1971 Hemi Cuda - Stripped And Abandoned When Brand New!

This beautiful bare stripper 4 Speed Hemi Cuda was built by the factory to be a donor car for a Body-In-White Pro Stock racecar.
By an amazing stroke of luck it remained intact, minus drivetrain and is now complete and restored.
Here's the story of how it came to be.
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[@JimJJGates]

If you don't mind let me fill in some gaps. To Start, Yes Scott Lindsay found the car. He Informed us in the OKC Mopar club that this mysterious Hemi car we had always heard about Did actually exist! This is where my involvement with it came in. My Good friend Bob "Booker-T" Tompkins was introduced to the owner by Mr. Lindsay, and he did broker a deal for Booker to purchase the car. the rest of the story is from My Interviews with the original people involved with the program back in '70-'71. 1971 was the last year of Factory Sponsorships for racers by Chrysler Corp. Don Grotheer was a Factory Pro Stock NHRA racer from Oklahoma. Now the sponsorship was administered through a local dealership. Cable Chrysler & Plymouth. When he started to build his '71 car the factory shipped him the "Body in White" and Cable ordered the "Donor Car" for the drivetrain. NHRA rules back then stated that the drive train had to be a Stock casting factory available drive train hence taking the DT from an actual production vehicle. The car was then transferred to the Parts Dept. to be sold off as replacement parts which most of it was. all except the seats, (The Dash was gone but If I remember right the VIN Plate was there as well as the Fender Tags) hood, Shaker top, trunk lid, and grill assembly. When Cable C-P stopped being a C-P dealer in the early '80s a gentleman who worked in the Parts Department made a deal to purchase it for I believe $500.00, and he hauled it to his parents' house just east of OKC. When we went to pick it up after Booker purchased it was hidden behind some pretty tall weeds but if someone had been looking closely, they could have seen it from the road! The picture at the end of the video is us unloading it at Bookers house. That's me J.J. leaning on the windshield frame on the right, Booker leaning into the window, Our Mentor P.L. Smith on the left in the blue cap and waving on the driver's side is Bob Smith (P. L's Brother) who had a '71 Hemi Challenger at the time. A few weeks after rescuing it I met with the previous owner at his used car lot and picked up the rest of the trim pieces he had which I had to climb up in the attic of the building to get. The Paperwork he had (The 1 in the video as well as an MSO {Manufactures Sales Order} Yes it had an MSO! But it was never titled he also had the basic non Rallye Instrument panel with an odometer that read 5.6 miles!! I then did a phone interview with Don Grotheer about the racing program, and what he remembered about the car, and he filled in some gaps that I have already stated. He then put me in touch with Gale Cable the owner of the dealership which I then Interviewed. He confirmed all the stories and wished us well in restoring it. I then turned all my research over to my friend. After a while we had lost touch and I heard several years later he had sold it. He called me about 10 years ago and had me look at some photos on a website, He said "Look Familiar?" I said "NOOO It Can't Be!" IT WAS! all restored and Beautiful. Yes, the people that restored it did an awesome job. Sadly, my friend Booker Passed away a couple of years ago. I just wanted to set the record straight in his memory and let everyone know that the rescuing of this car was a TEAM EFFORT! of which I played a small part. RIP Bob "Booker-T" Tompkins III

[@UncleTonysGarage]

Awesome! Thank you for filling in the details for us. Adds a great dimension to the story.

[@JimJJGates]

@@UncleTonysGarage I will have to look somewhere We have the rest of the pictures from that day.

[@ss67camaronut]

Awesome story I enjoyed very much. Thanks guys. It is a thing of beauty. I'm a car whore of the sluttiest variety and love em all! But this one in particular, as Tony said is HISTORIC. Thanks for the education. 🏁🏁🏁

[@hank1556]

I bet the guys building the car at the plant had a fun 5.6 miles on it before it went to the owner!

[@bradg2069]

the thing on this car that is so weird is that it's a shaker car..... Chrysler had a hard time sourcing the parts for shakers, and it's really strange that this throw away car had one. There were customer cars that were ordered especially in 70 that came with raisin brand hoods instead of shakers, because Chrysler didn't have the pars available. the fact that this car had one is really weird. thanks for the story, it's a very unique car.

