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Pick Of The Day: 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda

I will not bury the lede on my Pick of the Day. This 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda is one of the nicest cars on the planet and the single best example I have ever seen. I had the pleasure of personally judging this car at the Future Classic Car Show (now the Future Collector Car Show) during Arizona auction week a few years ago and came away stunned by how well the restoration of this car was executed. If that is not enough, the two other judges on my team were noted classic car restorers and they were as stunned by this car as I was (that’s us judging the car below).

The seller of this specific car spared absolutely no expense on the restoration. According to them, this 1970 ‘Cuda was a fairly famous race car in the Chicago area when new. During its racing days, the car was maroon, but you could still see its original paint color of Limelight Green under the carpeting and in parts of the trunk. When the seller became aware of the car, it had been sitting in a garage since the ’80s and put up for sale in well worn condition. By the time the current owner finally saw the car in person, it had already been sold. Luckily for them, the buyer never paid, so it was re-listed and they were able to buy the car.

This Plymouth ‘Cuda is one of 902, V-code 440 6-barrel cars, which was rated by the factory at 390 horsepower. It is backed by a four-speed manual gearbox. The car is equipped with power steering, power front disc brakes, and a Dana 60 rear end with a 3.54 axle ratio. It has hood tie-down pins, a heavy-duty suspension, heavy-duty 11-inch brakes, road lamps, and the Track Pack. The Rallye instrument cluster group includes variable-speed wipers with electric washers, a tachometer, an electric clock, a 150-mph speedometer, and a woodgrain instrument cluster appliqué.

This ‘Cuda was purchased by the owner in May of 2016 and went through a total nut-and-bolt rotisserie restoration completed by S&S Mopar Muscle in October 2019. After the restoration, it was transported to Arizona, where it is kept in an air-conditioned storage facility in Scottsdale. The car has only been driven to car shows and has accumulated around 4,000 miles since the restoration.

The owner states that this is a numbers-matching car with the exception of the engine. Despite this, it does have a period-correct 440-6 that was stroked for improved drivability, but don’t let that fool you because it’s been dyno’d at 523 horsepower and 606 lb-ft of torque. The entire restoration and every single repair on this car are completely documented.

So here’s the deal: I am not exaggerating at all when I say that this 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda is the best example I have ever seen. It is a lesson in what a proper restoration looks like – not only when new but even after five years. This car is proof positive of what is possible with a no-expense-spared restoration. Yes, the asking price is $195,000 or best offer, but for this car, I am calling that a bargain. If you want a show-winning iconic muscle car at a price that is likely less than the restoration cost, buy this ‘Cuda.

Check out the listing for this Pick of the Day on ClassicCars.com. 

Ex–Jesse James 1936 Ford 5-Window Coupe

This 1936 Ford five-window coupe was built by Jesse James and West Coast Choppers in the early 2000s. It is finished in metallic purple over black and purple leather and powered by a 350ci Chevrolet V8 paired with a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission. Features include a chopped roof, Nash front grille, custom-fabricated hood, flamethrower exhaust, Pete and Jakes front end, front disc brakes, rear air suspension, custom airbrushing, and 1200-watt stereo system. Recently acquired by the selling dealer, this chopped five-window coupe is now offered with toy versions of the car and a clean Arizona title.

Modifications to the steel bodywork include an 8″ chop, a custom-fabricated hood and hood sides, a Nash front grille, Bugatti-style taillights, and shaved handles and trim. The metallic purple paint was applied at Hot Rods by Boyd and features a metal flake roof section. The doors and trunk lid are opened with electric poppers, and a flamethrower exhaust system is installed. Video of the flamethrower in use can be viewed in the gallery.

Steel 15″ wheels are paint-matched to the body and mounted with 165-series BFGoodrich wide whitewall tires. The car is equipped with a Pete and Jakes dropped-axle disc-brake front end, split wishbones, and a rear air suspension.

The cabin is upholstered in black and purple tuck-and-roll leather with purple carpets. Amenities include a fore/aft-adjustable bench seat, airbrushed snake artwork, a floor-mounted shifter, power windows, a pop-out windshield, West Coast Choppers branding, and a custom stereo consisting of a JVC CD player, a 1200-watt Audiobahn amplifier, two subwoofers, and twelve cabin speakers.

The steering wheel frames a 100-mph speedometer and auxiliary gauges for oil pressure, fuel level, coolant temperature, and amperage. The five-digit odometer shows approximately 440 miles.

The air suspension tank and compressor are mounted in the trunk along with the battery.

The 350ci Chevrolet V8  is equipped with a custom-painted air cleaner housing.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission. Additional underside photos can be viewed in the gallery.

Various toy versions of the car are included in the sale.

The car is titled in Arizona using the Assigned Identification Number AZ364610.

