1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Heads to Auction

One of the rarest 'muscle cars' of all time, a 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda is heading to the Mecum Auctions of Seattle on June 13-14. According to experts, this particular car should fetch record prices since it is a unique example in a pristine state.

The 1970 Plymouth Cuda was a commercial success for Chrysler, with more than 50,000 units sold. However, in 1971, federal regulations and rising insurance costs abruptly killed the muscle car market. Only 16,159 Cudas were produced that year. Of these, 108 coupes and 11 convertibles were equipped with the famous 426 Hemi engine.

Any of those Hemi Cudas would likely sell for a lot of money. For example, in early 2000, one was sold for over a million dollars. But the car that will cross the auction block in Seattle is the rarest of them all: one of the two 1971 Hemi Cuda convertibles sold with a 4-speed manual transmission (and the only one still in existence)! The vehicle was restored a few years back, but it is still in pristine condition. Even better, all the important parts (engine, transmission differentials, chassis, body panels) are number-matching, meaning they were on the car when it came out of the factory 44 years ago.

This car is easily the most desirable Plymouth ever produced. However, we will have to wait until the final hits of the gavel to know just how much such a beautiful work of art is worth!

Share on Facebook

More on the subject

BlogThe 426 Hemi Turns 50 !
It’s February 23, 1964. At the Daytona 500, Chrysler unveils an engine that will go on to become a legend: the 426 Hemi. During the mid-60s, the race to build the world’s most powerful engine was extremely intense. Massive American V8s offered more and more cubic inches and generated more …
NewsA 1976 Lancia Stratos Up for Grabs
If you were following rallies in the seventies (or if you are a racing fan), you will instantly recognize the shape of this car. For everyone else, this is a 1976 Lancia Stratos, one of the most iconic race vehicles ever built. It was made specifically to race in the …
NewsBlack Beauty is Being Auctioned
When the Green Hornet movie came out, a lot of people (myself included) went to see it just because of the poster, without knowing that the characters came out of a 1940’s comic book. If the movie was not a resounding success, the real star of the show was engraved …
NewsA No-Reserve Ferrari 250 GTO up for Grabs
The 250 GTO always was an exceptional car. Ferrari only built 39 of them, and since they were handmade, no two are exactly alike. They were only bought by the rich and famous so they quickly became a very good investment. One of them could now become the world’s most …
NewsFerrari F40 Owned by Rod Stewart Heading to Auction
At the end of the eighties, the 'First Supercar War' was at its peak. The Lamborghini Countach had scissor doors and a mighty V12 and the Porsche 959 was a technological masterpiece with four-wheel drive and a twin-turbo flat-six engine. It became the fastest production car in the world, with …
NewsUnique McLaren F1 For Sale At Pebble Beach
This year, during the auctions of the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, one of the most iconic cars ever made will cross the auction block: a splendid McLaren F1 produced in 1995. And not just any F1: this one is chassis number 031 (of the 106 ever made), which means it …
NewsPebble Beach Auctions: A Collector’s Dream
The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance attracts some of the wealthiest car collectors from around the world. This is why RM Auctions organizes one of its biggest auctions there each year. For 2014, some of the world’s rarest vehicles are set to cross the auction block. For example, there will be …
NewsThe Ultimate Rally Audi Is For Sale
If you know a little bit about rallying, you've probably heard about the legendary Group B days, when the regulations made for cars that were as attractive as they were dangerous. If you've never heard of it, let me give you a quick crash-course: In the eighties, the highest echelon …
NewsWant A Survivor Hemi Cuda?
If you want to own a brand-new classic car, there are two ways to do it : either you restore a tired example, or you search far and wide to find THE perfect, low-mileage example of the particular vehicle you want. If the second option sounds more appealing, I have …
NewsA Unique 1970 Mustang For Sale
To celebrate 428 day (since we are April 28th, or 4/28) we found a fairly rare vehicle: a 1970 Ford Mustang with the 428 Cobra Jet engine, a four-speed manual gearbox and the fastback roof. This is a relatively rare combination, but the various other options make it even rarer.
News$53 Million For The Andrews Collection
There comes a time in everyone's life when you want to get rid of some of your numerous material possessions. Some gearheads will go as far as getting rid of one of their cars; if said car has some kind of monetary value, it will be sent to an auction.