Vehicle Description
1971 Plymouth HEMI 'Cuda Hardtop Tribute
It's the third-generation Plymouth Barracuda that lives in the
muscle car pantheon. Though it didn't get bigger, it certainly
became meaner and faster. The total redesign for the 1970 Barracuda
appropriately separated it from its vanilla brother, the Valiant.
The Barracuda was based on the E-Body - essentially a wider,
shorter version of Chrysler's B platform that was used for
rear-wheel-drive passenger cars. Plymouth ditched the Barracuda's
original fastback roots, limiting it to two-door coupe and ragtop
convertible versions for the third generation. Chrysler also made
the brilliant decision to bring the more specialized Hemi Cuda
within its own walls for design and production. The new Barracuda
was designed by a young designer named John Herlitz, who was only
27 years old at the time. The revamped but still large Barracuda
was slightly downsized but kept true to the muscle car proportions
with a long hood/engine compartment and a short trunk/rear deck.
The more distinct redesign of the Barracuda and its brother Hemi
Cuda became huge successes for Chrysler. Sales went through the
roof, doubling that of the last-generation car's final year: the
total number jumped from just under 28,000 per year to a whopping
50,617 cars. The Cuda created hunger with its limited production
number, then coupled that with sparse outfitting - like the absence
of air conditioning and power steering - to strongly communicate
its performance intentions.
For consignment, a garage kept tribute to the 107 Hemi 'Cuda
Hardtops made for the 1971 model year and this one has been the
recipient of a 14 year long restoration using mostly NOS parts.
Starting life as a 383 'Cuda, the transformation began in 2002 when
our consignor purchased this car out of North Dakota. Along the way
a 526ci Hemi V8 was installed along with a full on
rotisserierestoration being completed, we've got receipts, a video
of the car on the dyno making a tire shredding 651 ponies all on
premium pump gas, we give you a high powered Hemi clone. Just a
beautiful job overall has been done, and some interesting options
which this car was ordered with, have had liberties taken with
them. Scroll on!
Exterior
At the front of the car, things are about as subtle as a punch to
the face. 6 gaping grille nostrils, a pencil thin chrome bumper,
dangling fog lights, and angled shark gills on the front fenders
are enough to intimidate any modern American heavy hitter. Hood
pins keep things secure and for some normally unseen luxury on a
muscle car, fender mounted turn signals are on and looking fab. A
familiar Shaker Hood in TorRed replaces the original 2 port hood,
and now has a corresponding black Shaker scoop. The hood continues
rearward, to a pristine stainless framed windshield. Bringing up
either side of the stainless are TorRed sport mirrors. Moving to
the rear quarter on our way we note extremely well minded gaps, and
all straight worry-free steel, and the iconic HEMI billboard stripe
in matte black. And at the back of the car, a sleek rear spoiler
finished in black textured organisol hovers above a traditional
valence housing the iconic Plymouth multi-bar tail lights, and a
'Cuda badge all within a matte black rear panel. The rear showroom
quality bumper hangs below the valance and in a TorRed rear panel
dual chrome tipped exhaust peek out. A few imperfections and
inclusions are noted in the paint, but certainly no rust is found
and one must look hard to find the flaws. 15-inch Mopar rally
wheels with their argent centers and polished trim rings are
wrapped in deeply treaded and staggered width raised white letterBF
Goodrich Radial T/A's
Interior
Keeping the door open to the "no stone left unturned department",
we can swing open a door and see showroom quality door panels in
black molded vinyl. These have a sleek seamless look along with
their 'Cuda badges in chrome. Also showroom quality are 2 thin
early 1970's sleek black vinyl high back buckets with smooth center
panels and back with built in headrests, some tuck and roll pattern
inserts with buttons and smooth bolsters. The rear bench carries
this motif in back, and these are nearly perfect as well. This all
sits in a beautiful calm sea of jet black carpet that has
embroidered 'Cuda orange stitched floor mats. Floating above the
carpet up front is a well done restoration on the dash, featuring a
clean as a whistle round lineup of rallye gauges by American
Classic Restorations all within a wood applique field and a black
padded dash top. Seen racing up the center between the buckets is a
70's stylized console in black vinyl and wood applique, and
sporting a Hurst Pistol Grip chrome armed shifter. A faux wood
rimmed 3 spoke rim blow wheel with a "Michelin Man' styled
attachment fronts this very 70's muscular dash. Above all this 70's
menagerie is a tight black vinyl headliner. A shout out to the
trunk with its plaid liner and glossy orange finished panels.
Drivetrain
A 426 based 526ci Hemi stroker V8 replaces the original 383ci V8,
and comes with video proof of the intense 651hp. This elephant is a
Street Legend series mill built by Indy Cylinder Head in
Indianapolis, IN using a Mopar Performance iron Hemi block, Indy
426ci V8 aluminum cylinder heads, a hydraulic cam, and roller
rockers. A pair of Edelbrock 600cfmcarburetors feed copious amounts
of fuel to the mill and a black Hemi 'Cuda badged shaker assembly
tops things off perfectly. Attached to the back of this healthy
mill is a Brewer's Performance built circa 1969 A833 4-speed manual
transmission. Power flows rearward and is distributed to each rear
wheel via a Strange Engineering builtDana 60 axle with 3.73
gearing. Perfectly restored, looking factory fresh, and ready to
gobble up the competition!
Undercarriage
With a restoration of this quality and attention to detail as such,
one would expect nothing less than to see the likes of which all
are rust free, even dirt free, a perfect amalgamation of pure metal
parts all with a TorRed field of the unibody. A Hemi K-member, Hemi
front and rear torque boxes, rear power drums, and power front disc
brakes held together with independent torsion bar front, and leaf
sprung rear suspension are all seen. Note the photo of the headers,
3" stainless exhaust, Flowmaster mufflers and engine pan, it might
as well be jewelry, that is just how nice this car presents
itself.
Drive-Ability
All was very well with the test drive on this car as performance is
over the top, acceleration smooth and endless, and bias free panic
stopping. Good handling for a car of this caliber was noted and the
only frowns to note are an AM radio that doesn't sing, and from our
consignor's notes the wipers should not be used as they tend to
scratch the glass, a common factory flaw.
All dressed up, and now also ready for some whoopass, 526 cubes of
Shaker Hemi power, plenty of carb CFM, and a built 4-speed, all
wrapped up in straight and near pristine TorRed steel. Now that's
what I call a muscle car. One of the baddest boys on the block for
1971 and an American icon that even those not in the know will
recognize. Sidle into our Hallowed Halls, break out the checkbook
and save yourself the cost of a new condo.
BS23N1B444561
B-Plymouth Barracuda
S-Special Price Class
23-2 Door Hardtop
N-383ci V8 4bbl High Performance
1-1971
B-Hamtramck, MI Assy Plant
444561-Sequential Unit Number
Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special
interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale
with showroom space for up to ...for more information please
contact the seller.