[@randallthomas5207]

I worked with a guy who joined the Airforce in 1970, and used the enlistment bonus to buy an AAR Cuda. First leave he pulled off the intake manifold and carbs, pulled the complete exhaust system off and put on headers and side pipes, took off the rally wheels to mount Cragars, all the silly 18-year old Rickie Racer stuff. Drug all the stock stuff out and sat it next tot he trash can. I was working with him in 83, and he had matured and decided he needed to get it back to stock. He and the wife took a few weeks off to go visit his parents over Christmas. I asked him how his Christmas was, and he started laughing. His dad had given him all the parts he took off the AAR. When the stupid 18-year old, had put it our for the trash, and gone back to the Air Force, his wise old dad had gathered up all the parts, and put them up in the rafters of his garage. He figured that someday, somebody would want them for a collector car, and buy them from him.

[@shaunclifton5281]

Now That is a Great story !

[@mexicanspec]

Wisdom comes with age.

[@dougjustdoug6391]

He owes his dad big time!

[@larryfogle3697]

Dad was a rare guy back in those days. Most people just never thought about restoration.

[@davidkeeton6716]

Oh my God, a happy ending! What a great dad. The foresight to save his son from himself.

[@clembob8004]

It's always these "oddity" cars that are the most interesting, and rare. Even though ANY 71 Hemi Cuda is rare, this thing is super rare within the rarity of 71 Hemi Cudas.

[@robertgembala8532]

Very cool ! My cousins father in law was an old school racer in the Midwest and received what I be Believe what is something similar, it was a 70 big block Camaro that came completely stripped down on the factory but he received all the parts in the boxes inside the car when it came bumpers etc. stuff like that, the only reason I know this is because one day I was at his house and he started pulling boxes out from all over in the garage that he still had an open and gave them to me for me to restore my factory big black Camaro, but he had a pretty cool story on how he used to order the cars completely stripped down for drag racing but still received all the parts that came with the car not sure if this is the same thing but he still has one of the cars in the weeds pretty rough but it was there just thought I’d share that cool story

[@markrobinson6916]

Amazing story. As a kid I used to hang out in the garage of A/Gas legend Fred Hurst. When he built his legendary Candy Red '70 Cuda which was partially sponsored by Plymouth, I remember they supplied him with the shell of the body, bumpers and grille. If I recall correctly it was acid dipped (weight reduction). Don't remember if the factory had that done or he had it done. The doors, deck lid and front end were all fiberglass. The frame the car sat on was hand built with straight axle type front suspension and narrowed rear end (to tuck those big slicks inside the fender wells). Interior was crafted of anodized aluminum. In his case I think he used the Hemi from one of his previous gassers, so he wasn't given a donor car.

[@jimmy_olds]

That’s a cool story. The 60’s and 70’s, what a time to be alive as a gearhead! Although these days are pretty good too

[@fortyshooter1]

I have the April 1970 issue Popular Hot Rodding magazine. In it they do an article of how S&M built their 1970 Pro Stock Hemicuda from a body in white and a new stock 1970 Hemicuda. There is a picture of both the production Hemicuda and the race car side by side on jack stands. Great story of how they built them.

[@garyhoelting5994]

I read that back in the day.couldnt remember what magazine it was!

[@cougariog8817]

I really dig how plan that car is. I think thay sometimes less is more. Good example is the white "VANISHING POINT " Challenger.

[@georgewetzel4380]

There were several cars used for Vanishing Point, and some differences between them are noticeable.

[@jpalberthoward9]

@@georgewetzel4380 yeah but you won't notice any of that until you've seen that movie at least 15 times. It takes that long to get past the blonde on the little Honda.

[@glennsacona5222]

A friend at my church.her husband passed away and has a multiple of cars. One of them is a superbird. Ive never seen one up close and she said to me that she needs to get these cars running for auction. i quickly answered her and said "I can certainly help with that! I cant wait to see this car

[@marcoceccarelli6415]

When I was a kid back in the '80s I grew up in Scranton Pennsylvania. There was a guy around town who had a station wagon with a 426 Hemi in it.

[@SMITHII_]

Sounds like my dad. He had a Fury stationwagon with a 426 hemi in it. Apparently people weren't too fond of losing to a station wagon in a race.

[@shaunclifton5281]

Very Cool !

