New Baracuda

[A383Cuda]

Hi guys, I'm new to Cuda's and Mopars, but I have had plenty of muscle cars. I took a 71 383 Gran Coupe in on trade for my Corvette last week and I'm now trying to take a crash course in Moparology. The Gran Coupe is a very nice car with all original body panels and what the title shows to be 46,000 actual miles. The previous owner(s) painted it Lemon Twist Yellow with black 383 billboards. It has a black bucket interior and both consoles. The Go wing was also added. Car's fender tag shows it to be a true 383 car with the HD 727 transmission. It also has power brakes, buckets console and AC. I am stuck now on whether I should add the hood pins and gills to the car to complete the Cuda look, or whether I should start restoring it back to it's Gran Coupe configuration. I have been told that they only made 79 1971 383 Gran Coupes with the automatic transmission and that the AC and buckets may make it even rarer.  What would you guys do? It's a nice enough car and is growing on me, but thoughts of selling it still linger. Sal

[Ghost]

If you just bought it, don't sell it.  Drive it for a while, and you will discover why many of us feel "Mopar or No Car"

[Tropicalcats]

Nice car I love the billboards.
I would keep the car. Drive it and you won't want to sell it.

[Street_Challenged73]

Welcome to the site, Sal.  Your Barracuda Gran Coupe looks very nice as is, so I'd have to say it's your decision to choose what you would like to do with it.  Besides, it's your car, so make it the way you want it to be. (just as long as you don't send it to that convertible transformation shop so they can butcher up its originality.)

[Rev-It-Up]

Welcome to the board Sal!  What a gorgeous car!!  I would enjoy it now just the way it is. 

[A383Cuda]

Thanks guys! I have driven it a few times and the car is really growing on me. It seems somewhat slow though, probably due to the highway gears. I definitely plan to change those out sometime soon. I am planning to add the gills, hood pins and road lights. I just wanted to check around and make sure I'm not butchering a collectible car. If it would hurt the car's value to do so, then I can live with it the way it is. I wouldn't send it to a convertible conversion shop, however I wouldn't mind having a convertible instead. I had actually planned on picking up a 1969 Convertible Camaro Pace Car before this deal came along. Sal

[Super Blue 72]

Welcome!  Great looking car!  The gills would definately make the look of the car!

[426HEMI]

Very nice ride.  I would keep it and make the changes you said.  It would help the looks.  Welcome to the site and read on you will learn a lot.

Gordon