Leno and Osborne Hit the Streets in a Pavement-Pounding Mopar!

Much like its aquatic namesake, the Plymouth AAR 'Cuda is known for its aggressive appearance and propensity for speed. This factory-built race car was no joke when it hit the streets in 1970, and its reputation holds true!
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[@justingurney8692]

Three awesome things. The AAR Cuda, Jay Leno and Donald Osborne. I know Jay through Dad and Donald actually came to AAR one time for something else. What a wonderful guy. When my Dad passed away they had a small remembrance at Laguna Seca in his honor. Donald got up and sang America The Beautiful for him. There wasn't a dry eye in the house. I am always on the lookout for an AAR Cuda and when I find the right one I am bringing her home.

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

Thank you for sharing, Justin! Your father's legacy lives on.

[@bryandickerson5365]

Wow, that’s some very cool feed back! I hope you’ve found that Cuda by now and brought it back to it’s true home.

[@kevinpatrick8788]

My late uncle bought an FE5 red AAR in 1974 . It had a black vinyl roof , Auto / console with slapstick . Im 57 now and i still remember riding in the back when i was a kid . Great memories and it got me hooked on mopars . I ended up buying a 72 cuda 340 in 1982 when i was 17 . That was my first car .

[@ToyKingWonder]

I know about getting hooked. As a young boy, I was a Porsche 911 and Jag XKE enthusiast. One day, my dad took me to his mechanic, and he had a 1969 Hemi Super Bee with a four speed. He took me for a ride (with my dad's blessing and knowledge of what he was going to do) and completely scared the he** out of me. My dad said I was sheet white when we got back from the ride, and he was laughing. I was excited, shaking and loving every single moment. Those few minutes changed it all for me!!!

[@vonbogroff]

The most beautiful car made in America in the 70s, Unbelievably beautiful.

[@troynov1965]

Cant wait for this ! AAR Cuda is my favorite muscle car. 340 engine was a beast of a small block.

[@bobcory2383]

Love seeing you guys drive an american muscle car down main rd through Tiverton in to Little Compton. Especialy past Grays ice cream which was our hang out in the late 70s. We had one AAR Cuda in the group along with Camaros, Mustangs and others. Old cars truly can be time machines I still drive mine on those same roads and still pull in to Grays once in a while for a coffee cab.

[@edwardtelles1956]

Me too... Would always take that ride out to Gray's Ice Cream with all my 65 - 73 mussel cars... Mustangs - 340 Cuda pistol grip, anything I had I would drive out to Little Compton , Horse neck beach . Great driving and party roads... I want to go back..😭

[@duanephillips2343]

I have a 73 Challenger Rallye under professional restoration - it is near ready for paint and looks ready to hit 200 mph even up on the lift. Suspension will be stock; And I have a 2013 R/T to compare it to. Obsessed with e-bodies since I was 12... Great video.

[@leddygee1896]

1970 was the most significant year in American automotive design. the second generation Camaro came out in 1970 also, and is my personal favorite of that era.

[@racerx7319]

I HAD A 71 340 DEMON . GREAT CAR THEY ARE BIG BLOCK SLAYER'S.

[@andrewipp426]

I absolutely love listening to Jay and David talking cars especially when they are driving them and breaking down the nuances pro and con! Always look forward to their reviews and informative videos!

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@70stunes71]

I owned the AAR Cuda, the TA Challenger, and a 440 + 6 1970 GTX. I really like the six pack cars, but I like the hit of the big block six barrel car the best.

[@matrox]

I remember this era. Glad I was around to experience it. Sure todays muscle cars are faster, safer and better with the latest tech, but the 60s and 70s were the real era for enthusiasts as it was just a raw and bad ass period for America cars. And yes I owned muscle back in the mid 70s as well as today. My current car is a 17 SS Camaro 6 speed and love it. Would I trade my Camaro for old school muscle? Nope. I'd like a vintage muscle strictly as a collector as my Camaro just drives so good. The GM muscle cars like Buick GS, Chevelles and GTOs drove smooth but the trade off was hard cornering, but nobody cared about cornering then. It was about smooth highway cruising or straight line performance.

