1 Of 14: 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘cuda Convertible
Ford GT, Charger Daytona, COPO, Shelby, Hemi ‘Cuda… What do these names all have in common? If you guessed that they’re all way out of this author’s price range, you’d be correct. But they’re all also names that create a buzz and excitement when a muscle car collector finds out that one is going to cross the auction block at Mecum at a future event. The car featured here is one of only 14 Hemi ‘Cuda Convertibles produced in 1970, and it can be found here at Mecum Auctions ready to impress the insanely rich and most discriminating car buyers in the world this coming January. Barn Finds wants to thank reader Larry D. for another great tip on this one.
Hemi anythings have created a frenzy among muscle car fans, but when the opportunity comes around to own a Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible, some of the most deep-pocketed enthusiasts in the hobby take note and make the seller a very happy man. Mecum estimates this Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible will sell in the $2,400,000 to $2,700,000 range and based on this car’s pedigree and past sales history they may well be in the ballpark.
This ‘Cuda is documented with 2 broadcast sheets and has received a full rotisserie restoration, performed by Legendary Motorcar in Halton Hills, Ontario, Canada. The talented team at Legendary Motorcar stripped the body down to the bare metal, which they say revealed an outstanding original and extremely solid example ‘Cuda. The body was then painted the correct FY1 code High Impact Lemon Twist color. This ‘Cuda also features the minimalist body-color wheels with hubcaps, which look great on any ‘Cuda but when it’s a High Impact color it just sweetens the effect all the more. Inside, the H6T5 tan interior presents as well as the outside, and it’s not a common color. The FY1 and H6T5 make this the only Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible produced with this color combination.
Under the hood is all business, with the legendary 426 Hemi in place paired with a TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The console features a Slap-Stik shifter, which adds to the fun of transferring that power to the Sure Grip rear end. A Shaker hood adds to the madness, and unless you just have to have 3 pedals things don’t get much better in Mopar land.
Things on the south side are looking just as good as everywhere else, and this ‘Cuda also has the correct assembly line markings and tags throughout the engine and undercarriage. The details of this restoration are quite impressive anywhere you look, and to be such a rare beast this ‘Cuda is bound to create a lot of attention this January for Mecum. Any ideas on what you think this 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible might tip the scales at?
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Comments
Is it 3.91 gears ⚙ out back ? This must fly.
Good heavens what a machine. Shame it likely won’t see much time on the road. Incredible
Dear God why did Chrysler’s brass vote to shutter the Plymouth marque?
Is it just me or does it seem like every time Barnfinds puts up a Cuda or Challenger it’s a 1 of X?
You can thank Galen Glovier for that. Back in the early 1980s, before the muscle car craze took off, he was collecting and interpreting Mopar broadcast sheets and collecting factory data, and writing articles about production numbers in the nerdy and low budget Mopar newsletter. Forget the title of it now. He pioneered the 1 of x thing.
He also later did quite well as the leading “Mopar Consultant.” Old timers will remember that Glovier, Buick enthusiast Richard Lasseter, and Bethel’s Goat Farm launched the muscle car movement, for better or worse.
I need to have 3 pedals.
Me to and a lot of money💰.
@The Tower
You wrote: “I need to have 3 pedals.”
I totally agree. I’m amazed that this one has the shifter in the floor. I have noticed for years now that Mopars usually are automatics and most of those automatics are shifted on the column.
I have a good friend who toured RK Motors in Charlotte, NC. He saw a Hemi Road Runner there and he fell in love with it. Later, he called me to tell me all about it. I asked him if it was an automatic on the column and he said it was. Then he asked if I had seen it. I said no. He asked how I knew it was auto on the column and I told him because they all are.
Jeff Bezos, your car is ready. Meanwhile, pls post more original 1991 Civic Si’s for the rest of us schlubs. Honestly I find those more interesting anyway.
And not a single Nash Bridges reference up until now.
That’s a good thing.
Steve R
Nash is a 71. Gills on front fenders. One year only. 6 built for show. 318 to 440’s. No hemi. 4 autos. 2 four speeds.
You picked an appropriate moniker.
I can only imagine the amount of twist a torquey engine like this would put on a convertible framework like this
Yeah, no kidding. Should have ordered it with a small block (or a six!) I just laugh at these dog dish hub caps. No one and I mean NO ONE bought a car like this and kept them in place. Only there because they intended to put Cragers or something on the hubs and these were the cheapest thing you got, they were throw away items. I hope the billionaire who buys this at least understands what this is, but he probably will not. A sad world we live in. I remember in the mid 70s seeing a hemicuda in the back part of a used car lot. Can’t remember what the ask was, but I remember laughing that the once mighty car was in that dusty old part of the lot. Should have bought them and stored when they were cheap. Instead, kids did, trashed them. If they somewhat survived the crusher, they became like this after a big buck restore. None of it is real, just perceived value, like so much in our society.
“None of it is real, just perceived value, like so much in our society.”
Very astute comment Gary.