350-Powered 1929 Ford Model A Woodie Panel Truck

This 1929 Ford Model A panel truck is said to have served as a delivery vehicle for the Anheuser-Busch company, and it was refurbished and modified more than two decades ago. The truck rides on an independent front suspension with rack-and-pinion steering and disc brakes as well as a four-link rear setup with adjustable coilovers. Power comes from a 350ci Chevrolet V8 mated to a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission and a Ford 9” rear end. The wood passenger compartment was repaired and refinished, and the interior offers black bucket seats, air conditioning, VDO gauges, and a JVC AM/FM/CD head unit. Acquired by the selling dealer in 2023, this Woodie panel truck is now offered in New York with a clean North Carolina title.

The steel body panels are finished in metallic green, while the passenger compartment is constructed from wood framing and paneling. Exterior details include a chrome headlight bar, a windshield visor, a black roof covering, running boards, rear barn doors, a recessed center high-mount stop light, and LED taillights. Gold Anheuser-Busch lettering and logos have been added to the side and rear windows.

American Racing 14” alloy wheels have polished lips and are mounted with BFGoodrich tires. The Mustang II-style front clip is equipped with independent front suspension and rack-and-pinion steering, while the four-link rear setup is supported by adjustable coilovers. Braking is handled by front discs and rear drums.

The cabin features reclining bucket seats trimmed in black with color-coordinated carpets. Air conditioning has been added, and a JVC AM/FM/CD head unit is connected to Jensen speakers mounted in the cargo area.

The spokes of the wood-rimmed steering wheel have been painted to match the body, and central VDO instrumentation consists of a 120-mph speedometer and gauges for oil pressure, coolant temperature, alternator output, and fuel level. The five-digit odometer shows 4,700 miles, approximately 1k of which have been added under current ownership.

The 350ci Chevrolet V8 is equipped with an Edelbrock carburetor and aluminum intake manifold as well as a chrome air cleaner lid and valve covers. Coated short-tube exhaust headers flow into a dual exhaust system, and the truck is said to be equipped with a stainless-steel fuel tank.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a TH350 three-speed automatic transmission and a Ford 9” rear end.

The truck is titled as a 1929 Ford using the VIN A896444.

CCRC Summer Sweepstakes Official Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. 1. Sweepstakes Entry Period/Sponsor: The CCRC Summer Sweepstakes (“Sweepstakes”) begins at 12:00:01 AM Central Time (“CT”) on 06/24/2024 and ends at 11:59:59 PM CT on 07/22/2024 (the “Sweepstakes Entry Period”). Sponsor: TN Marketing LLC (“Sponsor”), 2955 Xenium Ln N Suite 10, Plymouth, MN 55441.

Source

26-Years-Family-Owned 1932 Ford Roadster Hot Rod

This 1932 Ford is a steel-bodied highboy roadster that was acquired by the seller’s family in 1998 and subsequently built into a hot rod at Arizona Street Rod Shop in Phoenix. The 239ci flathead V8 is equipped with an Isky camshaft, Sharp cylinder heads, dual Stromberg Super 97 carburetors, a beehive oil cooler, and polished exhaust headers. Finished in black over brown upholstery, the car rides on a reinforced frame and features a rumble seat, banjo-style steering wheel, Classic Instruments gauges, 15” steel wheels, and a lowered ride height using an aftermarket rear spring and a front drop axle. Since 2022, the three-speed manual transmission was rebuilt, the cylinder heads were repaired, the water pumps were replaced, the oil pan was resealed, and the brake system was serviced. This Deuce highboy is now offered with spare parts, service records dating back to 1998, and an Arizona title in the name of the seller’s family trust.

The steel body and partially boxed frame are finished in black, and exterior details include a tilt-out windshield and teardrop taillights as well as a chrome grille insert, headlight buckets, spreader bars, and dual exhaust finishers. Chipped paint on the cowl is shown up close in the gallery.

Red-finished 15” steel wheels wear chrome hubcaps and trim rings and are mounted with 185/70 front and 255/70 rear BFGoodrich Silvertown Radial whitewall tires. The front suspension features a chrome-finished front drop axle, drag link, steering rod, and shocks, while the wishbones are painted to match the body. A steering box sourced from a 1956 F-100 has been installed, and the rear suspension has been fitted with Posies lowering springs. Stopping power is provided by hydraulic drums all around, and the brakes were overhauled in 2022.

The cabin features a bench seat trimmed in brown upholstery that extends to the door panels, kick panels, and rear bulkhead. Tan carpets line the firewall and floors, and a beveled-edge rearview mirror has been installed.

The banjo-style steering wheel sits ahead of an engine-turned dashboard fascia housing Classic instrumentation consisting of a 140-mph speedometer, an 8k-rpm tachometer, and auxiliary gauges. The six-digit odometer shows 2,200 miles, which is said to represent the distance added since the build was completed.

The rumble seat is trimmed to match the cabin.