[@dannyg6592]

My father bought a new 340 "Cuda with 4 speed manual back in the day. Great motor. Sounded incredible and pulled very hard. His' Cuda was fast, quick and handled well. This was a fun video to watch, it brought back great memories..

[@doughelmle6575]

My first ride in a cuda was 1970 in a 70 ,440 4speed red/black car .I was 10 years old .8 years later i bought a 74 cuda . still have it ,in great shape ,165k miles.

[@gen2-x364]

My favorite car of that period was the Dodge Challenger T/A with the 340 engine & pistol grip shifter. Another one from that era is the AMC Javlin.

[@jcc777]

I have to agree Trans-Am racing series was the best. Mark Donahue was my favorite Driver way back then. But I would have picked a Mopar for myself.

[@ronforman6607]

The Camaro and Mustang were built no better! Actually the Mopars were built well for thier time! That’s why today they hold great value and prestige! I owned 69 Road Runner it was well made and reliable and quick!

[@toddbob55]

Chryslers were garbage dude

[@Rgh71fish]

I've had a 73 cuda and a 73 mach 1. The cuda is prettier from every angle, but quality wise it feels like a tin can compared to the mach 1. The Ford was better built in every way, from ride quality to the way things worked. Doors and trunk closed with a "click" instead of a "bong". That said, I still love the cuda infinitely more, because to my eyes there's just not a cooler car, but I have to give Ford the credit for the quality.

[@stevejewell9263]

Not just wrong but .........REALLY WRONG!! I'm a pretty equal opportunity guy who's owned cars from all 3 of Detroit's major players from "back in the day". I really like the old Dodge and Plymouth models best but Chrysler's biggest problem vs it's competetion was build quality. General Motors, love 'em or hate 'em, was building much better cars than either Ford or Chrysler. Styling is totally subjective so any Ford Guy or Mopar guy can easily describe their favorite as preferable to own but an honest informed and objective opinion really has to acknowledge that in the case of the E Body Mopar vs the F body GM and the Ford Mustang/Cougar........the F Cars are just much better build quality.

[@georgehgordy1690]

It's a true 70's Mopar Muscle Car because every bump in the road separates you from the seat followed by a creak & rattle especially the E-body... I'm 49 years old & I know from personal experience.. Something to think about before anybody gets lippy

[@cmscms123456]

Hey Jay... "Vanishing Point" 1970 movie, they swap to a 1969 Camaro to crash it into the Dozer, because even then they knew not to crash a GREAT CAR...

[@alkelenson648]

This is true.

[@stevesosebee5860]

I was 20 in ‘70, I love this car !!!

[@rickolson3114]

Drove a 66 Toronado from Portland Or to Eugene (100 mi) in 58 min back in 1968 at 3am...that was fun :) It was my buddies parents car, he didn't have his DL yet.

[@daledavies2334]

While just finishing high school, I remember drooling over those and the Dodge Challenger T/A at dealers in Edmonton, new on the showroom floor. $3600 CDN. DAad took me to Crosstown Motors to see the first year Charger with a 426 Hemi. Yellow fastback for one year. Then I got into corner marshaling at Edmonton International Speedway for TransAm, CanAm and Formula Atlantic. One year at the TransAm, George Folmer missed a few shifts and ended up with the nickname George Fumbler.

[@robertphillips6296]

Jay, the sound of that engine is quite Soothing!

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

We love it too!

[@twagn]

Great conversation!

[@andrewsandoz8005]

Merican muscle...love it. 60s and early 70s the hay day of the pony car Era. When fuel economy wasn't a consideration but horsepower was. Thanks guys.

