Photo: Bogdan Popa/autoevolution/eBay seller rm2.chris
If you want a truly rare 1971 'Cuda, the Hemi version is undoubtedly the first stop. Plymouth produced only 107 units, down from 652 units. However, if you don't mind breaking the bank, you can always spend even more (if you can find it) on a 4-speed Hemi-powered 'Cuda.
With 59 examples rolling off the assembly lines for this model year, they are even rarer. Previously, the carmaker produced 284 similar configurations for the 1970 model year, so the successor became one of the most desirable and almost impossible to get in the collectors' world.
Someone on eBay recently posted online the next-next best thing. Their 1971 'Cuda comes with a 340 4-speed powertrain, with the vehicle requiring a complete (and, I'd say, very challenging restoration) after possibly decades of sitting.
We’re not getting too many specifics on the car's possible tenure outside the road, but seller rm2.chris says the FE5 red with black bucket seat interior, the factory shaker, and the original VIN tags make it a solid restoration candidate that you can hardly find today. Indeed, a factory shaker 'Cuda is a rare thing today, even in such a rough shape.
And speaking of the rough shape, the car will need a lot of metal work, and when I say a lot, I really mean it. The seller says you'll have to replace the full floor pans, the quarters, the A-pillars, the fenders, and the trunk floor. You'll spend a lot of time fixing the metal, but it's not as bad as it sounds.
The frame rails, the rockers, the doors, the roof, and the front inner fenders still look good and would only need minor repairs to remain on the car.
The 'Cuda used the optional 340 V8 – as a refresher, despite the 'Cuda being offered with a 383 as standard in 1971, the 340, which came with a smaller displacement and lower power than its bigger brother, was available as an option; it eventually became a popular choice in the 'Cuda customer base, outselling the 383 with 335 horsepower significantly for this model year. The 1971 revision didn’t change much about the engine, though it introduced a smaller compression from 10.5:1 to 10.3:1, but Plymouth managed to retain the same power output as on the previous model.
Unsurprisingly, the 'Cuda received plenty of love on eBay, where the bids keep coming as part of the no-reserve auction. It means the car will certainly have a new home when the digital fight ends in a little over two days. The top offer is $22,500, but considering nearly 30 people have expressed interest in the 'Cuda lately, I expect the price to go up significantly in the remaining hours.
Someone on eBay recently posted online the next-next best thing. Their 1971 'Cuda comes with a 340 4-speed powertrain, with the vehicle requiring a complete (and, I'd say, very challenging restoration) after possibly decades of sitting.
We’re not getting too many specifics on the car's possible tenure outside the road, but seller rm2.chris says the FE5 red with black bucket seat interior, the factory shaker, and the original VIN tags make it a solid restoration candidate that you can hardly find today. Indeed, a factory shaker 'Cuda is a rare thing today, even in such a rough shape.
And speaking of the rough shape, the car will need a lot of metal work, and when I say a lot, I really mean it. The seller says you'll have to replace the full floor pans, the quarters, the A-pillars, the fenders, and the trunk floor. You'll spend a lot of time fixing the metal, but it's not as bad as it sounds.
The frame rails, the rockers, the doors, the roof, and the front inner fenders still look good and would only need minor repairs to remain on the car.
The 'Cuda used the optional 340 V8 – as a refresher, despite the 'Cuda being offered with a 383 as standard in 1971, the 340, which came with a smaller displacement and lower power than its bigger brother, was available as an option; it eventually became a popular choice in the 'Cuda customer base, outselling the 383 with 335 horsepower significantly for this model year. The 1971 revision didn’t change much about the engine, though it introduced a smaller compression from 10.5:1 to 10.3:1, but Plymouth managed to retain the same power output as on the previous model.
Unsurprisingly, the 'Cuda received plenty of love on eBay, where the bids keep coming as part of the no-reserve auction. It means the car will certainly have a new home when the digital fight ends in a little over two days. The top offer is $22,500, but considering nearly 30 people have expressed interest in the 'Cuda lately, I expect the price to go up significantly in the remaining hours.
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