[@todddenio3200]

@@SMITHII_ when I was younger and did a bit of street racing, I was always Leary of going up against station wagons, 4 doors, dented rusty beaters, or other cars that were not known for being street racer candidates as I was taught by my dad and my brothers that the drivers of those cars wanting to race you were likely to have the quickest cars and were looking for a few suckers to clip for a handful of cash before disappearing into the night a lot richer and never to be seen in the area again. I was also taught to watch out for unknown drivers who seemed to be total nerds, little league dads, or simple minded hicks as they were likely to be baiting you with a super fast sleeper, or were undercover cops. Those tidbits of wisdom saved me from a lot of empty wallets and tickets. Several of my racing buddies were so sure of themselves and their cars that they refused to heed my warnings about certain cars and strangers fitting the above descriptions and soon regretted it. There was one well known and respected local who would take to the streets around here from time to time and hunt for some cocky fools he could coax into challenging him to a race because he had the right type of car - a 68 Barracuda, but HE didn’t fit the image of being a racer. His all black clothes with a funny looking little white square on the front of his collar made it unlikely that he would be much of a challenge. I mean after all who would have thought that a catholic priest would be so evil as to sucker someone. He actually WAS the local priest- and his car wasn’t just quick.. His car was outright FAST and he never lost a race and he substantially grew the numbers of younger guys who went to church as he always set a high dollar cash wager or went for pink slips and after he won, he would tell the ones he beat that if the go to his church for Sunday service they could get their cash or cars back. He became very popular with the younger crowd and was also very popular with several members of his congregation but left town as fast as his Barracuda could get him away from here when his popularity with certain members of the congregation was discovered by their husbands. Yup. Our actual priest was a street racing, skirt chasing, wild man with a gift with words that allowed him to win people over with ease. I often wonder if he is still alive

[@jsteganius6969]

Know where Scranton is. I'm about 35 miles west of Philadelphia. I 👍 that Station Wagon with the Hemi.

[@notablynova4247]

@@todddenio3200 so my 17 year old Focus station wagon with the blacked out wheels and yellow letter Goodyears would make you think twice?? Smart man 👍

[@stephenh.bunkybyrd2024]

In all of these decades of being a car lover, I never heard of body in white. Thanks for the new knowledge. I learn a lot from you.

[@NoWr2Run]

I had NO CLUE either, WOW.

[@stevesmoneypit6137]

Chrysler built a bunch of them for different purposes. Many sent to Hurst before delivery for modifications. I was at Grand Spaulding Dodge at times when a truck load would show up. Everyone around would help push them into the lot.

[@stephenh.bunkybyrd2024]

@@stevesmoneypit6137 Thanks

[@JohnDoe-nz9jy]

Probably the best looking 71 cuda I've seen. So clean

[@jamesblair9614]

I remember that car surfacing, but you’ve filled in some of the blanks. I hear, depending on what state you’re living in, getting the documentation to register the car can be a real challenge. I’ve even seen a Hemi car someone bought from out of state, where the DMV removed the original VIN tag and issued their own crappy silver foil sticker! I would have taken the car out of state before I allowed that to be done.

[@SlowC10]

That’s such a beautiful car. It’s exactly how idd want a 426 hemi car specially with a 4 speed

[@jpalberthoward9]

Congratulations, you win a cee-gar for not being tacky. All I can say is "me too"

[@oneeyedcat3072]

First... My favorite color. And I LOVE the steel wheels

[@Canbechangedtwiceeveryfourteen]

Mine as well

[@Welcometofacsistube]

I love dog dish caps

[@bobhill3941]

Me too, I loved the basic muscle cars like a 409 Biscayne.

[@SevenHunnid]

When i look at the Top, where all the successful people are.. i see NO mexicans 😒it makes me sad. I smoke weed on my KZbin channel & i did a Mukbang inside Lowes.. trying to make it out The Hood💯no capp👀

[@CODA-Improvements]

I miss these history pieces! Thanks for this one!

[@zendoargos4988]

A bare bones Hemi Cuda? I am so in. I love the look of a 71 Cuda. That's a beautiful car and a really cool story.

[@williamstamper442]

Hello again Tony. About 15-20 years ago my friend got silly and rolled his F-350 extended cab short box diesel truck while we were up northern Michigan deer hunting. After about a month sitting in impound, him and I took my trailer and then new Duramax and hauled it home (ford vs Chevrolet, we had a ball going back and forth with each other such as this Ford is right on my tail cant shake him...well drive faster! We were towing 10,000lbs at 100+ at times and the slightly modified chev impressed the die hard ford guy. Anyway...) Not long after we found a Body in White Ford cab, still in the shipping crate. Was located on US-27 kinda in the middle of nowhere. Ended up costing a steep $4000 but was ultimately worth it! The reddish brown original color bed clashed with the body in white, appearance wise, but hey it was like having a new truck, sort of. That crate sat on my trailer in my driveway for a good 2-3 months before the project got underway, and it sure was weird seeing this all white Ford body just sitting there waiting for some love. The fenders, doors, hood, and glass was already fully installed in this body in white form, but no vin tag and had never even seen a frame or chassis. He still has this truck to this day and it wouldn't be here without that body in white. Also I believe one would have been hard pressed to find a 2000-2001 Ford F350 heavy duty cab like that anywhere besides south east michigan and home of the big three, especially Ford here in Dearborn. Mind you this find happened about 3 hours west out in the country but it's no secret many people who's careers started and ended with Ford motor company ended up retiring and moving west out in the country while never getting too far from friends and family still left behind as they work their career jobs back here in "Detroit". Just wanted to share this body in white story to go along with that very awesome cuda main story!