This generation of the ‘Cuda convertible is my fave. It would be on the top of my list followed closely by a 65 or 66 HI-PO Mustang. Unfortunately, like Roger Daltrey, I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth. And no I did not make it big with an enormously popular rock band. I have champagne taste, but not even a beer budget when it comes to classic cars.
It is cheap to live vicariously and hope that big lottery payoff happens before I shuffle off this mortal coil.
Gary, I agree with everything you said and the way you said it.
It’s always nice to see useless social commentary injected into every expensive or rusty car. Usually brought up by people with no real interest in the cars they are harping about or that have been sitting on the sidelines for decades.
Steve R
It’s always nice to see someone complaining about useless social commentary without realizing they have committed the same “sin” by doing so.
i see cars like this and think what a shame it will sit in some collection yeah sue its not out behind some guys house rotting and ever time you ask him about it he says ¨i´ll fix it one day¨ and its nice but at the end of the day a car like that was built to be driven it wasnt built to sit in a wearhouse, it should be on the street haveing the balls beat off it, or at the very least driven in a legal manor.
Finally a MOPAR that hasn’t sat in a field and returned to it natural state. NICE CAR AND You Can Bet At The Auction It Will Bring Top Dollar. Good Thing It’s Already Brown Inside ……..Because WHO EVER Buys It Is Going To $HIT At The Price
I certainly can appreciate a car like this and God bless the people who want and can afford them, but for me as a low level collector, I’d rather have a 340 or a 383 that costs much less and that I can actually drive.
This car was recently at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals show in Chicago at the Mecum display
A beautiful looking car, looking way better than it left the factory!
It’ll bring large money, as I’m sure it took some to get the way it looks now!
I’m happy with my 68 GS400 Convertible, 39 Packard Coupe and G Body 442’s which I can enjoy on the road!
Happy Motoring and Happy Holidays!
This car was recently at the Muscle Car And Corvette Nationals in Chicago!
Great looking vehicle, way better than it left the factory!
It’ll bring large money, as it took some to put it in the condition she’s in now!
I’m happy with my 68 GS400 Convertible, 39 Packard Opera 8 Coupe and 3 G-body 442’s which I can enjoy on the road!
Happy Motoring to whom ever gets it!
Happy Holidays
Brian
68 gs convertible
You have no reason to envy the cuda
Enjoy your cars
Merry Christmas to all car guys and gals
I think Barn Finds should stay with “Barn Finds”. These cars are not reality for the average Joe, or even average collector. Mecum, Barrett Jackson and any Frame up resto’s do not really fall in line with the Format. These guys are part of the reason that the average Barn Find project is now pushing the thresh hold of buying a brand new Mustang or Camaro! Not including the time and effort , blood sweat and tears of doing the restorations that many of us have experienced!
I think the last one at Mecum went for about 6 million.
It seems odd that it has an 8 3/4 rear and not a Dana 60
The Dana 60 was stand equipment on 4spds and with one or two options tied to the rear end gear ratio ordered. I think it was related to the Scat Pack option which came with short gearing (4.10’s) and extra capacity cooling. Otherwise automatic equipped street Hemi cars came equipped with 8 3/4 rear ends.
Steve R
The Dana 60 wasn’t actually standard on Hemi cars with four speeds, but you’ll not find one without that combination. The Hemi/four speed combination REQUIRED the purchase of either the Track Pak or Super Track Pak option, which included the Dana 60 rear axle.
Still waiting for the day when I have more money than brain(s).
You might be closer than you think.
Yes, is it a 1970 or 1971???
Nash Bridges
Yes it’s a ‘70. They have single headlights whereas the ‘71s have double headlights and front fender gills.
It will be bought by some business owner that has made a ton of $$$, put in a garage specially constructed to house his muscle car & auto memorabilia collection then will be put up for sale 5 years later as part of the “(insert owner’s name) collection” on Mecum.
It is an investment. Some cars are not going to go down in value.
Friend of mine ran. 37 Willy’s coupe with a injected 4#6 Hemi in the gasser wars and it was a national class champion in 68-70. He wanted to go roundy round racing so his sponsor, a Chrysler Plymouth dealer said he would get him a car. Got him a left over red, black vinyl top, black billboard, black interior 4 speed Hemi Cuda, it had 55 miles on it when they cut it up and made a dirt track car out of it. You could hear the Hemi over all the other cars out on the track
OUCH, That last comment, The cuda that cut up for dirt racing is a hurt. I had to bring up the black rear bumper. I got a 1970 gran coupe And it had the rubber front bumper chrome rear and thats how I have seen no rubber in the back,just the front,This cuda must have a rubber rear bumper,Any mopar judge. would catch this.I i guess i just learned somthing. I feel i know a lot-but these is a new one. Nice one. I passed up a 71 cuda convert ,yellow but smashed in the rear. $2000 around 1990
Crazy you could get a Hemi without a tach – like this one.
Crazy a 1st & 2nd gen camaro ’68 & later even with a strait 6 cyl came with staggered rear shocks – & these dual quad Hemis(& 6 pack 440s) didn’t?!
Are the huge resonators really necessary, especially if the mufflers are not turbo mufflers?! – not sure if turbo mufflers were even available in ’70.