Vehicle Description
1971 Plymouth 'Cuda Convertible - One of 374 Made - 340ci 4BBL V8 -
275 Horsepower - 3 Speed Automatic Transmission - Power Convertible
Top (Please note: If you happen to be viewing this 1971 Plymouth
'Cuda Convertible on a website other than our Garage Kept Motors
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GarageKeptMotors.) The Rapid Transit System. Coming through. 1971
Plymouth Cuda magazine ad The 1971 'Cuda was Chrysler's completely
new design entry into the pony car segment. The company aimed to
separate the model from its earlier economy-car roots. (THe
original Baracuda was based on the pedestrian Valiant.) Styling was
all-new with a wider, lower look and sculpted lines. Hood vents and
a largely black grille gave a slightly menacing look. On the track
in the AAR (All-America Racers) Series and the Trans Am Series,
drivers Swede Savage and Dan Gurney campaigned the cars with a good
deal of success. Many Mopar fans place these 'Cudas at the very top
of their most-desired Chrysler performance cars want-list. The 340
cubic-inch, 275-horsepower V8 was another part of this model's
appeal. As Hemmings ran it down: ... there was one other 'Cuda
engine option: the 340. This was the high-performance version of
Chrysler's LA-series of small-block V-8 engines, first introduced
for the 1968 model year. They added: That the 340 was treated as an
option was a bit odd, since it had smaller displacement and a lower
power rating than the 'big-block' 383, but that arrangement
supported the notion that the 340 was more of a precision
instrument than the 383's big-hammer approach. Buyers took note,
and consciously selected the 340 often enough that it actually
outsold the 335-hp 383. A precision instrument indeed. Offered here
is a rare and beautifully equipped survivor 340 'Cuda Convertible
from 1971. Its condition is unrestored with 93,000 miles showing on
the odometer, but the exceptional care the car has received over
its nearly fifty-year life has resulted in a near-perfect
presentation of this legendary marque. The exterior Tawny Gold
Metallic paint (an almost copper shade) is contrasted with the
white billboard graphic 340 on the car's rear flanks, as well as by
a white convertible top. Overall, the paint shines beautifully and
there are no noticeable dings or dents on the body. Panel-gaps are
consistent. The very restrained use of chrome trim is another
feature of these E-Series cars, and in this case the trim and
badging is all in excellent condition. Functional hood pins flank
the twin hood air-intake scoops, and are secured with cables. The
rear deck sports a luggage carrier. Windshield glass and lighting
lenses are crack-free and clear. Styled-steel wheels with chrome
trim wings wear F70-14 Goodyear Polyglas raised-white-letter radial
tires. Inside, the white accents from the exterior take over with
white vinyl on both the high-back front buckets and rear bench
seat. Door trim continues the white theme, while dark-chocolate
carpeting and black upper-dash trim complete the period look. The
door sills and step-over areas are remarkably free of wear, yet
another indicator of everyday owner care. Wood veneer tastefully
graces the dashboard and center console surrounding the t-shifter
for the TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission. The
driver-focused dash features four large instrument enclosures
including one for the 6500-rpm-redline tachometer and another for
the 150-mph speedometer. Switches include one for the electrically
operated convertible top. A Chrysler Solid State AM push-button
radio is dash-mounted on the driver's side. Under the hood, the
original 340 cubic-inch engine, resplendent in its Chrysler-orange
block under a matching black-and-orange air cleaner adorned with a
b