(All photos: forebodiesonly.com) Mopar guys are all about numbers. VIN numbers, build codes, engine displacements, broadcast sheets, concours judging points for originality, amount built, amount left, how many cars with the same options were built and exist…it can make your head spin hard enough to be sick. And speaking of Mopar numbers that can make you sick, now would be the perfect time to bring up the Plymouth ‘Cuda. Properly optioned, this is one of the highest-valued muscle cars in existence, with values of Hemi ‘Cuda examples going for millions of dollars and enthusiasts actively tracking the fates of each and every car produced. The E-body Plymouth has tons of numbers attached to it, but one thing that is never in question is how many doors they came with from the factory: it was always two.
But there are always exceptions to the rules. As Roger Johnson wrote, “As an employee of Chrysler Corporation in 1969-70, I had the opportunity to see many things the “general public” never
did. Not because I was that important, but because I worked in the mail room and delivering the mail was that important. One such sight was a bright red 1970, 4-door Barracuda. It was parked for only about two days on a kind of loading dock attached to the back of Chrysler’s World Headquarters building in their Highland Park complex. This was around November of 1969. The dock seemed to be a temporary holding cell for an assortment of interesting cars. It was the same building Lynn Townsend, Virgil Boyd and more importantly Tom Hoover worked in. Naturally, Chrysler never made a 4-door Barracuda but the one I saw looked surprisingly good. I always assumed it was created around a B-body chassis because the proportions still looked just right despite the obvious body stretch necessary to pull it off.”
And that brings us to the car pictured. Utilizing the same suggested build methods and the knowledge of the one prototype Chrysler built – and destroyed – in 1969, this phantom ‘Cuda sedan that ECS Automotive Concepts is putting together is shaping up to be a stunning piece. Using a stripped B-body shell that was pretty much just the section from the core support to just past the rear doors, the remainder of the ‘Cuda is made up of NOS parts, new sheet metal and fabricated pieces, like the rear door skins. Naturally, this is a love-it-or-hate-it project, but we think that it’s cool to see someone actually creating a replica of a prototype that was otherwise lost to time.
CLICK HERE to read more about this project on forebodiesonly.com, with more pictures of the build process!
I agree that working in a car factory can net you some weird sights.. as I’ve mentioned before I was an apprentice then toolmaker at General Motors – Holdens. At the back of our building (plant 1 at Elizabeth SA) was a little secret room where weird stuff and not yet released stuff could be spied through holes in the wall if security weren’t around. I saw Commodores several years before they were announced, Holden’s first EFI 6 when we were still bolting carbies on everything and a bunch of other stuff. You may have heard of our upmarket Statesman model, and the name Kingswood is probably familiar as a middle range model ( we nicked the name from Chev to be honest) but I’ll wager hardly anyone’s ever heard of a Stateswood. Just before Commodores came out we had a bunch of Statesman shells to get rid of. The idea was a plain jane 6 cyl car with kingswood front sheetmetal, plain ol interior and no flash or fanciness. It was about as good as it sounded….dull, slow and boring. My tradesman and I happened to be in the right place at the right time to see some bosses and inspectors putting it thru its paces out the back of the plant. The inspector who got out of it said it all with a thumbs down gesture…shortly thereafter, a huge forklift called a Hyster arrived, forks thru the windows, picked the entire car up and took it away to be crushed. Saw that happen to a number of different cars while I worked there…
I was expecting this to be a Satellite tail with ‘Cuda sheet metal and tail lights. They’ve gone way beyond that. Nicely done!
Now they need to create a phantom Cuda wagon!
Yes!
This !!!!!!
Cuda wagon sounds like a land yacht packed full of win.
This is neat! There’s some real craftsmanship at play here!
A buddy of mine has several Furies, reminds me of them.
The answer to a question no one asked. Are they building this due to the overwhelming demand for four door non hardtops by the muscle car community?
Here is an answer as a question, if you had the money and expertise to build a car never produced, would you build that car?
I know I would. These is the dreams stuff is made out of.
Yes, but not that car. Four door sedans have never really been popular. As good cars are harder to find I get why guys build them. I have seen nice ones. Just don’t get this one. A wagon would be more exciting.
STUPID!!! Apply your “craftsmanship” else where. what an abomination!
It was not uncommon for manufacturers to build 4 dr prototypes of 2 dr cars. Ford did it with the Mustang back in 1963:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/media.wbur.org/wordpress/11/files/2013/12/Ford-4-door-Mustang-Concept.jpg
Some people liked 4 dr cars versus 2 drs for ease of getting into the back seat Unfortunately, they all look the same – ugly
Building a replica of a prototype that was scrapped, that is awesome ! When you take that to a show I guarantee you more people will stop and look and try to figure it out then the other Cuda’s at the show, it will be the only one in existence, the craftsmanship on this looks amazing ! Keep up the good work, even though its not the actual prototype, it will preserve the story of the prototype for the future, I say its a win deal, if someone wants to spend the time and money on it, good for them, as long as they like it that’s what matters, its their project.
Almost as awesome as a four door chevy Nova. Oh yeah, that was a stupid idea too.
I appreciate the effort and skill required just to physically do this, and the bravery in investing in such a massive project. However, I would have designed the side windows differently. I think they are too high (they go well past the windshield and leave no thickness to the roof from the pics shown), and the rear door cuts into the c-pillar too much- losing the muscular look we all know and love. Looks like they came form a mid 70’s fury….
So you spent more money than a hemi car restoration making a 4 door? Most people ignore 4 doors at shows. Seems like a waste of a lot of good NOS parts.
Would have made a hell of a police interceptor! (Grannies would have lined up at the dealers doors)
Been there and done that when it comes to a Hemicuda or a performance Challenger. We’ve also done a 4 Door Valiant, Slant Six Granny Car. This “One of a Kind” is an engineering marvel and will look exactly like a vehicle that rolled off of the 1970 Chrysler Assembly Line. Below are other links from some of our past projects.
http://www.moparaction.com/Article/PoP/PoP.html
http://www.moparaction.com/Article/Black_Gold/Black_Gold.html
http://www.moparaction.com/Article/NEW_GOLD/NEW_GOLD.html