Criminal? '73 340 Cuda to 71 Cuda Clone

[nqkjw]

Just my personal tastes but I'd love an Ebody cuda with 71 front and 73 rear.

[71cudajoe]

BK Auto did a great job restoring a 73 Cuda and turning it into a 71 Cuda clone. The car looks fantastic. You can read more about the project and see pictures of the restoration on their website if you're interested. Here's the link:

http://www.bkauto.net/1971%20HEMICUDA.htm

I've followed this car as it came on and off the market -- two times in the past several years. I believe it sold the first time for around $85K and again just a couple months ago for under $70K. I believe I read somewhere that the original owner of this car had well over $100K in the build. So, if you're wanting to build a 71 clone from your 73 cuda as an investment or money-maker, the chance of making money on it is unlikely. However, if you are building it for yourself to enjoy, then it certainly if feasible and can come out looking incredible. My favorite e-body is the '71 cuda, but I'll warn you. '71 parts are not cheap or necessarily easy to come by. I just finished restoring my 71 cuda this month. It was far more time-consuming and costly than I ever anticipated (but a bit of that was my own fault I guess). 

[JonS]

Just want to mention one quick thing:

NONE of this is about money or perceived value.  I simply like the styling and look of the 71.  I'm not building these cars to make money with any of them...  They're like boats (but maybe not QUITE as bad)!

 

Jon

[Cooter]

Yeah, you know what the word boat stands for dont you??



Break Out Another Thousand

[HP2]

From the driver's seat, the 71 and a 73 look, sound, smell, and feel the same, especially when built to owners specifications instead of restored stock status. So I'm curious why those fender louvers, cheese grater grill, and square taillights are worth 3x-4x as much and why so many people are so willing to fork over big dollars for them when they are all getting modified anyway? I can understand the last of the breed, 1 of 50 specialty cars commanding high values, but all others of that year are all riding coat tails.

[mopar12372]

  i believe he just wants tail lights /grill . it will appear to look like a 71 , it wont cost anyway near 100.000 to make that . will cost just about the same as someone restoreing an all origional rust bucket in the end . 70 /71 fenders /  qp/ tail panel . same as my 70 build except for the head lights and an extra 5000 for the front grill . 

    i would be happy just to see another mopar back in the game !!!

[Cooter]

I'm not saying this will work for everybody here, but I have just recently converted a 1972 Challenger to a 1970...I swapped the headlight buckets, grille and bezels(Most expensive thing), side markers, and taillight panel/lights for under $1000.00 total cash outlay in parts alone...

This was because I had a '69 Charger grille to swap for the Chally grille, and I got the rest at  "Scratch and dent" deals..As a person who can do my own Engine/trans/bodywork, I feel I don't need to have the best panels as I can "massage" 'em to work....For the average Joe who has to pay someone to swap all of the 1971 Cuda specific parts to a '73, I still say one could do this for less than $3500.00, depending on how many smokin' deals they get, and if they are willing to buy a grille in need of work that nobody else wanted, and fix it themselves...

[_Russ_]

BK Auto did a great job restoring a 73 Cuda and turning it into a 71 Cuda clone. The car looks fantastic. You can read more about the project and see pictures of the restoration on their website if you're interested. Here's the link:

http://www.bkauto.net/1971%20HEMICUDA.htm

I've followed this car as it came on and off the market -- two times in the past several years. I believe it sold the first time for around $85K and again just a couple months ago for under $70K. I believe I read somewhere that the original owner of this car had well over $100K in the build. So, if you're wanting to build a 71 clone from your 73 cuda as an investment or money-maker, the chance of making money on it is unlikely.

There's also the very strong possibility that the reason for the price that particular Plymouth sells for is because of the horrendous level of work that probably went into it - and I use the term "work" very lightly in this instance!  Check that link and see why.

I wouldn't buy anything BKAuto touched with your money.

[vinb]

your Cuda , your time, your money, etc.

Do what makes you happy.

If it was a matching # 340 I would keep it the same, 318 a little different story..

Resale ? I don't think many of us think about resale , we have them to enjoy...

Good Luck with your resto..

[the_engineers]

Resale ? I don't think many of us think about resale , we have them to enjoy...

...though it seems ironic that so may people here still like to throw the "worth" of a vehicle around...

[IMNCARN82]

I was born in 70' Always wanted a 70'... But wanted to play with it. So after MUCH debate and struggle. I went with a round tail light. Like the grille better myself. And I don't regret a thing.  Made the car what I wanted. And never looked back. A member here once said he never knew of anyone who got all the tools,Learned all the skills,And only did one...Now I have three. And always looking.  IMO... Cut her up. Save it one way or the other. Nothin' wrong with the 71'... It's cool. But there's too much hangn' off it. The 70' is too plain.   Then they got it just right!

[EB3-GranCoupe]

I really dig those wheels, 'cuda Bob! 

[hotrod98]

I've converted 72-74 Barracudas to 70 and 71's numerous times. Of course the 71 grilles weren't $3000 back then either. In my opinion, it would be far cheaper to convert it to a 70, especially since you already have the correct front valance. You can buy the 70 style header panel, Goodmark grille kits, the tail panels and the side marker conversion panels. Used 70 taillights are still plentiful as well. You just don't have the option of the gilled fenders if you want it to look like a correct 70.  Of course that would save a few bucks as well.
Or, you could build a hybrid like the one that I built for my wife. Tuck the bumpers in, recess the side markers, add a 71 style wing and the gills in the fenders. I did the entire conversion for less than the cost of a 71 grille. Of course I already have three real 71's so I guess my desire to convert a 73 to a 71 wasn't that strong.
Besides, most people out there don't have a clue as to what the car should look like anyway.

[Triple Black hemi]

My first cuda was a 74 pro street and always lusted for a 71 cuda since I was a child.  Struggled through the the same dilemma questions about converting the 74 over to a 71......I consulted with some well respected mopar restoration specialist with years of experience who could of made some big bucks to perform the work pull me aside and quote "No matter what you do the car won't be a 71 cuda" 

I sold the 74 cuda and got my 71 cuda.   

[mopar12372]

  post some pictures of the car in queation being converted . at this point we should help you decide what you need for your wonderful journey!!