[@mikemccollough6633]

When I lived in OKC I knew of this car It belonged to Rex Howard he said it was Don Grothers spare body. That was in the 80s he had several very rare mopars I miss him RIP.

[@JimJJGates]

Mike, Rex never had custody of it. Booker bought it from the guy who bought it from Cable Chrysler Plymouth. Yes, Rex had some very classic ones and was a good friend of P.L. and Me but not this one.

[@robertwest3093]

My neighbor was Gene Ferguson. I think he was more of a local celebrity (Hampton Roads, Virginia) back in the 1960s-1970s. He taught me a few things when I was first learning the ins and outs of high performance. I will always be grateful for the time he took with me.

[@roywhitman7109]

Fascinating story! I remember the body in white program. They weren't necessarily only for Chrysler backed teams, either. You could order a body in white right out of the Direct Connection catalog back then. This particular story about the parts car is a new one to me, though! Thanks for the history lesson!👍

[@jimmyhawk3270]

Nitpick Uncle Tony, nitpick! I love ALL of the little obscure Mopar details.

[@raybrensike42]

I graduated high school in '74 and there was one kid who had a nice '71 Cuda convertible. I didn't know they were rare. Wonder where it is today.

[@Jeffgordonfan24hesthegoat]

Probably not a hemi tho

[@derekhobbs1102]

Holden here in Australia used to sell "motorsport shells", just a bare body.

[@tims72demon]

A friend I grew up with got a King Cuda. I had a 67 GTX conv w/440 Super Commando. Had to trade it in on my Demon in 72. Insurance companies were getting us. He set it up for drag racing. First run, it lifted the front end about 4' . It scared him he let off the gas and dropped it. That was the end of the Hemi. I don't think he ever went back to the drag races again. Don't know what he did with that Cuda. But I still have my Demon.

[@barneymiller7894]

Probably the coolest Hemi Cuda I've seen 👌 I always prefer stripper cars and you don't see many Hemi Cudas in base trim!

[@robertsnyder5149]

We got one of these, it came in a very large box. We built the "Butch Thuney" ProStock car from it.It won the Northwest Drag Nationals in 1973 in Pro Stock at Bremerton, Washington.

[@ThreenaddiesRexMegistus]

Awesome Barracuda! Looks great just as it is.

[@roberthill2219]

I just called Scott... he says 'WOW!!!' I believe the April '70 Popular Hot Rodding has a very detailed story about the Sox &Martin 70 PS cuda build using this exact method. But the donor car was rebuilt into a MP car and still survives to this day, it's full restoring and in the hands of... well... let's just say the son of the S&M team driver who raced it... if you can't say something nice....

[@kcav5374]

A little unrelated but I remember the day a buddy of mine, Al bought a 1967 Belvedere GTX from a guy named Jimmy Addison. it was at a Sunoco gas station on Woodward Ave. in Birmingham, Mi. The care was "The Silver Bullet" it had been a motor pool car' from Chrysler originally an 440 4V automatic car. Long story short it ended being acid dipped, w/ fiberglass trunk lid, doors, front end including the front bumper and out fitted with a 496 Hemi dual quad (4500 Dominators) pro stock engine and a Sox & Martin pro stock hood scoop! Basically it was a Chrysler Sponsored Street Racer . I remember riding in it a couple times and once I was with Al when he nailed the throttle Hard, near Berkley high school and suddenly the horizon disappeared as it went to Big Wheelstand ! ! ! Sadly I ended up with the bare rolling chassis and then went incredibly Brain Dead and traded it away.... 🤮

[@benrossbach6501]

Wow thanks for sharing. Not a Mopar guy but I think that one is way nicer looking then some of the goddy color and option cars.

[@josephszot5545]

Best Cuda I ever seen, that's what a performance car looks like, means business

[@mmg6282]

TONY! Not too far from you, and relatively close to Sikeston Missouri, is a great MOPAR restoration shop called Roger Gibson auto restoration. It’s in Scott city Missouri, I met the man several years ago and what he does is unbelievable. When I was there he had an early 70s hemi Cuda, Super birds, a rare coronet, And lots of 440 stuff, just what I can remember. All his restorations are date code correct down to the $2500 spare tire for something I don’t recall that was sitting in his office when I was there. You should check him out. Easy to find online.