[@michaelwisner4941]

That aar cuda is awesome, I'd give my eye teeth to have one, beautiful mi Amigo

[@melvinburwell8202]

Cool. My type of vehicles. Always enjoyable Mr. Osborne and Leno. You see cars now with 700+ hp with no character. Some cant even burn rubber. 👍❤😎🤑

[@angeloah]

I can burn rubber, oil, and money with 125hp 30 yo Honda Civic sohc, lol, but they can leave me in a straight line like I’m reversing, I do pass every gas station I see though.

[@jordanstuckey4218]

Character is exactly what modern vehicles lack.

[@donhathaway3234]

I have wanted to ride in one of those for decades! Always intrigued me. 1/4 mile times near HEMI times but, it could go around corners.

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

Thanks for watching!

[@jessicagreene1773]

The 340 was underrated. The 1971 four barrel version was rated at 275HP but the National Hot Rod Association rated them at 330HP. The 6bbl would be even higher. The AAR was different too being it came with bigger tires in the rear than the front from the factory.

[@stevevice9863]

Yep. Higher horsepower, higher insurance premiums. Chrysler underrated their "performance" engines on purpose.

[@chrisgreenaway6696]

My buddy had a 340 bored to 416 . 500 horsepower 3 speed automatic with a high rear gear. Could beat a hemi in a straight line. In a duster….. the car no one wanted I loved that car just a big block f u car

[@markanthony3275]

They would get smoked by the 1971 351 C with 375 hp.

[@jessicagreene1773]

@@markanthony3275 Great engine the 1971 Boss 351 but in a heavy car. It would be a good race.

[@dbc1dc]

They didn't come with offset tire sizes Jessica. They were 15x7 inch rims all the way around with an optional tire size of E60-15 or G60- 15

[@user-ss3ud7pp7f]

My favorite part of the video is about a third of the way Through when Leno says what gear are you in second ? Osborne says yeah second, and they’re just putting down the road

[@lennartswenson2690]

I wonder what rear end gears are in this car?...

[@customkey]

Jay misspoke, this was the 3rd design of the Barracuda. I think the 2nd came in 1967?

[@stever3460]

Yes 67 to 69.

[@seektruth8662]

Nice video, but wished you had filmed walk around and opened hood and trunk with a startup and exhaust sound.

[@mzaccagnini7179]

I agree.

[@jeremyb4493]

I grew up listening to my dad's fun racing stories of his '68 Bareacuda Notchback with the 340, Tork-flite automatic and Formula S package. He grew up with 4 other brothers and was a teen in 1960s Houston, Tx. They all started with honda motorcycles and then muscle cars. I was fascinated with that car though unfortunately it was totaled on a rainy day with a driver pulled out in front of him at the last minute in the early 70s.

[@johnthorpe1349]

These two are the best always enjoy learning about these Cars I might not have known anything about from Toronto always appreciate the content Migwech from Toronto 🇨🇦🙂

[@jean-jacqueskaselorganreco6879]

very fine new idea to have this complementary driving of two different driving personalities

[@charlesrandolph8441]

The dynamic duo RIDES AGAIN! Love these videos!

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

Glad you like them!

[@captlazer5509]

Jay bashes the fit and finish of vintage Ferrari's from the 60's. Doors don't gaps not perfect for example. Those are 7 figure cars now. Luxury and speed don't always work well together. Love this AAR Cuda. In the late 80's they were climbing in price and clones were being passed off as legit. Now I'd take a clone.

[@timmotel5804]

Beautiful car. Thank You both

[@timmotel5804]

P.S. I can't help myself. I almost bought one of these cars from an owner back around 1976. I should have. However, I'm dissatisfied with Jay's comments and review on this car. That was the standard "quality" of most/all American cars of the time. This car was quite special. The engine was a special 340. I've owned a 1968 Charger 440 RT, a 1969 440 GTX, that I bought from the original owner in 1971, a 1970 Challenger 440 RT/SE and a 1972 340 Challenger. Loved them all. I now drive a 2004 Z06 Commemorative Corvette that I bought new. I do miss carburetors though. The new performance cars are amazing, but just don't appeal to me like the old/real muscle cars did. All my cars had TorqueFlite transmissions with a center console shifter, air conditioning, power steering and power breaks. Thanks again for showing off this beautiful car.

