Photo: Mecum Auctions
Back in 2002, a '71 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible entered the record books by being the first muscle car to change hands for more than $1 million dollars. Fast forward 12 years or so and the last example of the breed manufactured is estimated to fetch a mind boggling $4 million at Mecum's Seattle auction on June 14th.
Sheesh, that's a lot of green dollar bills for a muscle car as old as my dad. But nevertheless, the Plymouth Hemi Cuda is considered by many enthusiasts to be royalty in the world of old school American muscle. And it's quite a rare beast as well, with only two four-speed versions ever delivered in the United States.
So what makes the Cuda so great? Well, its rise to legendary status began back in 1968, when Chrysler started limiting production of high powered pony cars to very low volumes. Out of the aforementioned, the '71 Hemi Cuda convertible is the last of these monsters.
Needless to say, it's a highly sought after machine even outside U.S. boundary lines. The example you can admire in the photo gallery below is very likely to break records again this June, when it'll be auctioned off by Mecum for an obscene amount of Washingtons.
Sporting code B5 Bright Blue paintwork and a black power top, this fully restored Cuda is arguably the most revered factory muscle car in the world today. Retaining its original drivetrain and mostly all of its original sheet metal, this car is well documented with a factory broadcast sheet and an extensive history.
Equipped with a New Process four-speed transmission coupled to a Dana 60 rear end with 4.10:1 Super Track Pak, power is sourced to the rear wheels by a big boy HEMI V8 engine rated at 425 horsepower when new. Aided by a 26-inch radiator and power brakes, this crown jewel of muscle cars is perfectly suited for cruising even on today's traffic-laden roads.
Even though muscle car appreciation has come a long way since 1971, will this Cuda break the $4 million estimate?
So what makes the Cuda so great? Well, its rise to legendary status began back in 1968, when Chrysler started limiting production of high powered pony cars to very low volumes. Out of the aforementioned, the '71 Hemi Cuda convertible is the last of these monsters.
Needless to say, it's a highly sought after machine even outside U.S. boundary lines. The example you can admire in the photo gallery below is very likely to break records again this June, when it'll be auctioned off by Mecum for an obscene amount of Washingtons.
Sporting code B5 Bright Blue paintwork and a black power top, this fully restored Cuda is arguably the most revered factory muscle car in the world today. Retaining its original drivetrain and mostly all of its original sheet metal, this car is well documented with a factory broadcast sheet and an extensive history.
Equipped with a New Process four-speed transmission coupled to a Dana 60 rear end with 4.10:1 Super Track Pak, power is sourced to the rear wheels by a big boy HEMI V8 engine rated at 425 horsepower when new. Aided by a 26-inch radiator and power brakes, this crown jewel of muscle cars is perfectly suited for cruising even on today's traffic-laden roads.
Even though muscle car appreciation has come a long way since 1971, will this Cuda break the $4 million estimate?
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