Rare 71 Cuda Convertible to hit auction block....4 million dollar car!

[DadsCharger00]

Just another car right! lol
Love to have this one in the garage 


https://autos.yahoo.com/blogs/motoramic/rare-1971-plymouth-hemi-cuda-convertible-races-for-muscle-car-auction-record-180014190.html

[Aero426]

A lot of speculation (and hope) as to what kind of bids the car will actually bring.    The market for the best of the best cars is not bad.  Mopar muscle seems to have been been slower to come back.  $4M seems very optimistic.

[Cooter]

Insane. Rich people floppin em out to see who's is longer. Could build 10 or more that one could actually drive for that. Numbers or not.

[Back N Black]

Insane. Rich people floppin em out to see who's is longer. Could build 10 or more that one could actually drive for that. Numbers or not.

I agree.

[Ghoste]

We'll see I guess.  It seems very optimistic to me too but Mecum has been doing better with the muscle cars than the other auction houses so maybe they can get two guys in the room with something to prove.

[tan top]

Insane. Rich people floppin em out to see who's is longer. Could build 10 or more that one could actually drive for that. Numbers or not.

yeah !!  wonder if these collectors would have these hemi ebodies in their collections if  they were only worth  $500 , think not ! its these guys driving  up the prices of the cars we love & filters down the food chain , to normal guys like us ,  

no offence meant to anyone    every one to their own  



remember reading about this car in a mopar mag !!   awesome car !!  convertables don't do nothing for me though ,   

[tan top]

 

[Baldwinvette77]

Whats so special about these cars?, i mean they're cool, but i turned down a 72 challenger and 73 cuda in hopes of finding a charger, so people really like then that much???

i mean 72 and newer cars aren't really desirable, but they look good enough, and i cant imagine it being extremely hard to back-date them to a 70 or 71 style 

[Aero426]

Whats so special about these cars?,

It is the top of the Mopar muscle car heap.    Great body, last year for a legendary engine, top goes down.   For many, it is the ultimate.   And there are only so many "real" ones to go around.   I don't think that any muscle car should really be worth seven figures.   But as mentioned, it only takes two people to put their hand up, and away the bidding goes.    

[Cooter]

Whats so special about these cars?, i mean they're cool, but i turned down a 72 challenger and 73 cuda in hopes of finding a charger, so people really like then that much???

i mean 72 and newer cars aren't really desirable, but they look good enough, and i cant imagine it being extremely hard to back-date them to a 70 or 71 style 

I got crushed hard on C.C..com (cuda-Challenger) for stating the obvious reason, being the only reason the Ebody cars go crazy is because they are the pony cars of Mopar. They resemble the 69 Camaro, and as we ALL know, everybody and their mother just sh*ts themselves over a Damn 69 Camaro.

[JamieZ]

i mean 72 and newer cars aren't really desirable, but they look good enough, and i cant imagine it being extremely hard to back-date them to a 70 or 71 style 

Hey! I still love my 74 with it's crazy paint:



In today's market, originality carries a premium and after 71 all the big engine options were gone and so were the convertibles. 70 and 71's are both 1 year models (although they made more of them than 72-74) and they had better options in terms of colors, interiors, wings, stripes, etc.  People also like to clone them into T/A or AAR's and that's a lot easier if you start with a 70. It's really not so different as a 2nd gen charger bringing more money than a 3rd (in most cases). 

72+ bring decent money if they have gone the pro-touring / modernization route (discs, fuel injection, engine upgrades, updated interiors, etc). A Hemi always ups the price.

Doing a good conversion back to a 70/71 requires dealing with different marker lights, headlights, tail lights, grilles, dashboard, etc.  It all depends on how complete of a clone you want to make   Turning a 72+ into a vert is actually a lot of work and you'd be way under water.

[Baldwinvette77]

Theres a local 74 cuda, i'd like to swap the taillight panel to a 70 style... and thats as far as i'd go, the grille is close enough, and i prefer to shave marker lights off of things anyway, But ofcourse he wants too much for it  it IS stored in a garage though 

[F8-4life]

Rich people & there cuda verts.

Who cares, Oh wait I do. Cause I want one. damn.

[Chad L. Magee]

The high end vintage cars have been on an upswing, so it would not surprise me if it goes for that much.  If I am not mistaken, all of the 1971 hemicuda convertibles are now accounted for, but not all of the 1970s versions.  There were a few more of them in 1970, so those are worth a little less than the 1971s.  They still bring in the million$....

