Restomodding is a big thing among classic American muscle car enthusiasts these days, but very few examples of the breed are as bangin' wicked as this sui generis "Conviction Cuda." Formerly displayed at the 2008 SEMA show, this custom ride is built from the ground up from a 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, arguably the nicest Cuda of all three generations.
The cost-no-object build resulted in one of the most visually stunning pro touring vehicles ever made. Exterior aesthetics are comprised of a Silver Star and Purformance Purple paint combo accented by airbrushed stripes, polished Bonspeed Quasar wheels sitting on 245/40/18 front and 295/35/20 rear Nitto Invo rubber, Harley-Davidson sourced twin-bulb modular headlights and hand-made LED tail lights.
All body modifications have been done in steel, including the subtle beads on the rear valence, rear spoiler molded into the fender, custom made hood with OEM nostrils and brake cooling ducts integrated into the lower valence. Out back, diffuser ducts not only enhance the look of this take-no-prisoners vehicle, but also generate downforce when traveling at high speeds.
Even though the side mirrors are sourced from a Chrysler Crossfire, the exterior design is jaw-droppingly gorgeous from every single angle you look at this Cuda. Firepower comes from a modern 6.1-liter Arrington HEMI V8 packing 525 horsepower. A Keisler five-speed manual gearbox with pistol grip shifter sends all that oomph to the rear wheels via a 3.91 limited slip differential.
Vented and cross-drilled Baer brakes further enhance the hot-rod profile and stance of the car, while the suspension system features cockpit-adjustable Air Ride shocks and massive sway bars. Tube headers dump into a stainless steel X-pipe gallery design, with Flowmaster mufflers and custom tips completing the exhaust apparatus.
Open the door and the first thing you'll notice are the specially fabricated door jambs and Corvette bucket seats upholstered with a mesh insert. Raise your sight line a little and you'll see a bespoke dashboard full of carbon fiber inserts and a red starter button. The Alpine sound system is connected to two big Kickers enclosed in the trunk.
If you want to make this "Conviction Cuda" yours, be sure you've got a spare $149,000 lying in your bank account.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News