The FIRST Ever 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda - Birth of a Legend

During the Muscle Car wars of the 1960s and 1970s, every American car manufacture was horsepower crazed. Everything from full-size sedans, 2-door coupes, trucks, and 2-seat roadsters were receiving massive V8 engines with huge power figures. This trend launched into the forefront in 1964 with the introduction of the Ford Mustang and Pontiac GTO. While Plymouth introduced their new Barracuda the same year, the only V8 offered was a 273 CI V8 that produced a lackluster 180 horsepower. Even though the price point and styling were great, the Mustang heavily overshadowed the Barracuda until its 1967 redesign. Enhanced styling, significantly more options, and an all-new 383 CI V8 helped the Barracuda in sales and overall appeal. For 1968, Plymouth decided to take the Barracuda Fastback drag racing, producing only 50 track-purposed monsters with the massive 426 CI Hemi V8's. These cars won countless races from Detroit to California to Indianapolis in 1968 and 1969, giving the Chrysler executives many reasons to stuff their 426 Hemi in the Barracuda street car.
Enter the 1970 Cuda, Plymouth's sports version of Chrysler's new E-Body platform. With the Barracuda being the base and the Gran Coupe being the luxury variant, the 'Cuda was the top dog. A massive slate of engines were on offer for the 'Cuda, starting at a 340 V8 and topping out with the 426 Hemi V8, a 425 horsepower and 490 lb/ft of torque beast. This particular Cuda, chassis BS23R0B100003, was the third E-Body Plymouth produced and the FIRST production 'Cuda ever fitted with the legendary 426 Hemi. Built on August 1st, 1969, this pre-production 'Cuda was finished in Alpine White with Black interior and was fitted with the iconic 4-speed Pistol Grip shifter. The 'Cuda had an interesting group of factory options including Stripe delete, Tac delete, Overhead console, and Premium trim. After leaving the Hamtramck, MI plant, the Centerline, MI Chrysler-Plymouth facility received the car for prepping the flat rate manual for all future Hemi Cuda's. From there, the Cuda made its way into public hands.
In 1983, the current Indiana owner purchased the Cuda and has been museum kept at the NATMUS Museum (natmus.org) in Auburn, IN for the majority of this time. During its life, the Cuda has only traveled 17,755 miles and has been repainted once in its correct color, making the Hemi a true time capsule. Unrestored, iconic, and the first of its kind elevate this car into a unique and high caliber of collector car. In 2005, Galen Govier documented and confirmed the significance of this car, presenting this car as THE FIRST Hemi Cuda.
YEAR: 1970
MAKE: PLYMOUTH
MODEL: HEMI CUDA
VIN: BS23ROB100003
MILES: 17,755
ENGINE: 426 C.I HEMI V8
TRANSMISSION: 4-SPEED
HORSEPOWER: 425
TORQUE: 490 LB/FT
CURB WEIGHT: 3,880 LBS EST.
EXTERIOR COLOR: ALPINE WHITE
INTERIOR COLOR: BLACK
PRODUCTION NUMBERS: 284 HEMI 4-SPEED 1970 CUDA'S, THE FIRST OF 284 MADE
Vehicle comes with: 2 set of keys, Galen Govier Certification and Chrysler Registry Documentation
Tires: Goodyear Eagle ST
Factory Options:
D21 - A833 Manual Four Speed
E74 - R-Code 426 CI V-8 Engine
EW1 - Alpine White exterior paint
X9 - Black interior
M85 - Front & rear bumper guards
PRX9 - Leather & vinyl bucket seats
P - Premium Trim
R22 - AM/with stereo 8 Track player
R31 - Rear Speakers
V68 - Sport Stripes DELETE
B41 - Front disc & drum rear brakes
B51 - Power brakes
N96 - Shaker Hood
C26 - Overhead Console
A33 - Track Pack 3.54 Rear Gears
Please consider this an invitation to visit MOTORVAULT! If you have any questions or wish for more information about this vehicle or any other vehicle, please do not hesitate to contact:
Josh Stiegman - [e-mail] // 317-643-1444

[@MrBigR928]

This is the 1st 1970 Hemi Cuda? Phew... it's gonna go for a hefty price 💰💰💰

[@E1N9A8N0DA]