The 239ci flathead V8 was sourced from a later-model Ford, and a rebuild in 1997 involved boring the block 0.030”-over, installing an Isky camshaft, and adding Sharp high-compression cylinder heads. Induction is through dual Stromberg Super 97 carburetors mounted to a polished intake manifold. A beehive oil cooler has been added along with polished exhaust headers, and the radiator is cooled by an electric puller fan. The water pumps were replaced and the cylinder heads were repaired in 2022, and the oil pan was resealed in 2024.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a three-speed manual transmission that was rebuilt and repainted in 2022. The rear axle is equipped with 3.54:1 gearing.

A collection of chassis components, wheels, and other parts that were removed during the build are shown in the gallery and will accompany the car.

The frame stamping is partially obscured. A redacted photo of the current Arizona title is displayed in the gallery, and the title carries a Not Actual Mileage brand.

Joe Kugel’s ‘MyWay’ 427-Powered ’32 Ford Roadster 5-Speed

This ’32 Ford roadster was built over a span of six years by the seller, Joe Kugel of Kugel Komponents in La Habra, California. Dubbed ‘MyWay’, it was featured in an episode of Jay Leno’s Garage in 2023, and the car received the Outstanding Engineering award at the 2023 Grand National Roadster Show as well as the Hot Rod Editor’s Pick the following year. Power comes from a 427ci Dart V8 with Edelbrock cylinder heads and a Borla 8-stack throttle-body fuel-injection system, and the Tremec TKX five-speed manual transmission is linked to a Ford 9″ rear end with a limited-slip differential. It rides on a Kugel frame and independent suspension components equipped with QA1 adjustable coilovers, Eibach springs, Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering, Wilwood brake calipers, and a Hydratech booster. Inside, the red leather is accented by billet-aluminum hardware, and Restomod Air Controls, Classic Instruments gauges, and a concealed sound system have been installed. Other highlights of the build include Cerakoted brightwork, custom-fabricated Curtis Speed 15” billet wheels, and a stainless-steel dual exhaust system. This Ford street rod is now offered with a collection of trophies, a car cover, and a clean California title in the seller’s name listing it as a 1932 Ford.

The car rides on a Kugel steel frame that was narrowed by 2” at the back, and crossmembers were modified to accommodate the driveshaft and exhaust system. Kugel independent front and rear suspension setups are equipped with QA1 adjustable coilovers and Eibach springs, and a Flaming River rack-and-pinion steering rack was installed.

The Brookville steel body was tubbed, the rear fenders were bobbed, and custom rear frame horn covers were fabricated at Stone’s Metal Shop of Gardena, California. The removable soft top features wood bows.

A Rootlieb hood with louvered side panels was installed, and gray PPG paint was applied at Mahoods in Anaheim. The exterior brightwork was finished in Tungsten (C-111) Cerakote.

Cerakoted Curtis Speed billet-aluminum wheels measure 15×7” up front and 15×10” out back, and they are wrapped in 205/55 Dunlop Direzza DZ102 and 295/55 Mickey Thompson ET Street S/S tires, respectively. Centerlock-style caps cover the lug nuts. The four-wheel disc brakes utilize Wilwood calipers, drilled and slotted rotors, and a Hydratech booster that is mounted inside the left frame rail.

Bill’s Auto Upholstery of Brea, California, trimmed the cabin in BMW Vermillion Red leather and gray squareweave carpets with red binding. The Fibersteel bucket seats tilt forward on hinged brackets. Perforated vent outlets for the Restomod Air climate control system are incorporated into the custom instrument panel, which was fabricated by EVOD Industries along with the gauge bezels and door hardware. A Bluetooth-capable sound system is connected to speakers mounted in the bulkhead.

The Curtis Speed steering wheel is mounted to a Flaming River tilting steering column that has been painted to match the body. Classic Instruments green-letter dials include a 120-mph speedometer, a tachometer with a 6,200-rpm redline, and gauges for coolant temperature, oil pressure, fuel level, and alternator output. The six-digit odometer shows 5k miles, which is said to represent the distance added since completion of the build.

The trunk is trimmed to match the cabin, and removable panels provide access to a Kicker amplifier, an XS Power battery, a cutoff switch, and storage compartments on either side.

The 427ci V8 was built at Redline Performance using a Windsor cast-iron block from Dart and Cleveland cylinder heads from Edelbrock. Additional components include ARP fasteners, an MSD distributor, a Vintage Air Front Runner accessory drive, a Walbro in-tank electric fuel pump, and a Cooling Components electric radiator fan. The coated stainless-steel exhaust system was constructed using 1-7/8”-diameter headers, 2-1/2”-diameter pipes, and Stainless Specialties mufflers.

Induction is through a Borla 8-stack throttle-body fuel injection system managed by a Holley ECU.

Power is sent to the rear wheels through a Tremec TKX five-speed manual transmission and a 9″ rear end with a limited-slip differential, 3.89:1 gearing, Kugel 31-spline drive axles, and inboard-mounted disc brakes.

The car received the Outstanding Engineering award at the 2023 Grand National Roadster Show as well as the Hot Rod Editor’s Pick the following year. A collection of trophies and plaques will accompany the car.

The car is titled by VIN B5007227 as a 1932 Ford.