Speaking about these cars brings back a memory.  About 15 years ago, I got to sit in one of the 1970 versions.  It was at a car show in western Iowa and the owner was from nearby Omaha, Nebraska.  At the time, the owner would not sell it, but loved the attention it brought.  He had bought it back in the early 1970s as a used car.  (The guy who ordered the car had it reproed for lack of funds after owning it only a few months.)   The original paint flaked off in 1975-6, so the second owner had the custom candy paint job put on by the House of Color in Chicago ($3-4000 back then).  At the time I saw it, the owner was just using it as a fair weather cruiser during the summer at certain shows.  A few years later, he sold it for $300,000 and then it resold a week later for $350,000.  As far as I know, it has been returned back to stock configuration.  That is a shame, as it was a rather plain jane version (low optioned) that showed better with the custom paint job.  It is a shame that some of the really cool paint jobs are now lost to time....

Here is the car I am talking about:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y08RoatR9RA

FYI  In the video, the commentator talks about it being possibly a green car.  However, the car was delivered from the factory with a plum crazy exterior (from what I remember the second owner telling me about it).  He told me he had to repaint it because it came off in large flakes at a car wash he was using one day.  Plum crazy was not the most durable paint job choice back then.....

[cudaken]

Baldwin, having a 70 Cuda and a 69 Charger, want to guess which one I like the best? Cuda Looks way cool, you sit down in it. But, I take the Charger. Rides better, shifter does not hit me in the knee and the doors do not sound like a beer can when being closed. (E Body doors are wide)

Both are great cars, but I never had anyone ask me if my Charger is a Z-28? 

Funny store, one of my Manager bought a 69 Z-28 I found him. For the heck him and I trade cars for the weekend. When Bill gave me back my keys I asked him what do you think of it?  Told me "Ken, it scared the shit out of me". 

Cuda Ken

[ACUDANUT]

Whats so special about these cars?, i mean they're cool, but i turned down a 72 challenger and 73 cuda in hopes of finding a charger, so people really like then that much???

i mean 72 and newer cars aren't really desirable, but they look good enough, and i cant imagine it being extremely hard to back-date them to a 70 or 71 style  

I got crushed hard on C.C..com (cuda-Challenger) for stating the obvious reason, being the only reason the Ebody cars go crazy is because they are the pony cars of Mopar. They resemble the 69 Camaro, and as we ALL know, everybody and their mother just sh*ts themselves over a Damn 69 Camaro.

You should be banned here too, for such slander on ma mopar (just kidding). You sound like a jealous hater.

[myk]

Must be nice to be able to throw down money on a car that will never see another mile added to its odometer.  

Why do people like these cars?  They don't actually like them because it isn't about that, IMO.  When you're spending money that goes into the 6-digit realm for a car it's more than about buying, owning and liking a car; we're talking about connoisseurs that are out to own the finest, rarest, most desirable pedigree of property that will be out of reach for the majority of the population.  We shouldn't begrudge these well-heeled buyers or their cars because they've earned the right to be there making those shots and calls.,,

[Ghoste]

Cooter already told you, its about proving how big your wiener is by the size of your wallet.

[Cooter]

Whats so special about these cars?, i mean they're cool, but i turned down a 72 challenger and 73 cuda in hopes of finding a charger, so people really like then that much???

i mean 72 and newer cars aren't really desirable, but they look good enough, and i cant imagine it being extremely hard to back-date them to a 70 or 71 style  

I got crushed hard on C.C..com (cuda-Challenger) for stating the obvious reason, being the only reason the Ebody cars go crazy is because they are the pony cars of Mopar. They resemble the 69 Camaro, and as we ALL know, everybody and their mother just sh*ts themselves over a Damn 69 Camaro.

You should be banned here too, for such slander on ma mopar. You sound like a jealous hater.

While I do admire your bravado, of all the dumb sh*t you've stated here, this ranks up top.
jealous? I own an Ebody. I just refuse to be 'Mopar or no car'. While I'm partial to Chrysler muscle cars, I refuse to limit my options. We all know the reason I stated is the truth, I just stated it. Nothing more.
now who sounds like a hater?

[Cooter]

Must be nice to be able to throw down money on a car that will never see another mile added to its odometer.  

