This 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda Is The Perfect Convertible
Anyone who’s been reading this website for a while will know that I love the Plymouth Barracuda. A classic sports car that gets nowhere near the amount of recognition it deserves, I do like to ramble on about them. This kind of car is the reason why. Built by Tim Nist and featured on the cover of Mopar Muscle magazine, work on the car began in 2012. The car was stripped down to its chassis, replacement panels by Auto Metal Direct were fitted, and the valances and header panel were restored. The fenders were repaired, and wiring and plumbing reinstalled underneath the fenders.
After the repairs, the ‘cuda was given a lick of primer and Stryker Red paint, from the fifth-generation Dodge Viper. Once that was done, the car was shipped off to Time Auto Upholstery in Mt. Holly, New Jersey. There, the old front seats were replaced with ones from a Nissan 350Z, and outfitted in black and grey. A new black cloth top was fitted too, while custom instruments now bedeck the dash.
Tim had originally fitted a Gen II Hemi under the hood, but after a year of driving it, decided that it just wasn’t what he wanted. After selling the old engine, a new Gen III was installed instead. Paired with this engine is a Tremec T56 Magnum six-speed transmission. It was not a particularly simple engine swap, with the plumbing also needing an upgrade, to accommodate the new drive train. The result is 500 horsepower, and 20 MPG. Not bad for a 392 V8. You can keep your convertible Mustangs and Corvettes: this ‘Cuda is my dream.
