Daily Pick: 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda

I won’t bury Here’s the intro to my pick of the day. This 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda is one of the most beautiful cars on the planet and the best I’ve ever seen. I had the pleasure of judging this car in person a few years ago at the Future Classic Car Show (now the Future Collectible Car Show) during Arizona Auction Week and was blown away by the restoration. If that wasn’t enough, two other judges on my team are renowned classic car restorers who were just as blown away by this car as I was (here’s how we judged this car).

The sellers of this car spared no expense in restoring it. According to them, this 1970 Cuda was a fairly well-known race car in the Chicago area when it was new. During its racing days, the car was maroon, but you can still see its original Limelight Green paint color under the carpet and in parts of the trunk. When the sellers noticed the car, it had been sitting in a garage since the 80s and was listed for sale in a badly worn condition. When the current owner finally saw the car in person, it had already been sold. Luckily, the buyer never paid for it, so it was relisted and they were able to purchase the car.

This Plymouth ‘Cuda is one of 902 V-code 440 6-pack cars built and has 523 horsepower and 606 pound-feet of torque. It is backed by a four-speed manual transmission. The car is equipped with power steering, power front disc brakes, and a Dana 60 rear end with a 3.55 axle ratio. It has hood pins, heavy-duty suspension, heavy-duty 11-inch brakes, street lights, and the Track Pack. The Rallye instrument cluster includes variable speed wipers with power washers, a tachometer, an electronic clock, a 150-mph speedometer, and a woodgrain instrument cluster decal.

This Cuda was purchased by the owner in May 2016 and underwent a comprehensive nut and bolt rotisserie restoration by S&S Mopar Muscle in October 2019. After the restoration, it was shipped to Arizona and stored in an air-conditioned storage facility in Scottsdale. The car has only been driven to car shows and has accumulated approximately 4,000 miles since its restoration.

The owner states that the car’s specifications match the real car exactly, except for the engine. Nevertheless, the car is equipped with a modified 440-6 engine to improve driving performance. The entire restoration process and every repair on this car are fully documented.

Here’s the thing: I’m not exaggerating when I say this 1970 Plymouth Cuda is the finest example I’ve ever seen. It teaches a lesson about how to do a proper restoration—not only when the car is new, but five years later, too. This car is a perfect example of what can be accomplished when a restoration is done at all costs. Yes, the asking price is $195,000 or best offer, but for this car, I think it’s a steal. If you want an iconic muscle car that’s won awards at the show and can probably get it for less than the restoration cost, get this Cuda.

Check out today’s featured listings on ClassicCars.com.