We shouldn't begrudge these well-heeled buyers or their cars because they've earned the right to be there making those shots and calls.,,

While I have no problem with self made millionaires,  most of what I see at these auctions are rich douches that got it the old fashioned way....momma and daddy had old money and little junior inherited it.
should I not be bitter because I'll never have that luxury? Possible. Should I be happy that because some douche is shoving the price if plain slant 6 Cudas into the stratosphere because he just wants to show the rest of the world how deep his/her pockets are? Possibly. But it ain't gonna happen cause there's no way these types would give two sh*ts about a damn 50 year old car if it weren't status.  People buy hemis for this same reason IMO. They wanna grab just a little of that by having the average enthusiast think they are part of the well of society because they own a hemi car. When, in fact, they are many times no better off than you or me, they just are willing to take out three mortgages on their houses in order to play on that ball field. If even for a second. I just prefer to stay grounded by playing with cheap junk rather than having all my nuts in one basket hoping for a retirement one day.

[Homerr]

Regarding the car - I find these big $$$ cars sad.  They cease to be automobiles and become a commodity.

[Aero426]

Regarding the car - I find these big $$$ cars sad.  They cease to be automobiles and become a commodity.

Before they became commodities, people once napped on the hoods of their Shelbys. 

[Mike DC]

I'm gonna go against the grain on this subject. 



IMO million-dollar cars are annoying but they don't really jack up the value of everything else in the hobby.  Not for very long anyway. 

Yeah, those huge BJ auction prices made a lot of rednecks try to get $30k for their rusty-ass 318 hulk.  But what actually happened?  Most of those rednecks didn't get $30k for it, they just sat there and daydreamed for a while. 

Yeah, it means they refused to sell the car for a reasonable number for a few years.  But most of them had the car in the first place because they have been refusing to sell the car for reasonable numbers for 20+ years already.  The inflated BJ prices didn't cause most of them to start holding out for more than the car is worth, it usually just gave them a convenient excuse to continue doing it. 


The BJ-era price inflation didn't change the situation, it just elevated all the dollar figures in the hobby on all sides for a few years.  It was frustrating to be buying during that era but it has become a lot more frustrating to be selling today.  Value shifts are a double-edged sword, no better or worse.   


 

[Ghoste]

And it created a reproduction parts trade.

[ACUDANUT]

Cooter, you have one opinion and your always right. The only one saying dumb shit around here is you.  I am proud that one of our products ('Cuda) can make such high publicity and demand a premium buck.  What's wrong with that. ?
Peace out.

[Cooter]

Problem isn't necessarily the dumbass sitting on Pappas Cudas, it's the 'traders/flippers' paying insane amounts for the 318 cars hoping to stuff hemis in em and find a rich douche. What was once a nice 318 project, is still a 318 car, but is now gonna cost $30-50k because of BJ showing 'highlights' of the stupid rich.

[Cooter]

Cooter, you have one opinion and your always right. The only one saying dumb shit around here is you.  I am proud that one of our products ('Cuda) can make such high publicity and demand a premium buck.  What's wrong with that. ?
Peace out.

You really are special. Where the hell did you get that I'm always right by opinion?
Tell you what kid, keep to your side, I'll keep to mine hater.

[ACUDANUT]

Wow, I'm a kid again. 

Cooter, on a more serious side. What e-body do ya got ? I'd love to see some pic's. 

[Ghoste]

There are a bunch of pics of it on here.

[Nacho-RT74]

is this the same Cuda tried to be sold on ebay in 1 million dollars maybe 5 years ago ? ( but estimated to get 1.3 millions for it )

[Nacho-RT74]

no, wrong... the one I meant it was a 70 also ragtop and also Blue on Blue... claimed to be the first Hemi Cuda coming out from the line. Last owner known being the same than the last Hemi Cuda out of the line (71 white ragtop too ), claiming to worth 5 millions

[MaximRecoil]

I hate convertibles. The roofline/C-pillar is a major cosmetic design point on a car, and to hack it off in favor of a crinkled piece of cloth makes the car look like crap. The roof skin / pillars / inner structure are also a major structural part of the car, so when you hack it off, the chassis has more flex (this is especially true for convertibles made 40+ years ago). Reinforcements such as torque boxes help, but they don't make up for the lack of an integrated steel roof.

Also, I'm not a fan of E-bodies. They look like a generic knockoff of a first-generation Camaro/Firebird, neither of which are very good-looking cars to begin with (I think a '69 or '70 Mustang fastback looks way better than a first-generation Camaro/Firebird or a Chrysler E-body). I've never understood why so many people go nuts over E-bodies.

