Rare 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda Rescued After 40 Years, Reclaiming its Former Glory

 When it comes to derelict classic cars, we usually associate them with junkyards and worn-out barns. But many old vehicles were also left to rot away in backyards or even abandoned in the woods.

This 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda, for instance, spent more than 40 years hidden deep in the Appalachian Mountains of East Tennessee. And even though it's a sad sight, it was rescued, and it's off to a better life.

What is the story behind his Mopar? Well, the folks that saved it don't share much info beyond the fact that it was wrecked and abandoned.

Apparently, it happened sometime in the late 1970s to the early 1980s, so they don't know for exactly how long it's been sitting. But it's anywhere from 40 to 45 years, which is about five times longer than this muscle car spent on the road.

That's also long enough to turn a solid automobile into a rust bucket. However, this Mopar took all those decades of total exposure to the elements like a champ. Sure, it's rusty, shows a lot of damage, and it's missing a few parts, but it's still in one piece.

And amazingly enough, the original Bahama Yellow paint still adorns most of the sheet metal. That's something you don't see everything on vehicles that spent decades outside.

Now for the answer to the big question: how rare is this 'Cuda? We don't get to see a VIN or any other tag, but our host mentions that the Mopar left the factory with a 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) V8 under the hood. Granted, the LA-type mill is far from impressive next to the big-block mills that were available in 1971, including the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB and the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI.

It's not quite as rare either, but it's a relatively low-production unit. Specifically, records show that only 3,440 'Cudas were ordered with the 340 V8 in 1971. That's less than 21% of total production that year.

However, this figure includes all three transmissions that were available at the time. This one being an automatic, it's one of 2,110 cars made. If we also exclude the convertibles, we can narrow it down to 2,008 examples.

Indeed, this figure is not as impressive as those that come with the HEMI and 440 cars. For reference, Plymouth sold only 114 HEMI 'Cudas and 254 440-6BBL models in 1971. But the Bahama Yellow paint would narrow things down even further.

The problem is there are no production records based on color options, but we do know that Bahama Yellow wasn't popular back in the day.

It's not the best-looking color out there, and it was overshadowed by flashy hues such as In-Violet, Rallye Red, Sassy Grass Green, and Curious Yellow. All told, it's safe to say that fewer than 100 340 automatics were shipped in Bahama Yellow.

Does this mean it's worth as much as a HEMI? Not by a long shot. But it's definitely worth restoring simply because it survived for so long in the wild. And hopefully, the folks from YouTube's "S and S Barn Finds" will put it back on the road soon.

The 1962 Impala was one of the model years that paved the way for the record sales the nameplate achieved in 1965

 The 1962 Impala was one of the model years that paved the way for the record sales the nameplate achieved in 1965. As such, it didn't come with too many massive changes, as Chevrolet was rather focused on further polishing and refinements to boost the car's customer appeal.

Bigger changes happened in the engine department, where the GM brand finally dropped the famous 348 (5.7-liter). On the other hand, because the Impala SS still needed a big-block option (though the car could be ordered with any engine in the lineup, including even the lazy six-cylinder), Chevrolet offered the 409 in two separate configurations.

First of all, it was the single four-barrel carburetor option that produced 380 horsepower and was marketed as the more affordable version of the two. The almighty choice was the 409-horsepower engine, this time equipped with two four-barrel carburetors.

The Impala SS that you see in these pictures is powered by the most popular engine choice in 1962 – a 327 (5.3-liter) now paired with an M22 four-speed transmission.

As you probably figured out already, the Impala is no longer entirely original, as it already received a series of aftermarket upgrades here and there, but otherwise, it's a beautifully preserved SS that's hard to find these days.

Parked in storage since 1996, the car received a second chance following an estate sale, and it's now looking for a new owner as part of an auction on eBay.

The vehicle looks mesmerizing, there's no doubt about it, but the closer you get to it (or the more you zoom in), the more problems you discover. The paint is 30 years old, so it comes with scratches and dings that any diehard Chevy fan would want to resolve ASAP.

The metal is entirely original, seller mismay-39 claims, but the interior looks like it has already been refreshed at some point in the car's life. It looks incredible, though, so make sure you closely inspect the cabin, especially if you're interested in the original factor.

Needless to say, this Impala SS runs and drives, and this isn't necessarily surprising, given the overall condition. The seller says they believe this isn't the matching-numbers powertrain (and I do too, but I could be wrong), so don't forget to have a thorough look under the hood as well.

Unsurprisingly, the car has already attracted the attention of many people online, as the auction received close to 30 bids in just a few hours online.

