Ultra-Rare V-Code Mopar: 1971 Plymouth Cuda Is One of 5 Made, Worth a Fortune

Introduced as a pony car with mild V8 oomph, the Plymouth Barracuda developed into a fully-fledged muscle car toward the late 1960s. In 1970, the third-gen version debuted on a new E-body platform. More importantly, this iteration became available with the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) Six-Barrel and 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) Hemi.

The high-performance fun did not last long, though. Strict emissions regulations and the oil crisis prompted Chrysler to discontinue its high-compression V8 engines after the 1971 model year. Thus, the Six-Barrel and Hemi Cudas were only available for two years. Moreover, they sold in exceptionally low numbers.

Plymouth delivered 48,867 units in 1970 and an additional 16,492 examples in 1971. That's a grand total of 65,359 cars. How many were ordered with the 440 Six-Barrel and 426 Hemi? Well, only 2,818 customers favored this mill, accounting for only 4.3% of the total production.

Most of them were shipped in 1970. Plymouth delivered 666 Hemi and 1,784 Six-Barrel vehicles that year. In 1971, the numbers dropped to only 114 Hemi and 254 Six-Barrel models. The Hemi is obviously the rarest, but the Six-Barrel also becomes an almost unattainable classic when the convertible top joins the conversation. 

Specifically, Plymouth sold 29 Six-Barrel and 14 Hemi convertibles in 1970. The following year saw only 17 Six-Barrel, and just seven Hemi drop-tops roll off the assembly line. All these cars are very expensive nowadays, fetching anywhere between $400,000 and $3 million (depending on condition, originality, and model year).

They rarely pop up for sale at public auctions, and Mecum's Indy 2026, which commenced today, is one of those events. The gold drop-top you see here is a legit 1971 V-code Mopar, meaning it's one of those super-rare Six-Barrel rigs that fetch big bucks.

Remember how I said that Plymouth shipped 17 units in 1971? Well, this convertible also packs a four-speed manual gearbox, which makes it one of only five equipped with this combo. And according to the ad, it's the only one finished in this gold-over-white color combo. Yup, it's a proper one-of-one gem. Muscle car royalty if you will!

But wait, there's more. This Mopar is actually a holy-grail classic. It also packs a numbers-matching drivetrain, a factory N96 Shaker hood, and it's a Concours-winning Cuda thanks to a no-expense-spared restoration with OEM parts. And by that, I mean that it won the top award at the 2016 Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN).

And like any high-profile classic, it comes with detailed documentation, including a Chrysler Registry report and certification by Mopar expert Dave Wise. The car also has a partial broadcast sheet, original VIN and fender tag, as well as original VIN stamps.

Mecum estimates that this Cuda will cross the block for at least $1.5 million. The high estimate reaches $1.75 million, which is very impressive for a non-Hemi Cuda. If that proves to be accurate, it will become one of only three 1971 non-Hemi Cuda convertibles auctioned off for a seven-figure sum.

Moreover, it will become the world's most expensive non-Hemi Cuda, as the current record holder sold for "only" $1.15 million. For reference, the even rarer 1971 Hemi Cudas have fetched between $2 and $3.5 million in recent years.

We will find out more about the actual value of this gold Mopar when it crossed the block on May 16. I will be back to report about it, so stick around.