Vehicle Description
If you want a slick 'Cuda, now is probably the time to buy. They
continue to accelerate in value, and even small block cars like
this 1970 Plymouth 'Cuda 340 tribute are appreciating by leaps and
bounds as the big block cars soar past six figures. With a classic
high-performance look, gorgeous bright red paint, and sparkling
performance from a stout small block, this is one muscle car that
truly delivers on the promises made by its awesome good looks.
There's a good argument to be made that this is the best-looking
pony 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. This handsome FE5 Red (it was originally Burnt Orange)
appears to be wearing its original quarter panels, which in and of
itself is a rather rare find. I, for one, am a fan of small block
cars because of their superior handling and friendly road manners,
and the look is identical from a distance. The bodywork is very
nicely done with that bright paint calling out to anyone that it's
ready to rumble. Proper '340' billboards were installed on the
quarters, and I can guarantee that nothing rolling out of the
Hamtramck facility in 1970 ever fit together this well. It isn't
perfect, but nobody's going to complain about the way this one
looks. Chrome bumpers fore and aft give it a detailed look, and
between the hood scoops and fog lamps under the front bumper, it's
an imposing sight. From any angle, this car 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 as they look and
wear recent seat covers with correct patterns and materials. The
original gauges look sporty in their individual round pods, and the
woodgrained wheel is a nice find, even though it's showing some
age. The original Music Master AM unit is gone, replaced by a newer
digital AM/FM unit that sounds far better. The seats, carpets, door
panels, and dash pad have all been replaced or restored in the
not-too-distant past and remain in very good condition thanks to
careful ownership. The trunk is correctly outfitted with a
reproduction mat plus a full-sized spare on a matching Rallye
wheel.
The engine is a 340 cubic inch V8 linked to a 3-speed automatic
transmission (this was originally a 318 car). With a rebuild that
includes a few upgrades, it has a surprising amount of power for a
small block and this car will be a handful for anything this side
of a Hemi on the street. There's an Edelbrock carburetor, Spectre
air cleaner, and a Mopar air gap intake manifold, along with an
upgraded camshaft inside. It's very detailed with Hemi Orange paint
on the engine itself, and those finned Mopar Performance valve
covers add a performance look. The TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic
transmission snaps off clean shifts and powers an 8.75-inch rear
end with reasonable street gears inside. A rumbling dual exhaust
system gives it that distinctive Mopar sound and correct Rallye
wheels are surrounded by staggered 235/60/15 front and 275/60/15
rear performance radials.
You chances to own one of these are getting smaller by the day and
it would be a mistake to overlook the small block cars. As this one
so ably proves, they can be quite nasty in their own right. Call
today!