If the concept of resale value didn't exist, I'd walk right past this pristine '71 Hemi 'Cuda convertible and take a beat-up '69 Charger with a 383 any day. The uninspired E-body bodystyle isn't even in the same league, or the same planet for that matter, as the second-generation Charger.

However, since the concept of resale value does exist, I'd take the '71 Hemi 'Cuda convertible, sell it to someone who inexplicably thinks it is worth $4,000,000, and I'd then buy a bunch of cars that I really want, along with a big, fully-equipped garage.

[ACUDANUT]

There are a bunch of pics of it on here.

Ya got a linky ?

[tan top]

i mean 72 and newer cars aren't really desirable, but they look good enough, and i cant imagine it being extremely hard to back-date them to a 70 or 71 style  

Hey! I still love my 74 with it's crazy paint:



In today's market, originality carries a premium and after 71 all the big engine options were gone and so were the convertibles. 70 and 71's are both 1 year models (although they made more of them than 72-74) and they had better options in terms of colors, interiors, wings, stripes, etc.  People also like to clone them into T/A or AAR's and that's a lot easier if you start with a 70. It's really not so different as a 2nd gen charger bringing more money than a 3rd (in most cases).  

72+ bring decent money if they have gone the pro-touring / modernization route (discs, fuel injection, engine upgrades, updated interiors, etc). A Hemi always ups the price.

Doing a good conversion back to a 70/71 requires dealing with different marker lights, headlights, tail lights, grilles, dashboard, etc.  It all depends on how complete of a clone you want to make  Turning a 72+ into a vert is actually a lot of work and you'd be way under water.

  74 , I  would of liked to of bought  a 74 E-body  & do a stock type rebuild on it !! for the sheer fact that it was the last year of production & they stopped half way through the model year if I remember correctly ( also they use to be the only E-bodies & 73s  may be 2s that could be had for sensible money  

[Cooter]

Converts are also known by their other name. "Bathtub", as all they do is hold water when it rains.

[Ghoste]

There are a bunch of pics of it on here.

Ya got a linky ?

There's a whole thread about the car on here somewhere that gets updated from time to time.  Getting off topic a bit but do you have pics of your car on here?

[69CoronetRT]

Speaking about these cars brings back a memory.  About 15 years ago, I got to sit in one of the 1970 versions.  It was at a car show in western Iowa and the owner was from nearby Omaha, Nebraska. ... The original paint flaked off in 1975-6, so the second owner had the custom candy paint job put on by the House of Color in Chicago ($3-4000 back then).

Chad, that car was originally sold by a dealer in the Omaha area. I knew where the car was in the 70's as the car was freshly painted by Joe Bryant out of Plattsmouth NE. Joe is mentioned in the MCG article. I knew Joe in the late 70's as he was helping a friend with a car.

[Chad L. Magee]

Speaking about these cars brings back a memory.  About 15 years ago, I got to sit in one of the 1970 versions.  It was at a car show in western Iowa and the owner was from nearby Omaha, Nebraska. ... The original paint flaked off in 1975-6, so the second owner had the custom candy paint job put on by the House of Color in Chicago ($3-4000 back then).

Chad, that car was originally sold by a dealer in the Omaha area. I knew where the car was in the 70's as the car was freshly painted by Joe Bryant out of Plattsmouth NE. Joe is mentioned in the MCG article. I knew Joe in the late 70's as he was helping a friend with a car.

I forgot that the car was detailed once in MCG years ago (and I would have it buried in my car magazine stash).  On the paint job, I was going from the information that the second owner had told me at the Iowa car show 15 years ago which may be a bit foggy with time.  He probably bought the candy paints for it from House of Color in Chicago (which he mentioned to me) and had it painted by Joe.  That would make sense, so I am wrong on who actually painted the car.   Regardless, it is a shame that the car is now back to stock exterior paint , rather than the custom paint that it had worn for so long a time.  At least someone videoed the car before it was returned back to stock so we can still enjoy it as it was.... 

[ACUDANUT]

There are a bunch of pics of it on here.

Ya got a linky ?

There's a whole thread about the car on here somewhere that gets updated from time to time.  Getting off topic a bit but do you have pics of your car on here?

Yes, they are in the "show us your 3rd Gen"

[Ghoste]

Took a while but I found them.  I asked you about a pic before but you didn't indicate they were on here somewhere, they're nice cars you should post them more often.

