Vehicle Description
INSPECTED SEPARATELY BY DAVE WISE AND GALEN GOVIER. RESTORED, #'s
Matching 440 V8 HP Super Commando. As stated by Dave Wise in his
visual inspection report dated October 20, 2018 He states that
"this vehicle is an authentic 1969 Plymouth Cuda 440 built at the
Hamtramck assembly plant in Hamtramck, Michigan. This is a rare and
limited production "M" code Vehicle." Overview of the features of
this vehicle are: Known owner history, Partial original OEM
production broadcast sheet, Original OEM option fender tag in
place, Original OEM Vin tag in place, Engine: Numbers matching 440
V8 HP Super Commando, Transmission: Number is matching A727
TorqueFlite, Axle: Chrysler 8 3/4", Highly desirable original color
combination. PRODUCTION HISTORY: Plymouth built 358 of these M code
440 Cuda's for the US and Canadian markets, all of which were 727
TorqueFlite automatics with no power steering and no power brakes
(to stuff that massive motor into an A body). They were not
considered a regular production vehicle, rather a special "Fleet
build" process through Hurst/Campbell, where a combination of 358
Fastbacks and Notchbacks were pulled from the Hamtramck, Michigan
assembly line to be fitted for the 440 Super Commando. THE HISTORY
OF THIS CAR: Purchased new in 1969 at Whiteys Chrysler/Plymouth in
Mansfield, Ohio. The original owner (local to the area) put 25,000
miles on it in the first three years before passing away. From
there, the car sat until the late 90s when it was purchased and
stored for another 14 years by a local man. One final change of
hands took place to another local owner who performed a meticulous
rotisserie restoration, finishing in early 2017. This is an
original 25,000 mile car, with each owner having lived within 30
miles of one another from 1969 to 2017 and always titled in Ohio
until its last purchaser. SOME FACTS ABOUT THIS CAR YOU MIGHT FIND
INTERESTING: These cars were scheduled to be built as Cuda 383's by
the Hamtramck plant, and we're specially handled through the "fleet
build process" and then built as 440 Cuda's. Notice that 340s and
383s were emblemed Cuda/340 and Cuda/383 respectively, all the 440s
were emblemed 440/Cudas. This was probably done by Plymouth to
emphasize the size of the engine when it was trying to compete
against other muscle cars of the day. The cars were powered by the
well-known but sometimes misidentified Plymouth 440 Super Commando
engine that was rated at 375 hp at 4600 RPM and 480 ft-lbs. of
torque at 3200 RPM. It had a bore of 4.32 inches, a stroke of 3.75
inches, and a compression ratio of 10.1:1. The only transmission
available was the Chrysler A727B TorquFlite, with a 10 3/4 diameter
torque converter and gear ratios of 2.45:1 1st, 1.45:1 2nd, and 1:1
3rd. The rear axle was an 8 3/4 Chrysler Sure-Grip with a 3.55:1
ratio, 3.91:1 was optional. E70-14 redline tires were standard.
10-inch drum brakes were the only brakes available. Air
conditioning and power steering were not available. A console with
spherical wood or chrome conical shift knob was standard. Two
special parts unique to these cars as well as the 1969 440 Dodge
Dart were the left side exhaust manifold casting number 3462017-1
and the left side motor mount. The manifold was required because
the 440 was wider and taller than the 383 and thus pushed the 383
exhaust manifold into the steering column. The mount was a rather
rough-looking weldment but was needed because the attachment bolt
holes were different between the 383 and the 440. A Cuda package
included accent stripe delete, two flat black nonfunctional hood
scoops, side lower body flat black stripes, flat black painted
front and rear valances and flat black 440 Cuda callouts. These
cars also came with Cuda 440 SPECIAL BARRACUDA WARRANTY, which was
12 months 12,000 miles. The same warranty applied to Hemi cars.
