1970 Plymouth Cuda
E-body · First year of the 'Cuda nameplate on the redesigned E-body. ... · The most valuable American muscle car ever built
Highly Collectible
Production & Overview
Total Production
48,664
Original MSRP
N/A
Assembly Plants
Hamtramck, MI
Wheelbase
108 inches
Body Styles
Hardtop · Convertible
Curb Weight
3,395 lbs
Notable Packages & Production
AAR 'Cuda — AAR
Trans-Am homologation package — 340 Six Pack exclusive
4-6x base
2,724
produced
Hemi 'Cuda Hardtop — Hemi Hardtop
426 Hemi in 'Cuda hardtop
10-15x base
284
produced
Hemi 'Cuda Convertible — Hemi Convertible
The holy grail of American muscle cars
50-100x base
14
produced
Available Engines
LA318 318ci — V8
Base V8
230 hp
LA340 340ci — V8
High-winding small block — excellent street performance
275 hp
383 383ci — V8
Standard AAR/'Cuda engine
335 hp
440 440ci — V8
Magnum 440 option
375 hp
440+6 440ci — V8
440 Six Pack — three Holley 2-barrels. Very desirable.
390 hp
426 Hemi 426ci — V8
Street Hemi. Only 284 Hemi hardtops and 14 Hemi convertibles produced. A Hemi 'Cuda convertible sold for $3.5M in 2014.
425 hp
Buyer Checklist
⚠ Clone warning: Non-matching Hemi on 'Cuda convertible destroys most of the value — these are $3M+ cars when correct. Even hardtop Hemis lose 50-70% without matching numbers.. Always verify with cowl tag, engine stamp, and registry before purchase.
Decode fender tag completely — any Hemi or AAR claim must be verifiable here
For Hemi — engage Galen Govier for authentication before any purchase
Check VIN position 5: J = 426 Hemi — most critical digit on this car
Inspect floor pans and lower A-pillars — E-body rust points
On AAR — verify 340 Six Pack, side exhausts, and flat black hood are original
Check all body panel gaps — E-body panels expensive and hard to find
Verify Rallye instrument cluster if present
Inspect convertible frame for rust and structural integrity
Check trunk floor and spare tire well for rust
Request independent inspection from Mopar specialist before purchase on any Hemi car
Known Problem Areas
Floor pan and lower A-pillar rust — E-body specific
Clone Hemis — base or 340 cars converted to Hemi appearance
AAR fakes — Cuda's with AAR appearance packages added later
High-impact paint fading and difficult color matching
Body panel availability — E-body more limited than B-body
Convertible top mechanism rust and failure
What Drives Value
↑ Increases Value
Hemi convertible — among top 5 most valuable American cars ever
Hemi hardtop — matching numbers essential
AAR 'Cuda with documentation
440 Six Pack
High-impact colors (Plum Crazy, Sublime, Go Mango)
4-speed manual transmission
Convertible body (non-Hemi also commands premium)
↓ Decreases Value
Clone Hemi — catastrophic to value
Rust in A-pillars or floor structure
Non-original high-impact paint without documentation
Automatic on Hemi car
Restoration Overview
Difficulty
High
Parts Availability
Moderate — improving but E-body panels more limited than B-body
Driver Quality Cost
$25,000 – $55,000
Show Quality Cost
$70,000 – $180,000
Key Suppliers
Year One · Legendary Motorcar · Mopar Connection
Pop Culture & Legacy
Among the most recognized Mopar muscle cars globally
Plum Crazy 'Cuda is one of the most photographed classic cars
Hemi 'Cuda convertible holds auction records
Featured in countless magazine covers and top 10 muscle car lists
Other Plymouth Cuda Years