This Fake 1970 Plymouth Cuda Was Auctioned Off As a Rare Pink AAR - Twice

When it comes to Mopars, Hemi rigs are perhaps the most replicated. The aftermarket is packed with companies producing 426 HEMI replicas, and there's no shortage of Chargers, Road Runners, and Barracudas with common powerplants.

Some of these builds hit the auction block now and then, and they're marketed accordingly: as tribute cars with aftermarket (albeit period-correct) add-ons. But it seems that at least one fake Mopar was sold as a true-blue rig through a big auction company—twice!

The scam was unveiled by YouTube's "Rocket Restorations" and involves a 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda painted FM3 Moulin Rouge. Produced in 2,724 units, the AAR Cuda is rare regardless of color, but Moulin Rouge makes it super scarce, as only a few units are known to exist. Moulin Rouge is also a desirable color that usually comes with a premium nowadays.

Our host talks about an AAR Cuda sporting VIN BS23J0B168929. The vehicle was first auctioned by Barrett-Jackson at Scottsdale in 2015, crossing the block for $124,151. The car resurfaced at Mecum's Indy 2019 event, changing hands for $53,900. At first glance, the Mopar appears authentic, sporting correct VIN and fender tags. However, a closer look at both reveals this Cuda is not what it pretends to be.

For starters, the VIN is fake. According to our host, this Cuda rolled off the assembly line on October 25, 1969. While this date is correct for a 1970-model-year Mopar, neither the AAR Cuda nor the FM3 Moulin Rouge paint was available at the time.

Developed for SCCA Trans-Am homologation, the AAR Cuda didn't go into production until March. Likewise, the high-impact Moulin Rouge (Panther Pink on Dodge models) color wasn't announced until late January 1970 and didn't go into production until February.

One could argue that this Cuda may have been a prototype or pre-production model. But while Plymouth has built these types of vehicles, they're all known in the Mopar world, and a pink AAR isn't one of them.

The fender tag is also fake. Our host argues that the embossing is too clean and that the spacing is wrong. What's more, there are no signs of bending, which Chrysler did screwing one side to paint under the tag. The plate is also missing a bunch of codes that are unique to the AAR.

So, how did this replica end up on high-profile auction blocks as an authentic AAR? Well, our host speculates that the respective companies didn't do a lot of authentication work at the time. The Barrett-Jackson ad did include things like "correct 340 block but not original," "refinished in pink," and "AAR specific VIN," but did not state that it was a replica.

The Mecum ad, on the other hand, mentioned a "correct FM3 Moulin Rouge paint" and an "original fender tag," both incorrect statements. And again, there is no word to say that it's a replica. This time around, however, the car sold for $53,900, which is way below the average auction price for a restored 1970 Plymouth Barracuda (regardless of specifications). So maybe someone spotted these inaccuracies back then? Either way, it would be interesting to see this car's title.

The pink Cuda hasn't resurfaced since 2019, so either it remained with the same owner or changed hands privately. Now that it's been flagged, it won't pop up at a high-profile event claiming to be original. Hopefully, it was also an isolated case.

The good news is that the big auction companies are now working with experts who authenticate the cars. Barrett-Jackson, for instance, collaborates with Mopar expert Dave Wise. But it's still important to know how to spot a fake fender tag, especially since pink AAR Cudas can cost more than $300,000. This video provides much of the information you need.