Stunning 1971 Plymouth Cudas Show Off Rare Features, High-Impact Colors

Produced in much lower numbers regardless of trim and drivetrain, the 1971 Barracuda spawned a few super-rare gems. The Hemi Cuda is arguably the scarcest and most sought-after, with only 114 units made. And things go into unobtanium territory if we also factor in the convertible body style. Plymouth produced only seven drop-top Hemis, and they're worth millions of dollars nowadays.

But the Cuda Convertible is rare regardless of what's under the hood. Plymouth received only 292 orders for this trim/body style combo. Of these, only the 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter)/automatic combo moved more than 100 units. All the other powertrains can brag about one- and two-digit production figures. And only a fraction of these rigs are roaming the streets as Excellent-condition classics today.

The 2024 Mopars with Big Daddy show was the place to be to see a bunch of pristine 1971 Cuda Convertibles. As this footage by YouTube's "Gause Garage" shows, at least two 1971 drop-tops were showcased in front of the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing. And boy, do they look amazing!

Finished in two of the most popular colors from Chrysler's iconic high-impact palette, In-Violet, and Sassy Grass, these Cudas are pretty much Concours-ready classics. They're flawless inside and out and feature desirable color combos. Specifically, both have white billboard decals and white interiors.

Likewise, both are equipped with Shaker hoods. More commonly associated with Hemi cars, Shaker hoods are somewhat rare on vehicles with 340- and 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) engines.

Speaking of powerplants, the Sassy Grass drop-top combines the 340 V8 with a three-speed TorqueFlite automatic. This combo makes it one of only 102 examples produced. The four-barrel 383 purple Cuda also has an automatic, and it's ever rarer than its green counterpart. Plymouth built only 87 Cuda Convertibles with this drivetrain setup.

The smallest big-block V8 available at the time, the 383-cubic-inch unit, was rated at 300 horsepower and 410 pound-feet (556 Nm) of torque in 1971. It was potent enough to push the Cuda down the quarter-mile in less than 17 seconds.

The 340-cubic-inch mill wasn't the smallest V8 available in the Barracuda, but it was the smallest engine offered in the performance-oriented Cuda trim. The small block generated 275 horsepower and 340 pound-feet (461 Nm) of twist. It was marketed as Chrysler's most fuel-efficient high-performance engine.

While the 340 remained an option through 1973, the 383-cubic-inch V8 was discontinued for the 1972 model year. But that's enough history for today. Hit the play button below to see these drop-tops sitting pretty at the 2024 Mopars with Big Daddy show.