www.mecum.com/lot-detail/SC0515-214457/0/1970-Plymouth-Hemi-Cuda/Automatic/ESTIMATE: $600,000 - $800,000
Never restored and driven just 81 miles over its entire life, this is the lowest-mileage 1970 Hemi Cuda known to exist.
It was special-ordered and purchased new at Shreves Plymouth-Dodge in June 1970 by Bill Reardon of Clarksburg, West Virginia, who was finally buying his dream car at 62 years of age. One of the last 10 Hemi Cudas built in 1970, it was exactly as he imagined it: Tor Red with a Black interior; Torqueflite automatic transmission; Shaker hood with tie downs and color-matching steel wheels with dog-dish hub caps and Goodyear Polyglas GT tires.
1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
Following his original plans, Bill immediately began the modifications needed to ready the car for the drag strip, removing the intake and carburetors, the complete exhaust system, rear end, rear wheels and tires and front shocks. He replaced all these with the best performance parts available, while carefully stowing the originals in safe storage. In his first season of racing, Bill made approximately 30 passes at three local drag strips, occasionally dipping into the high 10-second range.
Tragedy hit when Bill suddenly passed away after that first season with his new Cuda. When his widow passed in 1977, the couple’s son sold the car and all the original parts to Marvin Dillion, who, after returning it to its original configuration at 42 miles, drove it less than a single mile in the 16 years he owned it.
The car passed through three more caring owners before renowned Hemi specialist John Arruza of Thomasville, North Carolina, purchased it with 61 miles on the odometer. Arruza performed his magic on the car, refreshing it after its years of storage with a complete fluid change and tune-up and overhauling its carburetion system so that it once again performed as new. Arruza drove the car to 73 miles in the process of refining the car’s state of tune. Since then it has been moved enough to take the odometer to its present reading of 81 miles.
Today it is the textbook definition of a time capsule; unmolested, original and in superb condition, with documentation that includes the factory broadcast sheet and a recorded verification of the numbers and codes—for Hemi lovers, the Holy Grail.
HIGHLIGHTS
- Unrestored with 81 original miles
- Lowest mileage 1970 Hemi Cuda known to exist
- Produced May 25, 1970 at the Los Angeles assembly plant
- One of the last ten 1970 Hemi Cudas built
- Sold new at Shreves Plymouth-Dodge in 1970
- Documented with original broadcast sheet
- Original Tor Red paint and Black interior
- Original matching numbers drivetrain
- 426/425 HP engine
- Two 4-barrel carburetors
- 727 automatic transmission
- Shaker hood with Argent painted scoop
- Vinyl bucket seats with woodgrain console
- Tie down hood pins, road lights
- Chrome drip rail and window moldings
- Dual exhaust with chrome tips
- Color-keyed steel wheels
- Dog Dish hubcaps
- Goodyear F60-15 Polyglas GT tires
- Space-Saver spare tire
