1970 Cuda V-Code Convertibles

[anlauto]

Yes, Terry worked @ Joyceville, the HemiCuda owner worked @ Collins Bay. Kingston had EIGHT separate prisons/farm camps at one time.

The same brothers did the same torch job on a locally-owned-new '67 Biscayne 427 2-dr.

If the 'Runner survived their "care", it must have been a mess. I had heard it was "parted out". It was still a very solid and decent-running/looking car when they 1st bought it in '78.

Apparently the Hemi in the Road Runner at the time that I saw it was out of a local Cuda.

[RzeroB]

An In-Violet with White interior (no stripes) HemiCuda Hardtop rumbled by. First one we'd seen in the flesh on the street! Spectacular-looking Cuda; Rallye Wheels, Silver Shaker, and what turned out to be a 727-3.23-geared "driver". I worked part time at the local Sears store and this car was bought by the Ass't Cosmetics Dep't Manager and her husband, a prison guard. Daily driven 365 days a year, without oiling or "rust-proofing".

Boring? No way! I love stories like the ones you told here. what amazingly detailed recollections of Mopar-isms that happened 40-something years ago. What's in the next chapter?

Fast forward to April 1st, 1978 (no foolin') and a classified in the local daily paper: For Sale, 1970 HemiCuda yadayada $1,000 or B.O. I'll bet it's the same one, thought I. Called, and sure enough it was. Raced over to their house. SHOCK...and DISMAY. I swear, that last winter, it had been used as a dog house for their Shepard! There wasn't a single item/panel/part/piece that didn't need rehabbing/replacing. It ran...barely, shooting ducks through the carbs, up to about 25 mph. Fender tags attached...barely. Original motor/trans/diff/hood/Shaker. Inside, the plastic rear seat surround panels were scraped and gouged, seats ripped and torn front and backs, console in disarray. An ambitious restoration.

A tragic, but all too familiar but story. They were just drivers then and obviously didn't get the respect they deserved. But to be used as a "dog house for their Shepard?"  

[RzeroB]

You are correct! Here it is at the MCACN show in Chicago a couple of years ago. It's a 4-speed car. Don't know anything about what options it has. Personally I think the color combo with that white top looks a bit unusual. Think it would have looked better with a black top.

EN1
    N96   P37   R22   Y05    26
J45   L31   M25   M88   N41   N42
V3X   A01   A34   B51   C16   C55   
TX9   H6B5    000      A06    xxxxxx
E74    D21     BS27    R0B    1xxxxx

Imagine that - it is coded as originally having a black top. Interesting. So what's with that white top? Thanks Ola 

[hemiken]

I really liked the story too it was a good read
I know of a factory 1970 V code `Cuda convertible here in Australia also, i have found the owner and talked to him a couplof years ago now, lovely elderly gentleman in fact. Tha car is a Rallye Red car. 

[LOWDOWN]

'70 HemiCuda UPDATE:

I tracked down, and just got off the phone with, the "second" (mechanic) owner of the HemiCuda. He actually was the third owner. Two other fellows bought it ahead of him, and did a very quick and poor "in their garage" body/paint job, painting the car in gritty Purple AND BLACK, pulled the engine-only to be installed in a "non-Hemi Super Bee" (his recollection), and sold the rolling engineless chassis to the mechanic. When he realized how improperly the car had been "massaged", he lost interest and eventually sold it to someone in the Kitchener area...minus the engine but with the Hemi 727 and Shaker assembly.

Could the engine have ended up in the J-Code 'Runner? Or did it, in fact, go into the 'Runner instead of a Super Bee? Anything's possible...but the brothers who raced the 'Runner that summer, after torching the quarters, DID blow it's engine. And they're NOT the guys the mechanic bought the HemiCuda from. So, if the two were mated, it was later...somehow. I'll see what else I can uncover.

As mentioned, to many, they were "just old cars". Beaters to be beaten. Sad...but true.

But it IS a sad fact the HemiCuda and its number-match engine were separated. The fact the car was a full number-match car was what had me seriously interested in the first place. To some of us, "numbers" meant something...even then. Previous experience with Corvettes back in the '70s had taught me that much.

Today, of course, the VIN and the driveline alone would be worth pretty serious money...but that's 35 years later.

Again, thanks for your collective indulgences, and interest.

[RzeroB]

This IS a good read ... 

[hemiken]

Cool update BUT 
What are the chances of you providing pictures for us to see, can you get your hands on any 

[Topcat]

I recall reading an article many years ago in one of the Mopar magazines of a black Hemi Cuda convertible with a blue interior. The car was un restored and was in Arizona at the time of the article was printed.
I remember the article well since I thought it such an unusual combo.

I'll have to search thru my old mags and see if I can find the article.

[hemiken]

A little bit off topic, but i know of a Gran Coupe that is Black with a Blue interior, but it also ahs a Blue ModTop very cool car indeed, i do not think it has been restored yet.