[@johndee5973]

E-bodies went up in size to B-body inner panels and underneath. The 70 AAR/TA 340 block was a one year item. They are a very special one year.

[@gmain1977]

This and the TA challenger are or probably best looking pony cars. They did do as well on track as Boss 302 or Z28 but looks wise they amazing. This was first car that had bigger wheels/ Tyres on rear than front one.

[@jimgee2676]

my friend had a red aar in the early 80,s and he got pulled over by the cops and was given a huge fine for having a race exhaust on the street and he had to go to court to prove that the side exhaust was stock from the factory and not a add on performance exhaust

[@nhra7110]

great video!

[@bigbuttbuckeye]

Oh look it's the 2 little old ladies taking the cuda for a drive... how exciting... har de har har don't break the speed limit ladies! 🤪👍

[@troynov1965]

15:50 Man........ that 340 is like music , love that engine.

[@douglaschiesa1845]

This is a great car video formar. Congratulations

[@johnnymason2460]

The Camaro Z28, the Mustang Boss 302, the Dodge Challenger T/A, and the AAR Cuda all were rated at the same 290hp. That was for insurance purposes. All those engines were definitely more powerful than advertised.

[@chadhaire1711]

No they were not...total bullcrap.....never happened

[@billypater5287]

I always love the 340 Hemi Cuda and the Challenger RT 383MAGNUM Awesome

[@CommercialVehicle]

The TA340 has many bits that are unique to it. Provisions for 4 bolt mains, offset adjustable rocker arms to allow for extreme port mods. Three Holley carbs.

[@DaveCastine]

I want Jay's Bronze 68 383 Dart 4-spd car - it's beautiful! Great video guys!!! Thanks for sharing -

[@doncastillo730]

The beauty in theses type of cars of the era was it was available in all 50 states, unlike low production exotic imports, and also affordable to the average worker. Another huge advantage was it didn't cost as much to repair like the modern examples and almost everyone who owned these cars could do the repairs themselves.

[@josephconsoli4128]

In the '70's, in my neighborhood, I recall only one lime-green Challenger. The older kids drove mostly GM muscle care. When you saw these Plymouths around, they were always the base 318 models with the standard hubcaps. These hemi's were rare and are rare. I love them now, but back in the day didn't care for them much. The dashes were so banal taxicab looking next to a Chevelle SS or Oldsmobile 442. The one thing you notice driving these muscle cars, even base V-8 models, is the torque and throaty growl that you feel through the gas pedal. It's awesome.

[@rickmarin1265]

We went to see that in RI :) :) was great ! From MA

[@Johnnycdrums]

Nice! Jay with the left hand, just reaching over and dropping it in 2nd.

[@leoneaster]

I love it when Jay talks about his parents and their reactions to life situations, I can identify with that my mother was a worrior- my father was like Jay's father "oh that's impossible, a car can't go down a track in six seconds! No pop it's a dragster what they call a 'rail'! "A What...?" If you didn't have a local drag strip in your local community, or the next city over it was ABC Wide World of Sports in those days, and they didn't show the drags that often even then 1962 to 1966! See dad what'd I tell ya!

[@richardmorris7063]

Still shocked Jay didn't remember the AR Cuda didn't have side exhaust! C'mon J!

[@troynov1965]

Yeah lol , I think they were called trumpet exhaust by Mopar, I had a 70 Dart 340 GT that I wanted to put them on but I never did.

[@dogsense3773]

I was saying to myself the same thing!

[@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13]

To be fair you can't remember everything about every car... And muscle cars aren't exactly his forte

[@richardmorris7063]

@@C.Fecteau-AU-MJ13 yea, but I always thought Jay had a broad knowledge of cars & it just kinda surprised me.

[@budlanctot3060]

NOT all AAR's had side exit exhaust, at least not officially. The exhaust mufflers and side pipes were in boxes in the trunk. Accompanying the parts was a printed bulletin which had a disclaimer saying that in some states it was illegal to have side exit exhaust and to consult local laws before installing the exhaust.

