considering a 1971 Cuda if anyone has ideas about price or has a car for sale

[chryslerfan]

Hello

I am new to this board / club.   Sorry for being dumb.   I am generally a Mopar (C Body) for 300 and Imperials.   I have always liked the 71 Cuda because of grille and twin headlights.   Am thinking of buying one if I can find a great car at a reasonable price.   Would go to a good home as we had a 1961 300 G show car at one time and love the AACA meets.   Would like to consider a restored or low mile original    I realize the hemi tribute cars do not have AC so not sure if I would buy one of them but have seen some.   Might consider a hemi tribute car if done right.   Must be an automatic transmission car.   Also like to see leather interior and if possible, electric windows and as many options as  can get.    Would consider either coupe or convertible.   I am based in South Florida if anyone has ideas how much one should spend on a high quality car of this variety or if anyone close has one for sale.   I realize I am not all that specific and prices will vary but don't make fun of me.   Thanks for your ideas and help.   My grandfather was a small town Chrysler / Plymouth dealer until his death in 1972.   He was my father figure so grew up seeing new cars come to his garage and thus like cars from this era.   Perhaps there is a thread for this topic already.   I started to look at cars for sale and reached out to one person on the list so far.

[1 Wild R/T]

What your describing would likely start in 50K+ range & depending on options could easily be 100K

[Beekeeper]

The 71 barracudas in any form or condition are generally the most expensive Mopars of the era. I've been looking for one for years. The volume of them out there for sale seems to be a lot less than other years. If you're willing to pay top price, there is usually one out there for you but if you're looking for a good deal, you could be waiting a while like me.

Don't mean to be a Debbie downer but want you to know the real truth so you don't get quickly discouraged. My plan to get one is to save about 50-75k that I have no other use for so I can pull the trigger immediately when I find what I want. (Paying off my house comes first though haha). This is one car you cannot kick the tires on...good cars at the right price disappear fast. Especially cars in lower price ranges.

On the plus side though, if you are willing to throw down more money on a nicer car, then you are in a much better position. 75k cars don't sell in a day even if they are worth much more. The reason obviously is that few people can part with that much money on a toy. That puts you in a better buying position and you can sleep on a decision without it being bought out from under you.

[rUNCHARGER]

Agree totally with the above posts. The 71 Cuda and 69 Charger are Mopars that all the GM and Ford guys also recognize and covet so prices on them are really high right now and availability is low. $50k and up as Wild R/T says.  You really can't pick and choose either, you pretty much have to compromise when they come up, however keep looking and you might find the right car.

Sheldon

[1 Wild R/T]

Thing is the 71 has been the coveted darling of the collectors for a long time.... Many enthusiasts find it to be to cluttered & gaudy, maybe they were ahead of their time, I refer to them Disco Codas.... The 70 is cleaner & meaner but the 71 is though of as the last year of the true performance models & collectors see that as all important.... 

If you drop down from a Cuda to a Barracuda & can find one that hasn't been cloned you get rid of the fender gills & the price drops considerably....

Good luck in whatever you decide...

[chryslerfan]

Thank you for each of the comments you gave me in the last 24 or 48 hours.   You confirmed much of what I thought from research on many sites.    Nothing you typed is a surprise but a welcome relief.    I guess the part about 71 being so coveted might be a surprise.  I somehow mistakenly  thought 70 was the preferred year.   I just like the more aggressive front styling and the billboard decals on side of 71 than the more plain 1970 front clip and hockey stick decals on side.    Best wishes to all of you.    Still welcome any leads you might have.  I am looking on line at several various configurations at this point such as the following. 

A gunmetal silver coupe (383 real car, not clone) with AC and black interior in Orlando or Tampa area (seems overpriced until I learn more).  Unusual color combo of silver with black interior.   It should be good (except overpriced) but cannot tell if the pictures have rust or paint bleed through around the data tag and where right front fender line attaches to body and fender well under the car's hood. 

An orange "dreamcicle" convertible in IL / IN area with white top, white interior and AC / Electric windows and many build sheets / fender tags but likely also way overpriced.   Pictures look really good except for some chipping  on dash wood grain trim but it supposedly has many show awards

One looks to be under priced in Ocala so it might be a scam.  Yellow  Hemi clone convertible (318 car) with only  a few miles since 2008 restoration (yellow with white interior but not enough pictures on line to tell much).   Ad contradicts by saying interior is black which also makes me wonder

Triple Black hemi clone (318 car) convertible I saw at an auction but don't think it actually sold (could not stay long enough for it to go across the block) but with hemi / shaker hood cars not having AC as an option, triple black in FL might not be too serviceable even to drive to shows.  Not sure what the dealer will take for the car as it is still on his website but he has not replied to an email I sent him a week ago after meeting him during the auction before his car was up for the line.  The car has what I believe to be incorrect black / white salt and pepper cloth seats compared to the orange and black cloth seats I saw in at least one other barracuda of that age   A car as good looking as this black one (and not factory stock) needs to have the black leather interior for that era instead of the black and white cloth

Yello / black Hemi clone coming across Barrett Jackson in Palm Beach in a couple weeks.   Might see what it sells for as a new guide for me. 

My wife prefers AC so might look to stay with 383 or 440 cars since some of them have AC

The search goes on.   They say the hunt is as much fun as the catch (and less expensive)

[cudamadd]

hi   i owen a 70 cuda and a 71 cuda clone . The one reason 4 the clone is price the best think i like about the 71 is the gills in the fender .The one thing about my 71 is the cheap name plate in the dash pad but i can live with it just my 2 cents 

[cudamadd]

Back again my 70 cuda  is factory every thing so i will not touch her. My 71 barracuda /clone /cuda will she  is  my toy ,so all out money pit . p.s I have the driving lamps on my clone . some 1 told be that it looked like a Christmas tree with so many lights . He must b a chevy guy What the.   

[HP2]

'71 is also the lowest production volume for a full production year of any year of Barracuda. Combine that with desirability, and prices reflect it.

[1 Wild R/T]

And I remember back in the early 90's when a buddy picked up a FJ6 340 shaker car for $ 900.00 & parted it out cause he needed the bubble for his 70...

[chryslerfan]

Since this is a site for both Cuda and Challenger lovers, can we take a vote on which is more popular and easy to find.   A given era / year Cuda or a Challenger.   I like looks of both and maybe should be looking for a Challenger instead of a Cuda.   I am open to ideas from any or all of you as to good years and features / configurations for Challenger as my research has been more heavily linked to Cuda but I don't want to be foolish and pass up a good opportunity if Challenger is a better buy for a given level of quality and features.    Thanks fellow car lovers. 

[Beekeeper]

I love both the cudas and the Challengers. You might have more Challengers to choose from and get a little better price. It just seems like the cudas are what folks want at the moment. 70 Challengers are probably the most sought after but fortunately, they made lots of them.