[@TheLukaCeeChannel]

That was an AWESOME story. I sure hope another one surfaces. I use to restore vintage race cars and love this kind of stuff. The whole "Body in White" programs. I always found to be so fascinating.

[@jamesdalton7191]

Hey man what are you doing on here? You have my stapler? 😆

[@TheLukaCeeChannel]

@@jamesdalton7191 😆

[@pcbullets8726]

That is awesome! Definitely something you don't see every day. What a score!

[@nozzledrich]

Just found your site the other day and enjoy your enthusiasm on all things MOPARs. Keep them coming and thanks RC

[@79asspin]

What a great story.

[@Welcometofacsistube]

In 2000 I went to the mopar nationals in Columbus Ohio and got to see and touch my actual dream car, the 1 of 1 1971 Winchester Grey hemi cuda 4 speed convertible. I'd kill for that car

[@forthwithtx5852]

AOC just called. She wants one of those t-shirts.

[@karlbaker1943]

All my 59 years this is new to me! Very Interesting! Thanks Tony

[@johntierno546]

Rick had that car at Carlisle a couple weeks ago. It was for sale so there you go Tony, I'm sure he'll knock a few bucks off for the hub caps. Rick was also a previous owner of my 71 hemi charger

[@c103110a]

I was driving on I40 one time and stopped at a rest stop. A guy stopped in with a couple of "bodies in white" on a tailer I asked his where he was headed and he said, Richard Petty's Garage.

[@MrTheHillfolk]

5:40 nah that call out on the wrong hubcaps was good education for us ,and I'd bet the owner knows they are wrong. Maybe they couldn't find the correct ones in time ,or he's still hunting for the perfect pair.

[@minnesotatomcat]

Very interesting story, I’ve never heard of those cars before. Did they put a vin number on it or how was he able to title it to drive it after the restoration?

[@googleusergp]

Yes, the VIN # is shown on the invoice. It decodes as B for Plymouth Barracuda, S for Special Price Class, 23 for two door hard top, R for 426 V8 Hemi, 1 for 1971 model year, B for Hamtramck, MI aka "Factory Zero", or "Dodge Main" assembly and the rest is the production sequence. The Dodge Main plant ran from 1911 until 1980 and then closed. Part of GM's Detroit/Hamtramck plant is on the site now (that opened in 1985 for the 1986 model year production of GM's downsized "E" and "K" cars).

[@ninjapumkin]

Was for drag racing only. No VIN tags and they came with a sticker. I owned two body in white Cudas in last 45 years. Program still exists today with new Challenger

[@ninjapumkin]

@@jonathanlawson4667 you are 100% correct. They came with a packing slip and you can pick up the car at your local dealer. I have all the paper work still.

[@barryismygod]

@@jonathanlawson4667 this car isn’t a body in white though it’s an actual production cuda intended as a parts car for a body in white or did you not pay attention to the video

[@googleusergp]

@@jonathanlawson4667 However as I stated there is a VIN number associated with it as it is shown on the invoice.

[@SweatyFatGuy]