[@djsonfire0001]

I always thought this year cuda looked more like the up-to-date Challenger they brought back. It's funny how a lot of these sports cars start out small and then they get them to grow so big they have to cut them back down again and make them smaller we saw it with the Camaro and the Mustang

[@fjm1235]

Osborne smiling his arse off. Lol.

[@kwhite145]

My girlfriend had a 70 Cuda’ 340 awesome car !

[@alkelenson648]

Ahhh... what happened to the car?😃

[@garyrichards9539]

You should get in touch, about the voice. Enjoy these programs. ✔

[@richardturk7162]

I agree with everything Donald Osborne said in this video. I could talk to him all day. Donald and Jay really pair up together very well.

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

Thanks for watching!

[@brianclassen5221]

There is a museum in Oregon that has every color AAR offered that year. 350 or so cars on the floor many which are one of. The Brothers Collection. Amazing!!!

[@defenstrator4660]

That car sounds great. V8s are the best sounding engines in the world.

[@gerrywood3584]

Straight line fever😊

[@matrox]

The Challenger wheelbase is longer than the Barracuda. Just as today the Challenger has always been bigger than the Camaro and Mustang.

[@phillipanderson2607]

These cars were straight line performance racing. I like the saying, while I could have had a V8 from the tomato juice commercial. Big blocks rule. For torque in straight line drag racing. My brother had a 1971 RT challenger orange with white stripes with a white top and white interior. Beautiful car. All original with a big block 383 magnum with a Hurst pistol grip 4 speed. You could feel the big block torque on take off. It was pretty fast red light to red light.

[@G55STEYR]

Bunch of whiners, as Jay said about those complaining about the C5 Z06. Sure it needs pro touring A arms, sway, shicks, a blower, overdrive, 255 tires, but it's the greatest thing, no computers, cheap fun, that looks way better than any Porsche

[@discerningmind]

Donald said the most important thing to enjoying any car at 4:56. Really pay attention to that--deep meaning there.

[@donsmith6045]

Jay that clunk sound when you hit bumps in the road could be either the stabilizer bar bushings or the front disc brakes. Also check the jack in the trunk bouncing around

[@paddle_shift]

😂 @09:40 two old grannies tailgating behind you!

[@oldguy1528]

I got a kick out of the GRIN on Dave`s face the whole drive !!!

[@stephenholland5930]

Who's Dave?

[@lennartswenson2690]

As I understand it, Eisenhower saw Hitler's few remaining fighter aircraft tucked away sporadically in the bushes along the Autobahn, ready for takeoff/landing on the long, straight and flat road surfaces. When Eisenhower was elected President he wanted a National highway system with certain ideas learned from Germany's Autobahn, and the seriousness of a possible WW3. Some ideas were relatively benign, like all signage must be the same color in every State; two lanes in each direction; odd numbered roads would run North/ South and even numbered roads would run East/ West; standardized guardrails, shoulder width, a center guardrail between directions to help prevent head-on accidents, etc. However, from his Military experience every new highway must have flat, straight sections for military aircraft use every certain amount of miles where possible should it be needed (and think how many small aircraft used highways to land on in emergencies!), etc. There were more military ideas I can't think of offhand. Route 66 could not handle a four lane highway running through it and the new highway bypassed the whole area. Although Route 66 businesses and people initially hated the loss of traffic, it eventually became a more quaint tourist destination that would not have been possible at 60+ mph with guardrails...

[@dscarty]

It was A&W Root beer Jay.

[@MrMisanthrope1RBjr]

wow jay s singing at the beginning was great, i had no idea.

[@stevevice9863]

Actually that's Donald Osborne...he is a singer in addition to an appraiser.

[@TheNextGoogification]

Most of those pony cars really amounted to rebodied Ford Falcons. Even anti-sway bars were a totally New concept back then. Cutting corners with the bias ply tires = yi, yi, yi, yi, yi

[@michaelnolan6054]

Guys, seatbelts! Head trauma is part of 1970s we don't need to be nostalgic about.

