Rare 1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda Convertible Heads To Auction

1971 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda convertible - image: Barrett-Jackson

Only 11 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles were ever built, making them
among therarest and most desirable of Mopar muscle cars.
Among Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles, it doesn’t get any more exclusive than one
of one built, like the 1971 Hemi ‘Cuda convertible seen here.

The only 1971 Hemi ‘Cuda convertible sprayed in “Plum Crazy”
(and one of two originally built for export to Canada) will cross the
block at Barrett-Jackson’supcoming Scottsdale auction, as part of
its exclusive “Salon Collection” of premium automobiles.

The car in question comes with the 426-cubic-inch Hemi V-8 engine,
dual four-barrel carburetors, the 727 automatic transmission, the
Super Track Pak option and a power convertible top.

While the car is pristine today, it was just five days away from being sold
for scrap when it was discovered by Hemi ‘Cuda specialist Harold Sullivan
 on New Year’s Eve 2001. Reported stolen some 30 years earlier, the car
was found tangled in underbrush and nearly beyond saving.

A two year restoration project, undertaken by Cummins Restoration and
 Ted Mazurek, followed. Once completed, the car was appraised and
 authenticated by Mopar expert Galen Govier, and it later went on to win
 top honors at the 2005 Meadowbrook Concours d’Elegance.

It’s not clear if the car is a numbers-matching example, but given its sad
history our guess is that it’s not. Still, the car in any form is highly desirable,
 and likely to command top dollar when it crosses the block on January 19, 2013.