SUMMARY
The beneficiary of a rotisserie restoration that was completed in 2013Original 340 cubic inch LA V8 / Correct SIX BARREL carburetion
Original A727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission
Correct Deep Burnt Orange Metallic paint / Correct AAR aesthetics
Correct Black vinyl interior
Factory power steering / Correct power front disc and rear drum brakes
Correct 8.75-inch rear axle
Correct side-exit exhaust
Correct staggered Rallye wheels
There's nothing quite like extravagant American muscle! In the '50s, chrome-laden luxo-tanks kicked off the era of mass-market high performance V8s. In the '60s, bold, 'industrial strength' strippers established a solid foundation for approachable motorsports. In the '70s, pony cars romanticized the athletic coupes we still know and love. And now, thanks to low production numbers and perpetually cool presence, cars like this rowdy AAR 'Cuda are providing gearheads with ultimate classics that are essentially timeless. A rotisserie restored show stopper that wraps correct aesthetics around a numbers-matching drivetrain, this exclusive Plymouth is a highly desirable rarity that's primed for the strip or the show. Looking for some of the hottest metal your money can buy? Check out this All American MoPar!
BODYWORK/TRIM
Aim a few clicks at our high resolution photography and you'll agree that this spectacular pentastar rolls much nicer than when it left Chrysler's Hamtramck assembly plant thanks to a detailed, rotisserie restoration. During that thorough rebuild, the car's tight body, which includes solid-closing doors on top of excellent panel alignment, was stripped bare, massaged to form and thoroughly sanded into virtually flawless surfaces. Once those surfaces were completely clean and fully prepped, correct Deep Burnt Orange 2-stage was accented with correct strobe stripes and dressed in correct war paint. And today, this precise Plymouth rolls as one world-class collector car that's worthy of serious investment.
Not surprisingly, this AAR's track-bred appearance is backed by a long list of correct details. At the front of its glossy profile, a "PLYMOUTH" branded grille hangs clear head lamps and flush-fit parking lights over small spoilers, a polished bumper and requisite road lamps. Behind that grille, a lightweight, AAR-exclusive hood, secured by fresh stainless lanyards, rolls a correct suede topcoat toward clean glass and straight stainless frames. At the sides of that hood, flush door handles and a correct driver's mirror combine with spotless exhaust tips to provide an authentic, factory-fresh appearance. And at the back of the car, a Satin Black valence hangs bright taillights and a small "'cuda" script between a second chrome bumper and a familiar ducktail spoiler.
ENGINE
Pull the pins on this E-Body's matte-finished hood and you'll find an original, 340 cubic inch LA V8 that's authenticated by a familiar 3577130TA casting number, an April (4) 6th (6), 1970 (70) casting date and a matching partial VIN. Although SCCA Trans Am racecars were limited to 302 cubic inches, Plymouth stuck to the tried and true "no replacement for displacement" rule for street applications. That means this coupe received a powerplant that was specifically designed for high performance turnpike warriors. And, thanks to Holley tri-power carburetion, a hot Edelbrock intake, a high performance points distributor, high-flow cylinder heads and unique internals, it turned hefty 10.5 to 1 compression into 315 fire-breathing horses. That said; SCCA regulations and increasing insurance costs forced Chrysler to actually underrate the mill's output to just 290. But, in reality, the car easily disposed of most 'equally powered' stoplight challengers. Whatever the number, this engine's spotless bay is in brilliant, show-ready condition, displaying immaculate detailing and exact finishes throughout. Clean Burnt Orange fenders provide excellent contrast to a glossy layer of Hemi Orange block skin. A bright air cleaner looks great peeking through the aforementioned hood. And, as with most of today's investment grade MoPars, every detail on this SIX BARREL beast has been returned to a convincing level of factory authenticity.
DRIVETRAIN/SUSPENSION
Park this impressive 'Cuda on a lift and you'll find over-restored floors that feature glossy 2-stage pigment. The high-winding small block churns power through an original A727 3-speed, which is authenticated by a correct 'high performance' part number, a March 26th, 1970 build stamp and a matching partial VIN. That transmission spins a correct 8.75-inch axle. The car's suspension has been fully rebuilt to include factory power steering and correct power front disc and rear drum brakes. As expected, a unique side-exit exhaust system is present and accounted for. And hooking all that mechanical prowess to the pavement is freshly restored Rallye wheels, which spin E60-15 Goodyear Polyglas GTs in front of G60-15 Goodyear Polyglas GTs to employ one of the first applications of staggered tire sizing.
INTERIOR
Swivel the car's solid-closing doors and you'll find a correct interior that was installed by Custom Seat Cover Shop of Salem, Virginia. The front bucket and rear bench seats are wrapped in tight vinyl covers that display hardly any signs of wear. In front of those seats, a monochromatic dash, restored by Just Dashes, hangs correct standard telemetry and a quartz movement clock above a correct Chrysler Solid State radio. Fade-free carpet, weather-free door panels and a fresh headliner frame those components in a sea of serious black. The driver navigates the course through a wood-rimmed steering wheel and requisite Chrysler Slap Stick. And behind the cockpit, a fully finished trunk centers a correct jack and collapsible spare tire between a correct mat and fresh decklid decal.
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
Naturally, this coupe proudly displays its original Fender Tags. Here's a detailed look at how the car rolled out of Dodge Main.
FIRST TAG:
E55: 340 cubic inch V8 that utilizes one 4-barrel carburetor to produce 275 horsepowerD32: Heavy duty automatic transmission
B: Plymouth 'Cuda
S: Special (AAR 'Cuda)
23: 2-door hardtop
J: 340 SIX BARREL V8 that utilizes three 2-barrel carburetors to create 290 horsepower
0: 1970 model year
B: Assembled at Dodge Main in Hamtramck, Michigan
303631: Production Sequence Number
FK5: Deep Burnt Orange Metallic body paint
H: High Trim Grade interior
6: Vinyl bucket seats
X9: Black interior
000: Full door panels
413: Assembled on April 13th, 1970
M04314: Vehicle Order Number
FK5: Deep Burnt Orange Metallic roof paint
A53: Trans Am Package
B51: Power brakes
C16: Woodgrain console
C55: Bucket seats
G34: Remote driver's mirror
J45: Hood pins
J82: Aerodynamic rear spoiler
M21: Drip rail moldings
M88: Rear deck molding treatment
N44: Side-exit exhaust
N94: Fiberglass 'Fresh Air' hood
R11: 2-watt Solid State AM radio
V6H: Black, longitudinal Trans Am stripes
Y05: Built to United States specifications
26: 26-inch radiator
EN1: End of codes, assembly line one
SECOND TAG:
TRANS AM: Designated Trans Am Program carOUR SALE INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTATION
Miscellaneous receiptsAll American Racers 'Cudas are a cool experiment from a time when automakers were willing to try anything to improve their performance credentials. When that purpose-built personality is combined with this coupe's original drivetrain and triple-digit exclusivity, it creates the perfect recipe for an unbeatable collector's piece. In today's shaky economic climate, investing in something that makes you smile isn't a bad idea. But remember: nothing with strobe stripes sticks around our showroom for very long!