[@larrymichaeljohnson1135]

It is an LA series engine (powerplant)really could be bought &installed by dealer .THOSE WERE THE DAYS .Larry Johnson

[@mikeyerke3920]

I admire Donald and Jay.

[@carlbeaver7112]

I think it was a C&D article (I think it was C&D, it's been a while...) when these were in production, that the shifter fell off while they were driving it?

[@jimballardband]

The AAR and T/A are great looking. They’re like 1/1 scale HOT WHEELS.

[@gmain1977]

Got a DVD called muscle cars and guy on DVD said exactly that

[@donaldhill2775]

Nice drive, love these old cars, you two look a little bizarre though, your not on a date are you ? 😂

[@dflf]

They 're right about the build quality. I had a Challenger T/A and while the drive train was top notch the rest of the car used cheap materials

[@markpayne6803]

I had a 70 Cuda 340 with a TorqueFlite watching Mr Osborne in a suit and bootie was a trip those two are very entertaining 😄

[@SolamenteVees]

Chrysler got a late start in Trans Am racing so not even Dan Gurney and company could catapult them to the front... The 340-6 Trans Am E-bodies were easily the best handling Mopars of the era and that version of the 340 was unique. The 'cuda was a few inches shorter than the Challenger- add a 4-speed transmission and a 3.55 Super Grip and you had a terrific performer.

[@budlanctot3060]

The AAR(and I assume the T/A) came std with your choice of 3,55 or 3,91 gear ratio. No extra chg, part of the AAR package.

[@iamdavid8996]

Wow, Ozzy sure has changed...

[@angeloah]

My choice for years, is and was a 71 hemi cuda, not for performance but the look, it’s vibe and style. The aar would be a funnerest drive.

[@cmcb7230]

Barracuda is my favorite of all the pony cars followed by the cougar then firebird. Of course back then I think I’d take the dart with the 340.

[@budlanctot3060]

I had a 68 340 gts new when I graduated HS. Unbelievably good fit & finish. Beautiful car, inside and out. Doors closed so solidly and quietly, most passengers thought they weren't shut, so then before I could stop them they'd reopen the door and proceed to SLAM the door shut! I've owned at least a hundred Mopars and it was among the very best.

[@4yules]

growing up my mom had a valiant w/ a 340 in it...very fast

[@deucerider430]

A beautiful car then, and still today! The remarks regarding interior styling and such should be taken with a grain of salt … these were built to be functional, yet affordable. If a person wanted plush he (she) bought a New Yorker or Imperial. (A much better choice if you wanted to smuggle your 6 buddies into the drive-in! lol)

[@stevevice9863]

Chrysler was putting the money into the engines and drivetrains in those days....the 340 six barrel, (Dodge called it the six pack), was a high revving giant killer. The interiors and build quality of the rest of the car was secondary to the performance. I owned a '71 Barracuda and it was a rattletrap. The doors sounded like there was something falling apart when you closed them....still it is the one car I wish I had never sold. The blacked out fiberglass hood on the AAR Cuda was notorious for having a visible hump that raised the hood surface about a half an inch above the fender...it looked terrible! The hood on the car they are driving in this video looks like it has a better fit. The AAR Cuda was also the only factory car, at the time, in addition to the side exhaust, that had wider 60 series tires on the back and narrowerer 70 series tires on the front.

[@budlanctot3060]

Negative. Front tires were E60/15 Goodyear Polyglas GT(?). Rears were wider, G60/15 Goodyear Polyglas GT(?).

[@aarmancuda3570]

@@budlanctot3060 correct, the G60-15's out back were larger tires than on a 70, 71 Hemi cuda which were F60-15's..strange

[@jimgolden9666]

I have a 1970 Dodge Charger that I'm redoing. A little longer than a 'cuda. But I've got a Hellcat Redeye and Tranzilla 6-speed for it with a new chassis. It will be a fun road racer when done. I like the '71 'cuda a lot too...but the '70 is sweet too.

