Even though Plymouth began dropping the 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI V8 in production cars as early as 1965, the Barracuda did not get it until the third-generation model arrived for the 1970 model year.
Sure, the mill found its way into the pony car in 1968, but only to spawn a limited-edition factory dragster for Super Stock duty. But as soon as the Barracuda was moved on the E-body platform, the mighty HEMI became an option (as it did for the first-gen Dodge Challenger).
But while the first-year third-gen Barracuda was popular with nearly 49,000 units sold in the US, the HEMI rig wasn’t. The high-performance big-block mill was selected by only 666 customers, mainly due to the high insurance rates that came with muscle cars at the time.
Things took a turn for the worse in 1971. Barracuda sales dropped by more than 65% percent to just 16,492 units. HEMI demand decreased even more, with only 114 examples shipped to US dealers. And at the end of the year, Chrysler discontinued the 426 V8, leaving the HEMI ‘Cuda a two-year affair.
Come 2023, these low figures turned the 1970 and 1971 HEMI ‘Cudas into rare and sought-after classics. The hardtops fetch $250,000 to $500,000 depending on condition and originality, while the convertibles are worth millions of dollars. That’s because only 21 drop-tops were sold in the US.
Luckily, many HEMI rigs soldiered on long enough to be restored to original specifications. And while some are missing original components, others enjoy numbers-matching status. A few examples, like the one you see here, are also low-mileage gems.
Painted Rallye Red with black billboard decals and fitted with a black vinyl top, this 1971 HEMI ‘Cuda looks spotless thanks to a meticulous frame-off restoration performed a few years ago. And in addition to still having the original 426 HEMI under the hood, it also rocks a desirable four-speed manual gearbox.
And, of course, it’s loaded with awesome goodies from the golden muscle car era, including a shake hood, a pistol-grip shifter, leather bucket seats, dual exhaust, and Rallye wheels. It was also optioned up with a center console delete. As for the odometer, it shows only 15,146 miles (24,375 km).
In addition to being one of only 108 hardtops built for the US market, it’s also one of only 59 HEMI cars equipped with the four-speed manual gearbox. The color and options combo likely make it a one-of-one gem, but one-of-59 is already rare enough in my book, especially in such fantastic condition.
The Barracuda is scheduled to go against the gavel at the 2024 Mecum Kissimmee auction in January. There’s no estimate for this lot, but a different HEMI ‘Cuda in similar condition with an automatic and no low-mileage status is estimated to fetch between $350,000 and $450,000. This Rallye Red beauty could change hands for more than $500,000.