1971 Plymouth Barracuda 'Cuda review from North America

This was a 71 Cuda Convertible. Convertible top lines and fittings constantly broke and leaked. I replaced with copper lines.

The car needed restoration when I got it. Front end bushings and ball joints shot by 70K miles, as most of these were by that mileage.

Mechanically, the car was pretty bulletproof.

Doors sagged. Window cranks stiff and noisy.

Windows rattled and leaked.

Frame/Unibody flexed a lot over typical city road bumps and dips.

Everything inside the interior felt loose and cheaply made, like it was going to crack and fall apart.

This was a 71 Cuda 340 Convertible, AT, 3.55 gear, factory air, no rust, mechanically restored, desert car.

I traded a 69 SS 396 Four Speed Chevelle for this car. The Chevelle was superior in every respect to this E-Body junker Cuda, except for rarity and investment value.

Everyone knows the old Mopar drivetrains are pretty strong, powerful, and hold up well. This car ran as good as any 340 did back then.

The body and chassis was junk. Flexy, rattly, and just plain terrible riding, and noisy as hell.

The rear valence panel exhausts direct the spent gas up and toward the middle of the rear, so exhaust fumes and stink somehow get sucked into the car, even with the top up.

Chassis rigidity and ride quality was inferior most any other muscle car of the day that I can think of.

It was, and is, a great looking, cool car. If you are the type that likes attention, distractions, and annoyances everywhere you go, this car will get it for you.

Every time I drove it, it seems it attracted all the freaks, losers, and leftover burnt out LSD hippie freak types from the 60's.

Cars would hit the brakes in front and speed up from behind just to see it, then roll down the windows and shout, "Hey dude, you wanna sell that". What a PITA.

If you want to preserve a rare and important piece of American muscle car history, then this is for you.

However, if you appreciate quality and a finely engineered driving and handling experience, you will be sorely disapointed by a convertible.

I had a 65 Comet Cyclone, 289 four speed, that was way more solid than this heap.

But hey, it looks cool, so buy one now for $75,000 and enjoy the comments as you drive in misery in this leaky, flexy, stinky, noisy rattle trap.