When it comes to rare Mopars, we usually think about HEMI-powered Dodges and Plymouths from the golden muscle car era. With some 8,500 cars built from 1966 to 1971, classic HEMI rigs are indeed rare, desirable, and expensive nowadays. But a Mopar doesn’t have to hide a 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8 under the hood to be rare.
Other engines are hard to find as well. The six-barrel version of the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB is also a rare gem. As is the 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) six-barrel in the Dodge Challenger T/A and Plymouth Barracuda AAR homologation specials. And it’s not just about the powerplants and the transmissions. Equipment and body styles also play a crucial role here. Convertibles, for example, aren’t very common either.
The 1970 Dodge Challenger is a good example here. While Dodge sold no fewer than 76,935 units that year, only 3,884 were drop-tops. And that’s only five percent of total production. It’s the same with the 1969 Plymouth Barracuda. Of almost 32,000 examples delivered that model year, only 1,442 left the assembly line with a soft top. That’s fewer than five percent.
The Plymouth GTX is yet another muscle car that wasn’t popular in drop-top form. In 1969, only 700 of the 15,609 “gentleman’s muscle cars” ordered came with a convertible roof. And, of course, if we narrow it down to engines and transmission, we get a lot of “fewer than 100” vehicles many of us will never get to see in the metal.
But even though these cars are rare and potentially expensive when in excellent condition, many of them are rotting away in junkyards or private collections. YouTubes’s “Auto Archaeology” recently stumbled upon such a stash that includes at least a dozen of hard-to-find drop-tops.
Sadly, most of them are in very rough shape, but there’s some good news to share. This is not a junkyard but a gathering of derelict cars that were actually saved from the crusher. And this means they’re more likely to get a second chance at life before disappearing into the ground.
So what do we have here? Is this farm field home to one of those extremely rare 1971 Plymouth HEMI Cuda convertibles worth millions? No! But it’s home to a bunch of Mopars that would change hands for more than $200,000 once restored. One is a 1969 Plymouth GTX drop-top, one of the 700 hundred I mentioned earlier. But it’s even rarer than that!
Our host points out that the Mopar packs a 440-cubic-inch V8 under the hood. This makes it one of only 540 drop-tops fitted with the RB engine. And because it also has an automatic gearbox, it’s actually a one-of-362 gem.
Next up is a 1970 Dodge Challenger Convertible, of which Chrysler sold only 3,884. Unfortunately, we don’t get info on engine and trim, but it’s rare regardless of that. If we eliminate the HEMI and 440 cars, many of which have been restored, we’re left with 692 R/T models equipped with the 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) V8. As for non-R/T vehicles, Dodge built 2,543 V8 models and 378 six-cylinder cars. Yup, ironically enough, the slant-six version is the fourth-rarest convertible from the 1970 model year.
I also spotted a 1969 Plymouth Road Runner drop-top which is even rarer than the Challenger. Plymouth sold only 1,890 examples that year. The number includes 10 HEMI cars, which are obviously rarer than hen’s teeth. The one spotted here is a 383 version, built in 769 units with the four-speed manual and 1,111 examples with the automatic. That’s another one worth restoring!
If you’re a fan of the more unassuming Coronet, the yard is home to a 1967 drop-top. And it’s not just any soft top rig, but an R/T 440 model. Dodge made only 638 of them, and the figure includes both auto and manual transmissions. This one’s a four-speed, and we’re probably looking at one of fewer than 300 units sold.
Finally, there’s a 1967 Plymouth Satellite too. The nameplate was somewhat popular that year, with around 20,000 units sold, but, again, the drop-top wasn’t favored by customers. Plymouth sold only 1,370 examples equipped with a wide range of V8 engines. The HEMI is obviously the version everyone is chasing, but the 1967 Satellite drop-top is rare regardless of where it packs a 273-, 318-, or 383-cubic-inch (4.5-, 5.2-, or 6.3-liter) mill.
The yard includes more than just convertibles, though. If you’re more into hardtops and fastbacks, you’ll see quite a few from the golden era. Look out for Plymouth Belvederes and Barracudas, as well as the Dodge Chargers and Darts. Hit the play button below for the full walkaround.