One to Buy: 8000 mile Moulin Rouge 1970 Plymouth Cuda 340
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To qualify a suitable base car for its move into Trans-Am racing for the 1970 season, Plymouth created the legendary AAR Cuda.
Conceived to homologate Chrysler’s small block 340 cubic-inch V8 along with a host of other trick parts, as its name implied, the AAR Cuda was developed in conjunction with Dan Gurney’s All American Racers operation which would also handle the competition programme on Plymouth’s behalf.
To comply with the SCCA’s Trans-Am regulations, at least 2500 copies of the AAR Cuda needed to be built and these were produced over a five-week period during March and April of 1970. Ultimately, demand was sufficient that 2724 units were eventually completed.
In addition to the AAR version which came with a host of hot parts to pave the way for the quickest Trans-Am race car possible, Plymouth also offered the Cuda with a 340 cubic-inch V8 in more conventional trim, again with either a four-speed manual or three-speed automatic transmission. In this configuration, peak output was rated as 275bhp at 5000rpm and 340lb-ft at 3200rpm.
With its toned down look and the benefit of that much lighter small block V8, the regular Cuda 340 is our pick of the bunch from the 1970 line up, especially in one of Plymouth’s ‘high impact’ colours with the four-speed manual ‘box as depicted here.
Chassis BS23H0B262488, which will be going under the hammer at Mecum’s Las Vegas auction on November 15th, was configured with a unique combination of options to include spectacular Moulin Rouge paint with colour-matched steel wheels and a Shaker hood.
Less than 300 miles ago the car was the subject of a rotisserie restoration back to factory specification. It comes with a date-coded (but not numbers matching) 340 cubic-inch engine and intact fender tag with the factory rosette rivets. Having covered a little over 8000 miles from new, this remarkable Cuda is even riding on its original Goodyear Polyglas tyres!
