A 1970 Plymouth Cuda is already one of the most desirable machines from the golden age of American muscle. This particular example takes a radically different approach, combining the unmistakable shape of an E-body Plymouth with the supercharged heart of a modern Dodge Challenger Hellcat.
Currently offered by Vanguard Motor Sales for $399,900, the extensively modified Cuda has been given modern suspension, enormous brakes, carbon-fiber components, and a comprehensively reworked interior. The asking price puts it deep into serious collector-car territory, although very little about this build could be described as ordinary.
The car has appropriately been nicknamed “Cudacat,” and underneath its carbon-fiber hood sits a 6.2-liter supercharged Hellcat V8 rated at 707 horsepower. Instead of retaining a period transmission, the builder paired the engine with a custom Gearstar 4L85E four-speed automatic.
For nearly $400,000, buyers will naturally expect craftsmanship to match the specification sheet. From the three-stage PPG paint to its finished underbody and heavily customized cabin, this Cuda appears to have received attention virtually everywhere you look.
Hellcat Power Gives This 1970 Cuda 707 HP
The centerpiece is that modern 6.2-liter V8, supported by 2017 Challenger Hellcat underhood hardware, including the intercoolers, cooling system, and air-conditioning components. A Mopar ECU manages the engine, while a CompuShift controller handles the automatic transmission.
Power reaches the rear axle through a carbon-fiber driveshaft and a custom Moser rear end featuring 35-spline axles and a TruTrac limited-slip differential. Vanguard’s listing specifies 3.89 gearing, giving the restomod hardware capable of dealing with considerably more performance than Plymouth engineers envisioned for a street-going Cuda in 1970.
The exhaust system is similarly bespoke. Hooker headers feed a custom system incorporating a one-off rear diffuser, providing an appropriately muscular soundtrack for the supercharged V8.
The Chassis Has Been Completely Modernized
Simply dropping 707 hp into a 56-year-old chassis wouldn’t make for a particularly complete restomod, so the suspension and structural hardware received extensive attention. Reilly Motorsports AlterKtion components are fitted front and rear, while US Car Tool reinforcements tie the body together from front to back.
Stopping power comes from Wilwood six-piston calipers clamping 13-inch drilled and slotted rotors. An electric emergency brake is also installed, while Forgeline three-piece wheels wear Yokohama ADVAN Neova rubber up front and substantially wider Mickey Thompson Sportsman S/R tires at the rear.
The result is an aggressive stance without abandoning the fundamental proportions that make the second-generation Barracuda so recognizable.
Carbon Fiber Meets Classic Mopar Styling
The body is described as rust-free and largely original, although some obvious modern touches distinguish the Cudacat from a factory restoration. Most prominent is the limited-edition SpeedKore carbon-fiber hood, joined by a carbon rear bumper and custom electric hood-latch system.
Its three-stage PPG finish is contrasted by dark detailing, while the original exterior and interior trim was restored and black-chromed. An AAR-style grille and headlight-bezel assembly, tinted lighting, custom glass, and Ringbrothers billet hood and trunk hinges add further detail.
Despite the scale of the modifications, the build hasn’t attempted to reinvent the Cuda’s basic design, which is important on a car where the original sheetmetal was one of the defining shapes of the muscle-car era.
The Interior Borrows From A Challenger Hellcat Too
Open the doors, and the modern Dodge connection continues. Front and rear seats were sourced from a 2021 Challenger Hellcat, then incorporated into a cabin featuring leather, suede, and carbon-fiber door panels.
There’s also a custom center console, Dakota Digital instrumentation, Vintage Air climate control, electric windows, an Ididit steering column, and a Billet Specialties steering wheel. A seven-speaker audio system and custom electronic controls bring additional modern conveniences, while an Alpaca headliner and fully finished trunk push the build further toward show-car territory.
At $399,900, this Cuda is aimed at someone who wants the presence of a 1970 Plymouth combined with Hellcat performance and a modernized chassis — and who has roughly the price of a new Lamborghini sitting around for the privilege.