1971 Plymouth 'Cuda Flaunts Rare Luggage Rack and Shaker Hood Atop 340 V8

The HEMI 'Cuda is arguably the most sought-after gem from this model year. That's because Plymouth sold only 114 examples, a number that includes seven convertibles worth millions of dollars a pop. Deliveries of 440 Six-Barrel cars also dropped to only 254 units (including only 17 convertibles).

But the truth is sales slumped across the entire board. The entry-level slant-six Barracuda is also a hard-to-find rig, as only 96 buyers went with the 198-cubic-inch (3.2-liter) powerplant. The 225-, 318-, and 340-cubic-inch (3.7-, 5.2-, and 5.6-liter) Barracudas sold by the thousands, but the figures are still much lower than those from 1970.

Moreover, certain option combinations can turn just about any 1971 Barracuda into a low-production classic. The 340-powered 'Cuda you see here is the best proof. Based on the mill alone, this Mopar is one of 3,440 units built. If we remove the convertible production output, we get precisely 3,300 hardtops. Not exactly impressive, right?

Well, we also need to include the automatic transmission into the mix, which leaves us with 2,008 'Cuda hardtops with the said drivetrain layout. But it gets even better. The info sheet in front of the car says it's one of only 791 made. There's no info on what features narrow it down to that number, but it doesn't really matter because this 'Cuda is a highly optioned rig.

And in addition to the somewhat common Rallye dash, leather bucket seats, body-colored mirrors, and power steering, this purple hardtop also packs a few rare items. I'm talking about the Shaker hood, which you don't see often on 340 cars, and the luggage rack atop the trunk lid. The latter is among my favorite 'Cuda options. It just looks cool on this Mopar regardless of whether it's a hardtop or a convertible.

The color itself also makes this 'Cuda scarce. In-Violet was among the most popular High-Impact colors in 1971. However, most Mopar gearheads agree that fewer than 15% of all Barracuda were finished in the metallic purple hue. That's less than 2,500 vehicles regardless of features and about only 300 examples fitted with the 340 V8 and automatic gearbox. Factor in the Shaker hood and the luggage rack, and we're looking at one of fewer than 20 'Cudas built like this.

But I'm not here to obsess over production numbers (though I enjoy doing it). Rare or not, this 1971 'Cuda is a fabulous classic that looks the part from just about every angle. The interior is just as spectacular, while the engine bay is amazingly clean. It's a museum-grade muscle car!