My rare cars are all Pontiacs, two of which are rareish because they have so few options, one because it has lots of options and was special ordered. The 70 GTO has a very short build sheet, 400, 3 speed manual, power steering and brakes, thats it. Like a base model GTO. Then there is the 79 Trans Am, the only option on it is the Trans Am 403 automatic, which came standard with power steering and brakes, like a base model TA, neither of them have AC or power anything else. Then I have something interesting. 1972 455 HO Formula. Its the only car I have where numbers matching means something, and it is. 276 were built with that engine, which only went in a few GTOs, all the Trans Ams in 72, and those Formulas that were built with it. I am told 6 of those had AC and an auto trans, how accurate that is I don't know. There is no paint code on the cowl tag, just two dashes where numbers or letters were normally, there is a metallic blue in the door jambs that looks like a Caddy only color, I am the 4th owner of it, so I am pretty sure thats what color it was painted at the dealer. This thing has a long list of options, which in and of themselves don't make it unique, but the round port 455 and no paint code does. What my friend found out when he bought it in Alaska, was that a guy ordered it new to pull his boat around Alaska. He wanted the biggest engine he could get, but not a Trans Am with all the scoops and air dams, because snow doesn't get along well with them. So that meant he ordered a 455 HO with Ram Air, Th400, and a 3.08 open rear. AC, power windows, power steering and brakes, this thing is loaded. There are unique parts that go with the 455 HO, like the AC brackets are special to that engine. The friend I got it from sold it to me because he had orders to be an electrician at the white house, and he wouldn't have room for it. He was planning to hack it up, put a transverse leaf spring under both ends with some Corvette kit. He tossed the factory aluminum intake ($1000) the factory carb ($2500) and the distributor ($1500) and put a Torker II with an Edelbrock carb on it. He was using wire nuts to wire everything, since he is an electrician, not a mechanic so its a fire hazard. He painted it flat black and put skull stickers on it. He painted the engine red, and all the parts on it are now red, he even painted the alternator. Then he put a 3.70 gear in it with a posi unit. The things he did slowed the car down rather than making it faster like he wanted to do. He was thinking chevy, which doesn't work on a 455. The funny thing is NADA says its only worth about $6000 in its current condition, which would get the heads and a bare block. They add only 10% for the round port engine, which if you know Pontiac is ludicrously low. For a long time NADA said my 67 Cougar that was a 289 A code, just a 4 barrel auto, was worth more than the 72 Formula. Its like whoever is running that has no freaking clue. The 72 is going in the shop soon, to get its ground up rebuild and it will end up being a day 2 rather than a chalk mark restoration. The rust isn't that bad for me, but some people will scrap a car because a quarter has a small half dollar sized hole in it. I've been putting off the build on this thing because my skills needed improvement. I need to finish the 72 Cutlass and the 71 Mustang fastback that are in the shop now, then I can do the 72 Formula and 69 GTO at the same time. This year is being soaked up fixing trucks so I can haul cars. I wanted to do that last year but other people kept volunteering me to work on their junk. Not happening anymore, I have my own stuff to do, and I am running out of time to do it.

[@phillipmaynard6566]

Uncle Tony its Phil in New Zealand here ,yep Kiwis mate ,i believe you deserve that hemi Cuda 1970 car in white ,that was a cool video thankyou.p out.

[@davidmccrory5604]

Thankyou Tony that was soooooo interesting im from Melbourne Australia I have a factory RHD 67 barracuda and a 62 chrysler 300 and have a deep love for mopar and its history I had never heard of body in white b4 thankyou again Tony 🙂

[@Destroyer1320]

Super cool find, love the history of it. Thanks Tony

[@CR7659]

Local dirt track guy who drove late models for years, one of his cars was a '65 Dodge he bought as a body in white. They're probably more common than you suspect. He still had it a few years ago but it had sat in the woods for ages and was pretty rotten underneath.

[@nickbonvino]

Never heard of body in white cars. You learn something new every day. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!

[@pdinardo9472]

This Hemi Cuda is absolutely awesome. I love his car.

[@EDWARDTREVEY]

Hey Tony I don't know if you ever go to car events Like Hot August Nights but you would have the time of your life nit picking cars. I live over here in Reno Nevada and the Show is about to start next week. If you like cars this is right up there with the Good Guys events. Its about 10 days of very cool things to do. I guaranty you can't see everything in 10 days but you can see some of the wildest cars and lost to history bring backs. I would hope that some day you get a chance to see it. They also have Barret Auto Auction goes on on the Friday Saturday and Sunday of the last week. The final Parade on Sunday morning will give you a stand still chance to see some of the top Dogs. Anyway my point being I think you would really enjoy yourself ...

[@dbc105]

Cool story on the Cuda.

[@WaybackTECH]

Fascinating. What a fun era to have been a part of.

[@ralphharrison6622]

one of my dream cars! 71 hemi cuda is absolutely kick ass!

[@hiitsstillme]

A great story, thanks for sharing it!

[@MoparMan1320]

Very cool story!! I have books on Dick Landy and the beginnings of Pro Stock (which I was present for in So Cal as a kid). The stories from people like Landy, Sox & Martin, Grumpy Jenkins, Herb McCandles, etc., are the stuff of legend. I currently run a 70' Duster in the NHRA Heritage Series, after briefly looking at the modern day DragPak offerings from Mopar. If I'm not mistaken, believe Dodge offers a "body-in-white" option for the DragPak. Thanks again, great content ✌😎

[@wyo_garage20]

They do. You can get a 2023 Challenger body in white for just under 8k. Really not a bad price at all, in any factory color

[@tj484]

I'm a Chevy guy but have to say I love the cuda.theres one here in eastern ky in a house.been soored for years .fac 4 speed black.ipp try to get some pics..Tom

[@unclemarksdiyauto]

Cool story Tony! Thanks for telling us it along with your all your knowledge!

[@kelvinrf]

It's info like this that gives you the edge Uncle Tony. I'm a big fan of steelies and hubcaps. I have an Australian Ford Falcon with steelies and hubcaps myself.

