Lot S96 // 1971 Plymouth Cuda // Mecum Dallas 2016

HIGHLIGHTS
-Unrestored with 46,000 miles
-Professionally sorted to top-performing mechanical condition by Roger Gibson
-Original TX9 Black paint and interior
-All original sheet metal
-The original matching numbers 340/275 HP V-8 engine has never been removed from the car

This 1971 Plymouth Cuda is an unrestored, matching-numbers, 46,000-original-mile car. It left the factory as it is today in the highly desirable color combination of TX9 black. Furthermore, it is a factory “triple black” car with a painted top and possesses the majority of its factory-original paint and 100 percent of its original sheet metal. The original 340/275 HP small-block V-8 has never been removed from the car and has been thoroughly sorted by Mopar specialist Roger Gibson.

Sold new by Roy Burnett Motors in Portland, Oregon, on March 11, 1971, its first owner was a lady who cherished the car and drove it sparingly until 1995. She kept the 340 Cuda well serviced and maintained its impeccable original condition. After 24 years, she sold it to another Portland resident who was the owner of record until it he offered it for sale in January of 2009. Until this point, it retained and was legally registered with its originally issued Oregon license plates from 1971—the first 38 years of its life. The car was purchased by well-known Mopar collector Bill Weiman. Sometime thereafter, Weiman parted with the car in a package trade to "unrestored-Mopar" guru Randy Wilson of Arizona. Wilson kept the car for a little more than a year and sold it to a high-end collector-car broker who sold it in April of 2013 to its current owner.

Upon purchase, the current owner sent the car to Mopar expert Roger Gibson with the request that he go through every aspect of the car for authentication and reliable performance. Gibson validated all aspects of the car and ending up replacing the factory-installed original exhaust system due to one of the resonators having a large hole in it. The replacement system is fully date-code correct. As the new owner wanted to enjoy the vehicle as a fair-weather driver, the car received a professional tuning to original specification and the brakes, fuel system and cooling system were all serviced. While changing the transmission fluid, Gibson found some of the automatic clutch material had deteriorated due to age. Although it was performing fine, he did a comprehensive rebuild of the transmission to be absolutely certain of its functionality. Since Gibson's mechanical rehabilitation, the current owner has carefully driven the car fewer than 3,000 miles, never encountering any episodes of rain or wet roads. It remains in top running condition and has been kept in a strictly maintained “climate-controlled” facility.

This unique time capsule is documented with two full broadcast sheets and boasts its original fender tag with all equipment matching the way the car left the factory. It is fully matching-numbers and retains most of its original paint, all original sheet metal and glass, seat covers, carpet, seat belts, dash and door panels as well as the mint-condition original headliner. In the trunk it retains its original space-saver spare with never-used inflator canister; the trunk floor and trunk extensions are remarkably nice with original sheet metal. The factory spot welds on the lower quarters and rocker panels are untouched with original factory paint and 46,000 original miles of stone chips. This 1971 Cuda can be driven with confidence and the best recommendation on the car's mechanical prowess came from Roger Gibson, who stated, "If you are looking for an unrestored car that runs and drives just like 1971, this 340 Cuda is the car for you."

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