Mopar did not seem to be playing by the rules throughout the 60’s and 70’s. Their muscle cars and pony cars were not put out there to compete with the competition but to destroy it. In all honesty they are back at it today with their 800 horsepower modern muscle cars that nobody can seem to keep up with.
However, Dodge first learned to pack a punch back in the 60’s and by 1970, Plymouth was ready to be tagged in to take a swing at the muscle car market with the 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda. Unfortunately, only 652 were made and only 284 of them got a 4-speed manual transmission making them a rare sight back in the day and even rarer today.
Taking into consideration how rare these cars are, one would think that they would be snatched up as soon as they become available. Well, usually they are but this one snuck by the car collectors that viewed Barrett-Jackson’s online sale last week because the reserve was not met. The Rallye Red Hemi ‘Cuda is a true survivor.
According to the add, it is an all original, matching-numbers car with only 33,000 miles on the clock. Despite going through two different restorations, all of the mechanical and cosmetic components original to the car have stayed in place. The 426 cubic-inch Hemi engine, A833 4-speed manual transmission, and 4:10 Super Track Pak rear end have all been rebuilt to factory specs and the car and restoration is well documented.
It appears the car is back on the docket for Barrett-Jackson’s Fall Auction scheduled for October 22-24. While this will give bidders a second chance to grab this rare beauty, it is also worth noting that this time the restriction has been removed as the car is listed as No Reserve. It will be interesting to see just haw much this car goes for.
Elizabeth is hardcore horsepower enthusiast with unmatched intensity for making things faster and louder. She wakes up for power and performance and only sleeps to charge up for the next project that’s heading to the track. From autocross to drag racing, Elizabeth is there with you, so stay tuned for her unique perspective on horsepower news, builds, tech info, and installs — with her, it’ll never be boring!