[@gurneyforpresident2836]

Very nice. Just at a glance it looks worth restoring. Anything can be given enough time and money (especially the latter). I know its definitely achievable. They found the 2nd Bullet Mustang in Mexico lying in a field with much of it missing and they are bringing it back. Crazy I know.

[@VIKING-SON]

Uncle Tony great story and monologue love the details you get into especially the Hub Caps something I never realized. I'm sure the bean counter saved money for Chrysler by not stamping Plymouth on them. Again keep up the great stuff your producing and showing the public. American Muscle Cars are our heritage and it's something that needs to be kept. If people find vehicle that are almost destroyed. I still feel those vehicles need to be brought back from the dead. Even if it is consider or what's known as a Re-Body. Again great stuff glad I found your channel... Sincerely Chief Warrant Officer SHOOK U.S. Army Retired

[@llldustin]

Love the 71 cuda my favorite grill I grew up with a 67 barracuda super commando 383 coop one of the few with every option that year and my dad had spent a lot of weekends at drag tracks running with race rear end changing back stock center section to run the car as a daily all week.

[@Max-me9xq]

I know you get enough of this from everyone but damn I love your channel

[@1958Studebaker]

The 71 Barracudas are my favorite mopar. Love the new shirts!

[@bradsrestorations1085]

Always learning something new when I watch your videos! Never heard of "body in white" cars before. Keep up the good work.

[@BasedBidoof]

That's cool. Never knew about body in white before either. One day I'll pull that out and feel cool

[@rsaraiva1]

My buddy owned that car for awhile. Rick has been a friend for over 40 years

[@ryanhallahan2817]

I'm speechless that's amazing

[@henrybourdon6712]

This is why we have lost so many what we call today rare cars. Back then they were just cars and many were treated like that. Now just imagine how many were stolen for their parts as well. I remember when i was in high school one guy whose dad was a doctor had a convertible 4 speed Cuda that was well worn out with rips and dents and used like any other old car on the road. I have crazy story about another rare car. This one is about a GTO judge convertible 455 automatic. This one was also well worn with tape patch's on the roof. I think this was around 1982ish. Friends were telling this guy if one day if he decides to sell it to let them know. He always said no but one day we find out he does not have the car anymore so we asked him where it was. He tells us that he went to a bar and was very much out of it and this female was flirting with him and he wanted to take /impress her or something home but he ran out of money. He as well as the female were into coke so he came up with the bright idea to talk to the coke dealer in the bar for some but the dealer said he wanted his car instead of crediting him for the cash the next day. I guess his little brain ruled his bigger brain and he traded it for if i remember correctly 3 grams and a few dollars to buy beer/booze and take a taxi home with the female. Remember they were just old cars at one time nothing more. Now think of all the hellcats being destroyed by drunks or fools that do not know how to handle powerful cars. Just like then wreck it and go buy another one if you are bucks up and the dealer has another one in stock. Thanks Tony for this story as i did not know they gave complete cars to strip parts off and put said parts into another. Nice catch on the hub caps. Bet the owners ego/pride will be spending just a little more money and replacing them a.s.a.p. when he finds out you or another noticed his mistake and the next time the world see's it we will see the 71 caps on it instead. I know now i will be looking for said detail. 🤨

[@jeremeyplett4268]

My uncle told me a story about back in the 60s/70s the dealership he worked at would buy complete cars off the lot , strip them down and sell parts because it was cheaper to buy the whole car then stock most parts

[@deanstevenson6527]

I agree with you Tony. Not because I want to, but because that's what a guy in Australia did with his 1995 to 1997 Ford Falcon Utility conversions. Bought body in white vehicles, then did Herrod 5.0 conversions with imported Explorer V8 engines. You get everything on a simple invoice. Mopar did it First!

[@dirtrider3526]

That's is awesome! I honestly never knew these existed and I love American muscle cars!

[@flaircraft]

Mopar still does the Body in White today. I remember reading just a few years ago that you could buy a new Challenger Body in White if you were a race team. Since the final cars (with all steel bodies, no fiberglass) weighed almost exactly 1,000 pounds less than a Challenger from the dealer, it was a serious weight savings. Also a serious time savings, since you didn't have to put in the effort to pull 1,000 pounds of crap out of the car. Really underscores how today's cars have so much more stuff added to them than they did back in the day.

[@NathansMoparGarage]

That is a good looking car. I like the plain Jane sleeper look

[@DeputyDeppe]

I believe I saw this at Carlisle this year. If not that car there’s a twin out there.

