1971 Plymouth Cuda

Description

If you want a slick 'Cuda, now is probably the time to buy before they get completely out of reach. They continue to accelerate in value, and beautifully restored, true numbers-matching cars like this spectacular 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda are very rarely found hovering near the low six figures. With a classic high-performance look, gorgeous Hemi Orange paint, a slick black interior, a thundering built-up 383 Super Commando V8, and quick-shifting 4-speed gearbox, this is one classic muscle car that truly delivers on the promises made by its awesome good looks. Better yet, it's been comprehensively restored to a very high standard, and was completed just a scan 2,054 miles ago. So, if you're looking for the best, then you've very likely just found it.

There's a good argument to be made that this is the best-looking pony car (if not muscle car) ever made. Even if you're a GM guy or a Mustang fan, you have to admit that after standing back and watching Ford and Chevy figure out the formula, the Chrysler engineers got it exactly right when the brought out the revised E-bodies. I, for one, am a huge fan of the 'Cuda cars because of their superior handling and friendly road manners, and the look is simply unmistakable from a distance. The bodywork on this beauty was done to a very high standard with that red-hot Hemi Orange paint showing very little imperfections to speak of, and the high-impact finish is accentuated nicely by a considerable number of black accents – the black vinyl top, the 383 'billboard' decals at the flanks, and the decklid spoiler and blacked-out panel out back. It's about as close to show-quality as you're going to get for a car that can still be driven, although most of the world aren't going to be labeling this pony as a driver. It's simply too nice to be downplayed as such. Being an original 'Cuda and 383 V8 car, this baby was born with a dual snorkeled hood and hood pins as well, which is one of the coolest features to ever come out of the muscle car era, while the baleen-style grille and fog lights below really put things over the top. Color-matched bumpers fore and aft give it a purposeful, bright, and uniform look, and between the fender 'gills', rocker guards, and the dual exhaust ports, it's an imposing sight, I don't care what you're driving. From any angle, this ultra-clean 'Cuda looks fast just sitting still.

The black interior is another place where taking their time scored the Mopar guys serious advantages. The high-back buckets are beautiful to look at and every bit as comfortable, and the cool pistol-grip shifter inside the center console remains a highly desirable option that's the center of attention inside. The sporty gauges offer bright, crisp markings and look fantastic in their individual round pods, bookended by wood grain applique that matches what's on the center console, and the big, thick-rimmed OEM-style steering wheel is a nice find, too. The seats, carpets, door panels, and dash pad have all been replaced or restored just over 2K miles ago and remain in excellent condition thanks to high-end materials and careful ownership. Finding a black, crack-free dash is quite an accomplishment all by itself, the headliner up top is nice and taut, while even the black floormats show very little wear. Options include a tilt wheel, a heater/defrost unit, seatbelts, and an upgraded Sony AM/FM/CD/AUX head unit that's actually the only non-stock piece inside. Out back, the trunk is correctly outfitted with a reproduction mat plus an unused spare tire and jack assembly mounted up top.

Raise the hood and you'll come face to face with a signature Mopar powerplant combo of the era - an expansive numbers-matching 360 Super Commando V8 that's been professionally built up into a fantastic performer. Augmented with a Comp Cams Extreme Energy 274H camshaft (with nitride treatment), upgraded push rods, valve springs, and Mopar Performance rocker performance assemblies (just to name a few), it's running like a brand new block (because it practically is) that wants to be driven hard and put up wet, and comes topped with 440-sourced aluminum heads, a Weiand intake, and a Holley 4-barrel carburetor that really turn things up to '11'. It sits underneath that awesome 383 snorkeled air cleaner and inside a show-stopper of an engine bay with its orange-painted block and valve covers, surrounded by fresh hoses, finished inner fenders and firewall and neatly routed wiring. The configuration is all in correct form, the engine fires up quickly with BIG horsepower on tap, ready to collect some pink slips and provide a very appealing lope - not so drastic as to wreak havoc with available vacuum, but just right to send a great sounding note out the X-pipe dual exhaust system. Managing all that power is a numbers-matching D21 heavy-duty 4-speed manual transmission that shifts quick thanks to a McLeod 11" heavy-duty clutch and spins a Strange Engineering 8 3/4 Auburn posi rear end full of 3.23 gears. The undercarriage is just as clean as the top, with fresh components literally everywhere you look. This outstanding 'Cuda cruises on a correct set of 15" stock Rallye wheels outfitted with 225/60/15 BFGoodrich T/A white-letter radials with plenty of grip.

You chances to own one of these are getting smaller by the day and it would be a mistake to overlook this stunning, numbers-matching car, especially a 360/4-speed with great colors like this. The fact that's it's just over six figures alone means that it won't last long. Call today!