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

A ‘70 Charger is my dream car. You’ve got the greatest muscle car ever built, in my opinion. Hellcat Redeye engine with a 6-speed will make it a lot of fun. I know you’re probably not local, but I would love to see it at one of our Cars & Coffee events… in case you’re curious if it will do a road trip. - Steve from the Video Team

[@jimgolden9666]

@@AudrainMuseumNetworkHey Steve, thanks for the kind words. I guess I should have said I have "what's left of a 70 Charger" Ha ha! It's rough, but I've seen a lot worse and I've got new AMD panels from the doors back. I'm in WV and I'm guessing you guys are on the west coast to be hanging with Jay. I would like to drive it cross country some time. I've been considering building a Charger Daytona out of it. Haven't decided yet. The Daytona is my true favorite, but the basic car looks pretty cool too. Would love to get a 'Cuda some day. Take care, Jim

[@AudrainMuseumNetwork]

@@jimgolden9666 We’re actually on the East Coast in Newport, RI! But we also have facilities in Virginia. You can check out a video Donald and I filmed down there with a Boss 302: Who's the Boss? The 1970 Mustang Boss 302 - Ford's Departure from Carroll Shelby kzbin.info/www/bejne/nYLKlXd8pa2Sedk As for the Charger, my two cents would be to keep it stock bodied. But you have to do what you love! Maybe a low-profile/short Daytona wing? - just an idea to change things up. Thanks for watching the videos, we hope to see you in the comment section more often! Cheers.

[@jimgolden9666]

@@AudrainMuseumNetwork Hey, cool! I get it done, I'll road trip it up to Rhode Island! Or catch you when you're in VA. Be cool to meet you guys! I'll check out the other video.

[@budlanctot3060]

Just a few comments on the AAR. I bought one new in '70. Fit & finish WERE terrible. It was a limited production 'package' car. They came std (or at no extra cost) with lots of parts which were normally extra cost options on regular e-bodies, so I don't think Chrysler made a lot of money on them. Mine came with a distinctive rake, nose down attitude, which was achieved by lowering the torsion bars so that the lower control arms were nearly touching the overload bumpers on the frame horns. So in the first couple hundred miles i took it to a friend's tire and alignment shop(Thanks, Kenny Y). Also the lower ball joints were already past spec on slop. Raising the front end up and replacing the lower ball joints, and a set of Koni front shocks(and of course a realignment), was the best 'mod' for mine. Huge improvement.

[@barrycuda3769]

What was wrong with the fit and finish? I always thought the interiors looked very neat 'the seats look perfectly upholstered 'was it more with the panel fitment?. I know what you mean with having the torsion bar's tensioned 'right up and good shocks on the front 'it makes a huge difference to the handling. I've had mopars with the torsion bars wound down'and it makes the steering feel less responsive. I thought the rake on the AAR was achieved with higher sidewall tires on the rear'did the factory also wind down the torsion bars?

[@budlanctot3060]

@@barrycuda3769 yes, that was the case on mine, the t-bars preloads were loosened. Yes the G60's on the back were taller than the E60's on the front. I never bitched much about the interiors, except the console was almost all plastic and the pieces didn't fit together that well. On the other hand, it looked pretty stylish. I put an e-body console in my 74 Dustpan. Re fit and finish; The hoods were almost always bowed up. The doors rattled, especially on closing. My road lamps never worked, and my passenger side mirror glass fell out into my hands about a 1/4 mile from the dealer at the gas station. There was a plate behind the mirror that was only held on by one rivet. The engine's carbs were poorly adjusted and it was idling at about 350rpm's. There's more but my memory has faded some. The seats looked OK, but they were pretty uncomfortable. But I don't know they were any worse than Mustangs, or Camaros.