The top bid is currently at $20,000, but the reserve is yet to be triggered. If you want to buy the car without a fight, you must be ready to pay $38,000 for it, and you'll then be able to take it home.

The 1963 Studebaker Avanti A Sleek and Innovative Coupe

 

Founded in 1852, The Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing Company was a wagon builder who went on to become one of the only American companies of its type to successfully transition to automobile production at the turn of the century. While still selling their wagons and coaches, they formed an early partnership with E-M-F to sell automobiles at Studebaker dealers. Quality issues with E-M-F led to Studebaker taking over that firm’s automobile line and the rest, as they say, is history

A restored 1956 Ford Sunliner here at Adventure

 We have a restored 1956 Ford Sunliner here at Adventure Classics that is an iconic convertible with the factory 312 cubic inch V8, blue & white interior, and the white power top!

This is one of the true iconic 1950’s convertibles that stylists designed with the full-length chrome trim line that descended to the doors and then back to the rear providing a dividing line for the paint scheme, in this case, blue and white.

The motor that is powering this beauty is a rebuilt 312 cubic-inch V8 that was shared with the Thunderbirds of that year. It has the block, heads, and intake painted the correct red, Thunderbird valve covers that do a great job of attracting attention, factory correct grey painted air cleaner assembly, factory cast iron exhaust headers, and other original looking restored components like the ignition, fuel pump, and alternator, and all belts and hoses.

It is sitting in a very restored, clean, painted, and detailed engine compartment looking jus as it did when it was new.

The V8 is mated to Ford’s two-speed automatic transmission for good comfort and the power 0n the highway makes this an effortless cruiser.

Rare Opportunity to Own One-of-5 1971 Plymouth HEMI 'Cuda Convertible, Starting at $2.75 Million

 Built in 1970 and 1971 only, the Plymouth HEMI 'Cuda is the holy grail of Mopars. Not only that, but it's also one of the holy grails of the golden muscle car era. And if recent auctions are any indication, the convertible version is among a handful of classic muscle cars that change hands for millions of dollars.

Why are these drop-tops so expensive? Well, not only do they look gorgeous and pack the iconic 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI V8, but they're also incredibly rare. Of the 666 HEMI 'Cudas sold in 1970, only 14 left the factory with a soft top.

Things get even wilder regarding the 1971 variant: Plymouth made only 114 HEMI 'Cudas (for the US market), and just seven rolled off the assembly line in convertible layout.

Seven! That's an important number. It's exactly how many digits you must write on a check to buy one. Assuming you actually get the chance to purchase such a rare car. But exactly how much are we talking about?

Well, I know of only three such vehicles that crossed the auction block in recent years. One sold for $2.5 million in 2016, one found a new home for $3.8 million in 2014, and another failed to sell for a whopping $4.8 million in 2021.

Fast forward to 2023, and one of these holy-grail 1971 HEMI 'Cuda Convertibles is up for grabs. Like most of its siblings that pop up for sale, it's in tip-top condition following a comprehensive restoration. And the seller claims it's the first 1971 HEMI drop-top ever built.

It's also one of five cars fitted with an automatic transmission, and it's safe to say that the color and the options make it a unique car.

Specifically, it's finished in Sno White (with a matching grille) and features optional extras like the A36 Performance Axle Package, the R26 AM radio with microphone and cassette recorder (Dictaphone), and chrome exhaust tips.

It's been refreshed twice since the early 2000s, and it has a numbers-matching drivetrain and 90% original sheet metal. It's also a low-mileage example, with only 31,000 miles (49,890 km) on the odo.

The muscle car is being auctioned off on eBay, a strange choice for such an expensive gem, with bidding starting from $2.75 million. However, there are no bids as of this writing, and the "reserve not met" status suggests the seller may want more than $3 million to part ways with the 'Cuda.

It isn't the first time this drop-top has gone under the hammer. It was previously auctioned off in 2016 when it changed hands for $2.53 million. It has since been driven for 99 miles (159 km) and restored to showroom quality. Interestingly enough, it also gained black "HEMI" billboard decals.

Whether the car had them from the factory is unclear, but it's a period-correct feature. How much do you think it is worth?

1959 Pontiac Catalina Convertible, only 300 miles on complete frame off restoration, gorgeous Ebony Black paint

 1959 Pontiac Catalina Convertible, only 300 miles on complete frame off restoration, gorgeous Ebony Black paint, immaculate Black leather interior with bucket seats, Black convertible top, brilliant gleaming chrome and stainless trim, 389 cu in 345 HP V8 with Tri-power, automatic transmission, factory A/C, power steering, power brakes, power windows, power antenna, AM radio, wide white wall radial tires, fully serviced, very rare and simply stunning!