[ACUDANUT]

Thanks, I have others but they are "mothballed"

[Tilar]

It will surprise the hell out of me if it hits a million.

 

[surmanajaja]

It will surprise the hell out of me if it hits a million.

 

it would surprise me if it didnt. I guess it will go to 1.5 - 2.0 range but not be sold. these cars arent really for sale that often and this is one of the best there is...so ppl with too much money and too little sense should be gunning for it.

[boss429kiwi]

Let's not forget that this is not just one of 11 71 HEMI Cuda convertibles made, but it's only one of 3 4 speeds.

This will go for silly money $2m to $3m, and IMO worth every cent.

[surmanajaja]

It will surprise the hell out of me if it hits a million.

 

it would surprise me if it didnt. I guess it will go to 1.5 - 2.0 range but not be sold. these cars arent really for sale that often and this is one of the best there is...so ppl with too much money and too little sense should be gunning for it.

Tilar should be VERY surprised...went for more than I thought...right cars still have no roof on price.

[Ghoste]

So what did it go for?

[Mopar Nut]

So what did it go for?

Sold for $3,500,000 someone lowballed them.  

http://www.mecum.com/results.cfm

[boss429kiwi]

$3,500,000 + commission!!!!!!!!!

[Ghoste]

To be quite frank, you can count me as very shocked too!

[Aero426]

Very strong money.   I thought maybe $2.5

[Cooter]

For that coin, better come with some land in Beverly Hills right next to movie stars, a butler, and about a 15 car 'barn/shop"....

[Ghoste]

Maybe thats where its going.

[Cooter]

Maybe thats where its going.

May-be, but I can't live in it.

[Ghoste]

Or eat it.

[maxwellwedge]

no, wrong... the one I meant it was a 70 also ragtop and also Blue on Blue... claimed to be the first Hemi Cuda coming out from the line. Last owner known being the same than the last Hemi Cuda out of the line (71 white ragtop too ), claiming to worth 5 millions

The very first 70 was the red on red "Franklin Mint" car. A friend sold it to Carlos M years ago. Carlos also had the last one...the white 71 you mentioned. Roger Gibson had them at his shop at the same time for restoration at the time. I had my 'Cuda there at that time as well and I got to have a long look at both of them.
Bill W. then bought the "bookends" during the restorations. He has since sold them off.

No one goes crazy when a Ferrari sells for 9 million. These rags are uber rare and it's the old supply and demand thing. If I had the money - I would buy them all......then invite everyone over for a "weenie" roast. 

[Ghoste]

Ferrari is a little different though so its a tough comparison.  They do actually go crazy when they sell for that much but most of the crowd applaud such records.  There are still a few old school Ferrarista who wag their heads in disgust.  You are quite correct about the rarity Jim but my fear is that it will fuel another bubble.  Good and bad to that but I'd hate to see clones bringing stupid insane money again like 07.

[maxwellwedge]

Bring on another bubble....so I can sell most of my stuff (I am well past my marital limit - lol!) and just sit on the porch and strum my guitar.

[Ghoste]

   You can't sell them until I get up there and drool over (around) them.  I found a solution for the marital limit too but I don't necessarily recommend it, its rare for the husband to make out as profitably as I did.

[maxwellwedge]

I'm not that lucky! 
Come on down any time.

[ACUDANUT]

Bring on another bubble....so I can sell most of my stuff (I am well past my marital limit - lol!) and just sit on the porch and strum my guitar.

X2

[1974dodgecharger]

Cooter, you have one opinion and your always right. The only one saying dumb shit around here is you.  I am proud that one of our products ('Cuda) can make such high publicity and demand a premium buck.  What's wrong with that. ?
Peace out.

cooter is always right, in his own mind, he wont budge you tell him your car color is black he will tell you its red and that will be final its red.  When he does not have a answer to any post he posts with a questions to the answer and then replies back later one, 'see that's what I said you just don't understand'    I learned to ignore some of his postings, but it is fun to read though people thought for awhile we were entertaining me and him going back and forth, but I got bored.

He is very helpful though when he wants to be....

did you hear the original owner in the video, 'If I sell for 3 million im gonna have to buy it back in 5 years at 4 million so I want at least 3.5 million to take the reserve off'

[Cooter]

Yawn.....oh I'm sorry, was I boring you?
it's ok 74, most of my knowledge and expertise is lost on many.
It must really suck when I usually have the answers to most of your questions....

[Daytona Enthusiast]