 V8/4-speed manual combination. From Dallas, Texas, this Mopar DIY project is available here on eBay where $23,000 has not been enough to crack the reserve.
With its new E-body platform, the Barracuda saw sales increase by 50% in 1970 over 1969. And Dodge benefitted as well with the new Challenger built on the same infrastructure. But the muscle car market went into decline in 1971 and since the Barracuda and Challenger were so closely aligned with that image, demand and production plummeted. Barracuda assembles were down nearly two-thirds to about 16,500 units so the seller’s ‘Cuda (if authentic) was only 3% of the whole product line.
This looks like one of those cars that will go to its next home in an enclosed trailer rather than a flatbed because it’s a restoration that only got part of the way done. We’re told the 383 cubic inch engine is numbers matching, but no mention is made if that applies to the transmission, too. The car has disc brakes (front only?) and a 3:23 posi-traction rear end. It comes with the desirable Rallye dash that’s already been restored as has the console.
While we don’t know if 100% of everything needed is there to make this auto whole again, we’re told the following stuff is new. At a minimum, that includes carpeting, upholstery, vinyl top, some glass, the grille, and various odds and ends. It comes with a new shaker assembly, but the hood is not original. When it gets to the point of rolling again, it can do it on 15” Rallye wheels. The bodywork has already been completed, and the rotisserie that was used comes with the deal. How are you at picking up where someone else has left off?
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Comments
If you are going to put it back together, why not put in a nice small block for better handling? Maybe a modern power plant? A Pentstar V6 would work well. My preference would be for a good handling, quiet, smooth running road car. The kind you could take on a cross country trip and make memories besides laying rubber and annoying people on the street.
What would you use for a transmission? Not sure if anyone’s tried mating a Pentastar to a manual tranny.
True, a stick is often more fun, but from a road car perspective used to travel distances, an auto is just fine. In that case, mate it with a modern auto box as well. What did Pentstars come with, 4 speed autos? Don’t forget to add air and have an adjustable seat. I found that these E Bodies can have awful seating positions, at least for some people, but I found them best with an adjustable steering wheel and a six way manual seat adjuster. Some sound deadening and a decent stereo would add to the fun.
Just buy a newer V6 Challenger and you will have everything you just mentioned. No need to destroy a classic pony car by putting a modern engine and conveniences into it.
Better yet, buy a newer V6 Challenger and put the engines of your dreams into it, a slanty.
The new Challengers weigh far too much for a trusty 225. Maybe a 318. Never cared for the looks of the new ones. They pale in comparison. Maybe if the German rulers of the company, had made a lighter, sleeker car. Perhaps even used the old molds and made the same E Bodies from the 70s. Of course, not much crash protection, maybe that could have been worked in somehow, maybe not. i think we can all agree, a nice 1970 one is so much better looking than a bloated newer one. I think they would have had a crazy good seller. Of course, those couldn’t have sold for as much as the new ones, and profit is king in our sad modern world.
Sure take a numbers matching engine and toss it for some lame v6 that it never came with ?????? Why do you continue to bash v8 Mopars ? Youre never commenting on the Bow Tie and Blue Oval V8 cars.
This is a 1:1 model kit. Some of the welds don’t look to good. Plenty of other issues I saw in the pictures. This should not be done by a backyard mechanic. Need a complete professional shop with lifts and spray booth. Your going to need deep pockets to complete the job and time. At the end and if everything lines up you are going to have a beautiful Cuda. I would stick to the numbers on the fender tag including the paint code. It would be worth more money if you do. Good luck to the next owner. 🐻🇺🇸
Big bear said it best. I started out the same way. I bought a 71 gran. Coupe for 15k. Rusty but straight and solid with all the original panels. Never hit luckily. Missing the 318 and 3spd manual and lots of. Other stuff but thankfully I can do all the work my self in a heated shop with all the tools. Could never afford it other wise. I have a 440 4bbl. 4spd. And got new filled fenders. And lots of other sheet metal. No complaints with amd panels. Cloning to a phantasm cuda.
Phantasm Cuda .. thanks.. Mopars are cool cars… And good luck on your project. 🐻
Is it just me or are those pictures pretty much useless. When pictures are taken at weird angles that just show one little bit of the vehicle at a time and are not in focus very well, you sure don’t want to buy the vehicle without a personal inspection.
Steve is right the pictures are bad you would need to look at the project b4 buying .