[@barrycuda3769]

@@budlanctot3060 well' at least you could fix most things that weren't great. One thing's for sure they are a great looking car. It would be something you could get a lot of money for now🙂

[@budlanctot3060]

@@barrycuda3769 one thing I didn't mention is years later I met a gentleman who was a Dodge or Plymouth liason for NASCAR mopar racers. He was a father(nicknamed "RT", because he came up with R/T logo) of a friend of mine's friend, Gary something. I asked him what happened to the fit & finish on the e-bodies when I had a 68 dart 340 gts that was so perfect. He said Hamtramck was awful. He wouldn't even leave his office and go down on the assembly line at night. You could get mugged. He said the workers were all as high as a kite back there then.

[@barrycuda3769]

@@budlanctot3060 that sound's awful' is that the only factory the cudas came out of?

[@jamesonpace726]

8:20 driver side of road...Mr Jay's competition...?

[@mrsteve4313]

It looks great and the general stuff was built well, just the slapping it together and the details were lacking. However the biggest thing I noticed watching the video, for a low slung looking car the headroom is amazing, they look like little kids from the front view of the car. Lol

[@Johnnycdrums]

kfkHey, Jay; The 1966 7 Litre 427R Galaxie would have blown both, the 67' 389 Tri -Power GTO and the V-6 Nissan Altima, away.

[@Remember_Paper]

A buddy of mine, from Australia, said to me that there are a bunch of wrecks at nighttime going through the outback. It's because you see a light miles and miles in the distance, and by the time it comes up, you just drive straight into it.

[@mikevale3620]

Chryslers in Australia were no better when it came to quality control. Now that it's spring time and the days are getting warmer here in Victoria's Central highlands, I think I'll go out to the garage and fire up my Thar She Blue 265 HEMI Pacer hardtop...just to feel that old tech.

[@barrycuda3769]

​@@mikevale3620a pacer hardtop has a 245.

[@WyattWillis88]

The only more powerful small block from Golden muscle era 1963-1971 is the 1971 mustang boss 351. Looking at approx 350-375 actual hp and cost to 400 torque. Love all the high output small block cars of that era.

[@alexgolovchenko3791]

Love the man's bow tie, very classy. Jay looks like he's asleep. 😑

[@CarsandCats]

Most people think that the Challenger and the Cuda were basically the same car with different body panels - but they are not. The Cuda has a 2 inch shorter wheelbase.

[@budlanctot3060]

I'd be surprised if they share a single exterior body panel, maybe the filler panel beneath the rear glass. But I'm not real sure about that either.

[@adamtrombino106]

From what I've read, Dodge wanted a car that was a bit bigger and had more rear leg room than the Camaro and Mustang, so the extra length was in the rear floor pans. Subsequently, the rear fenders/quarters are longer, and the Challenger's over all length was 192 inches, vs the Cuda's 186.6

[@tedshaw4160]

I was going to comment that they weren't wearing seat belts, but then I remembered that in 1970 cars only had lap belts and not shoulder belts. Yet some how we all survived.

[@eddylauterback1312]

My 68 442 had shoulder belts that I left clipped to the ceiling!

[@dogsense3773]

My 68 cougar has three point seat belts from the factory

[@budlanctot3060]

The shoulder belts are not spring retracted. They are a PITA to use and even worse to store away when done. I only tried using mine once, and then that was the end of that.

[@aarmancuda3570]

@@budlanctot3060 right, the shoulder belts were terrible..more like a throat strap that ended up choking you to death..

[@barneyrb1]

They never tell the fact that the ONLY engine available in the AAR/Cuda or the TA/Challenger was the 340-6 pack engine. Those two cars were the only ones the 340/6 came in, if someone tells you they had a 6 pack Duster/Demon/Charger or anything else they are wrong.

[@aarmancuda3570]

Not true, Mr Norm's of Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago offered a 1971 Dodge Demon GSS special model equipped with the 340 6 pack setup..Also in a supercharged version as well... Highly desirable today.

[@leoneaster]

But, there were the magazines Hot Rod, Car Craft, Motor Trend, et al of the period!