This my second dream car, just behind the 1970 Challenger 426 HEMI. I find very poetic that the first HEMI 'Cuda was built in plain, pure white. ❤

[@BuddWolf]

Gorgeous ❤, absolutely gorgeous. Nothing like a late 60’s -early 70’s muscle car. Thank you for sharing the video post. Best of luck 🍀

[@indymotorvault]

Glad you enjoyed it! We are honored to represent such a rare piece of automotive history with a rich history to boot. 🙌

[@mastermason4766]

This car appears to be for sale on marketplace right now

[@themrpedro5858]

For $2.2 million that seems high by a great deal but if your a millionaire, how can you complain 😂. it's unrestored and the first one..if you really want car history, this is a nice looking car to add to your collection. Its priceless really😊

[@gerald4133]

They did it right I! Dad had a 69' 1/2 440 Cuda' A body. I had a '71 383 & my cousin married a guy with a '70 ,,440 six pack hockey stripes & Shaker! Nice Hemi.

[@gerald4133]

Thanks! In 1970 dad took us on vacation. We went out West from Ohio as we went through Kansas the road is so Straight dad said climb up front I was about 10 he let me steer the Cuda' 440 for several miles, he operated the gas & brakes. The speed limit was 70! 10 yrs old driving a 440 Cuda'! Due to the Arab oil embargo gas ⛽ was going to go to $1.00 a gallon. He sold 1 of Only 500 made! Later we was driving in Ohio a chic was driving on the freeway kinda slow, as we passed her we about crapped! She was driving a 70 or 71 440 SIX PACK CHALLENGER! WE MISSED OUR CUDA! TAKE GOOD CARE & NEVER SELL YOUR HEMI!

[@gerald4133]

There are some States out West there isn't even telephone poles for a 100 miles! I've heard through the grapevine that some Super bird -Daytona Charger guys use to go there to see how fast their Winged cars would go! I saw a field of Mopar in Indiana while living there. A Roadrunner friend took me there. In the country.Tbete was a 70 440 brown 🟤 GTX IN THE FRONT YARD! A 440 SUPER BIRD UNDER A ALUMINUM SHED - A FIELD OF HI POWER MOATS! IDK IF THIS GUY INHERITED A BOAT LOAD OF MONEY IN THE 70'S OR WON THE LOTTERY BUT IT LOOKED LIKE A CAR LOT! MY DAD PASSED & I WAS UPSET THE VOLTAGE REGULATOR WENT OUT & DAD - I TROUBLE SHOOTED IT SEVERAL MONTHS BEFORE HE PASSED! I GOT PISSED 😡 & SOLD MY ONE OF 1600 71 CUDA' MADE.

[@warriordefender4906]

Now that's a real car!!!

[@davidmackenzie5403]

Nick will tune up this baby

[@Sidewayz455]

It's not a car, it's a museum piece.

[@bobby1970]

Absolutely priceless.

[@cyndifox4711]

It has been my dream since I was a little girl to have a sexy muscle car like this one day🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@R.Bobbee777]

If you think 70 Hemi Cudas are too expensive now just wait till the "hard tops" hit 7 figures. The convertibles hit 7 figures over 10 years ago. Big 💰 💰 🤑 💰 🤑 💰🤑

[@devonlaurence9502]

They that in the original vanishing point movie

[@devonlaurence9502]

They should have use that in the original vanishing point movie

[@johntechwriter]

Will muscle car speculators be able to continue up-pricing mass-produced economy models with big engines - in the same range as Duesenbergs! -considering the muscle car’s original owner generation is rapidly on their way to that big swap meet in the sky? Consider the tiny number of comments and up-votes this well-done vid about one of the greatest muscle legends was able to scrounge up.

[@lorenzolomascolo2647]

No Tach in a stick car......???

[@markhellman-pn3hn]

ANYBODY can "fake" a car !! .... if you don't have PAPERWORK - you don't have a deal !!

[@indymotorvault]

In 2005, Galen Govier documented and confirmed the significance of this car, presenting this car as THE FIRST Hemi Cuda. Learn more here - motorvault.com/1970-hemi-cuda

[@AlienGrade]

A fake hemi car in this condition will still make a deal anywhere. casual!