In an attempt to strengthened its base amongst the competition in the "low-priced" cars market segment, Chrysler decided to develop Plymouth as an everyday-use vehicle. The brand was launched in 1928, but its entry also felt slightly awkward with the realization that Chrysler’s choice of a cheap car was priced higher than its competitors.
Nevertheless, Plymouth won several hearts over, courtesy of its components that have been modified for better performance. After officially switching to just "Plymouth" in 1930, the brand's name quickly began to garner interest and gain preference as the years went by, not only for its improved road functionality, but for the captivating beauty of each Plymouth car as well.
Birth Of The1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
Plymouth’s operations of developing the Cuda – not the Barracuda – began in 1960 as an attempt to revamp the compact Plymouth Valiant (pictured above). The intent was to battle Ford’s famous Mustang. However, Plymouth may have fumbled a bit on the design as it came out of the oven looking rather exposed at the back, with a rear windshield size of 14.4 cubic feet (which is a lot!). The engine was a Slant-Six that produced 145 horsepower. Eventually, Chrysler’s attempt to compete with the Ford Mustang went up in smoke as the latter dominated the market.
Shortly afterwards, Plymouth engineers retreated to the design chambers to find a solution that would make up for the horrendous loss. They reduced the ginormous windshield, pumped up the engine to make it a V8 that produced 235 horsepower, and offered optional racing stripes. Thankfully, this time the upgraded Cuda was better received by the public, especially with its cool engine/car name “Commando.”
In 1967 Plymouth dropped "Valiant" from the Valiant Cuda, and labeled the car just "Barracuda." Chrysler’s engineers worked on developing new models for the brand's new in-demand muscle, this saw the Barracuda later having a longer wheel-base, and its design was different from the Valiant’s. The design featured the then-trendy fastback, a notch-back, and a convertible version just to add more glamour to the Barracuda’s beauty. Later in that same year, Plymouth introduced an upgraded Barracuda with a more powerful engine that produced up to 300 horsepower, and an optional automatic gearbox. The competition was fierce, yet Plymouth was finding its feet in the muscle cars market. In 1969, Plymouth gave the world the first Cuda as a performance-enhanced vehicle, a wild striped monster that possesses an internal combustion beast under its hood. This engine could produce a whooping 375 horsepower, completely shattering every other competitor's hopes.
The car in topic, the 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda, started off as a newer entry. Plymouth sought consultation from its parent company Chrysler to merge the Dodge Challenger’s design into the all-new Barracuda. The new model came out lower, wider, and holding even bigger guns under the hood. Plymouth rolled out three different versions of the 1970 Barracuda: the Barracuda, the Gran’ Coupe, and the Cuda. Moreover, engine choices increased up to eight options that range from Slant-Six to massive V8s. The addition of the Hemi to the Barracuda made the Plymouth muscle power ratings to skyrocket, as the added engine registered an insane output of 425 horsepower, an amount of power that was totally unmatched at the time.
The 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Racing Glory
With a wild engine such as that fitted in the 1970 Plymouth Cuda, it came as no surprise that the car would win numerous races. French racing driver Henri Chemin grabbed the muscle car’s steering wheel, and took it to an incredible 45 wins in FIA sanctioned races. If that was not amazing enough, in the early 1970s, Chemin decided to stretch the Cuda’s muscles further, as he registered with his Plymouth for Hill-Climb racing, a challenging high road climb that requires endurance and great car control. The French driver won the race in style, making the Cuda an all-around winner.
Celebrities Who Own The 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
Often times, fame comes with money, and with money people can buy whatever they want. Purchasing a classic car is an expansive but highly rewarding investment, and the 1970 Plymouth Cuda is one of such cars.
Notably, several famous and wealthy people are on the list of those who have spent part of their wealth on the Chrysler brand.
Some big names on the list include Joe Rogan, a presenter, an actor, and a UFC commentator. He labeled his Cuda ‘The Sick Fish’. It is a solid gray fully jacked 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda that often gets featured on car shows due to its pristine and well maintained state.
There is also the star actor and comedian Kevin Hart, whose Plymouth Hemi Cuda dubbed ‘Menace’ was the talk of town on numerous occasions.
The car first made the news when Hart acquired it, as he happily showboated it as his 40th birthday gift. The car made the news again when Hart was involved in an accident while riding shotgun with his friend Jared Black. At the time, Black and her famous passenger made headlines as they spun off the California highway and smashed into a tree, shattering the roof of the car. Hart was severely injured during the accident and needed extensive therapy. To this day, the location of the ‘Menace’ remains undisclosed.
This may be a convenient time to highlight that Nash Bridges’ bright yellow 1971 Plymouth was not a Hemi Cuda. Instead, it’s just a Barracuda that had no monstrous engine underneath.
How Much Is The 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda?
Before disclosing the price of a running 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda, it must be noted that not all Barracuda models were available. In fact, certain models of the Plymouth Barracuda are in the ghost's list of elite classic cars, along with some all-time greats.
Of course, there are certain conditions that must be met to be inducted to the elite list. Limitedness, production mastery, high demand, and dynasty, amongst others, are all factors that weigh in heavily to make a car price skyrocket.
In the case of the Plymouth Cuda, muscle car enthusiasts should understand that Chrysler sent its Dodge engine development wing Hemi® to contribute to the Plymouth Cuda. The collaboration that brought the 1969 Plymouth Hemi Cuda to the world was limited to just 45 cars adopting the forceful 425 V8 Super Commando engines. The amazing engine and limited production of the model all earned a certain Plymouth Hemi Cuda a claimed sales figure of $3.3 million. Also, Fox News mentioned in its report on an auction in Indianapolis that a Plymouth Hemi Cuda received a bid of $4.8 million. Shockingly, that was not enough for the owner, and the auction officials also thought that the car could be worth up to $6.5 million.
To sum up, having the aspiration of acquiring a 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda might be much more than a Herculean Task, with huge financial ramifications. An applicable top-tip for buyers would be to be ready for reaching rather deep in their pockets, the price may easily exceed their expectations.