[@jerimahjohnson8698]

Tony true story. I lived in and grew up in Maryland Delaware area for a long time Heard rumor of a hemi superbird in a garage for years...somewhere in Maryland? I looked for that car for 10 years I bet. I drove my survivor 69 road runner with a bird wing on it to a car show. Yep an original wing installed by creative industries. A guy comes up to me and tell me about that hemi bird and where it is...I'm like omg. So I track the guy down and he says yes he'd sell the car come look at it. I go to his house and in the garage is the car...some funky blue Cobb web paint or something. The car was the Mr 5 and 50 hemi superbird. The owner was ken Jennings. He said I'm pretty sure it was a body in white??? Its a long story but I thought I had that car bought🥲 but a few months later he passed away. He told me the car had never been titled but he did have the CO from the car. That was 2000 or 2001 before 9/11 sometime. Side not...not far from Aberdeen where I think ken had a dealership at one time I found another hemi bird in a field. Alpine white vinal top car and it still had the engine in! Owner was not too friendly let's just say as he had cancer at the time. I get chills thinking about that thing with the weeds around it. I did try to buy the car and was not cheap...I think 50k was brought up by me and he would not budge . I lost touch and gave up on the car but have found many in the state in the Midwest

[@DependableAutoTruck]

Years ago ran across a Plymouth hemi ss car had 23 miles was a parts car Billy Big Deal Jacob's in Enterprise Al had it left over a friend of mine John McBride in North Carolina bought and restored it.

[@daniellebcooper7160]

Interesting story, thanks for sharing.

[@ShakeYourFist]

Wow, just wow. Very cool.

[@FrankBullitt390]

A friends dads friend had a white 71 hemi cuda back then, bought brand new. Sold it for big bucks over the phone in the late 80's or early 90's. It had a black billboards though.

[@rustybrowneye]

In the jeep plant where i work the building where the bodys are welded and assembled before paint is called " body in white". I've wondered why the building was called that, thanks Tony

[@kenleppek]

That's pretty neat

[@richardakers9167]

a friend of mine found a 67 hemi belvedere that had been completely stripped, and a real rust bucket in the late 80's. did a little research, turned out to be a 1 owner car, found the original owner and he swore it came with a 273 v8 when he bought it new. a little more research, located a mechanic who had worked at that dealership, it was ordered with a hemi, was stolen off the lot, and found later without the hemi. they dropped a 273 and automatic in it, and sold it. It was sold new at the chrysler dealership in Lincolnton, NC.

[@leeduke9518]

There is a 1970 superbird U code 440 4 barrel 4 speed B5 blue that the guy bought new after he got back from Vietnam and it’s almost got 800,000 miles on it now of course he’s went through quite a few motors and repaints and fender benders but last I heard he put the original 440 back in it 2 years ago

[@The_R-n-I_Guy]

that's the best looking Cuda I've ever seen

[@Warrior_Resisting_Colonialism]

I've never heard of such cars before. Interesting. This channel needs more blue oval too by the way. ;)

[@donshotrodgarage1717]

That's pretty cool! I never knew they built donor cars!

[@eddiehuff7366]

So cool Tony! Love the simplicity. If the chevrons on the front fender were deleted it would be perfect.

[@brianalbrecht4423]

Never herd of "body in white" cars....?..!...Chrysler had a good idea....thanks U.T....cool story...

[@garyrhodes7673]

It was common then and probably still is.

[@travisbeavers1203]

"Dear penthouse" that's a damned fantasy right there!

[@Fleetwoodjohn]

Unreal story! The rarity of the 60-70’s cars will always trump todays muscle cars that are made by the thousands.

[@1loud94]

That is the most beautiful thing I've seen

[@smileychavez8093]

When I was a kid Albuquerque. The Nabor had a Cuda the quarters said kit car the car name sunshine twist.

[@darkmanzz]

body in white...learned something new

[@steelwheels327]

Great story Tone!

[@billhendon1017]

So awesome!!

[@lb9gta307]

They started doing body-in-white Challengers again a few years ago. They're just the bare unibody though, not an entire car.

[@is3180]

Nice , wouldn't have imagine...👍

[@TheBrokenLife]

The Cobra Jet Mustangs Ford has been running lately were (maybe are?) available as body in white. I believe they primarily want to sell them as turn key racers, but I remember seeing the body available in the Ford Racing catalog. I think Chevy may have done the same thing when the ZL1 came out? So, the spirit of the program never genuinely died. 👍

[@notablynova4247]

Mopar still does it with the Challenger, when the first year of the modern car came out, you could actually get one with a 426, they don't have vins though