Frame Off Built 'Cuda Pro Touring Indy 605 HEMI V8

You already know that RK Motors Charlotte has a thing for Plymouth's most famous muscle car. From their long list of options and stacks of documentation to their hundreds of cubic inches of big block bliss, we've brought you some of the most mind-blowing, potent and flat-out brutal 'Cudas the market has ever seen! And from the insane "Zack Reynolds original":http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/active#!/1971-Plymouth-Cuda/133269 that occupies the center of our showroom, to the "award winning Ivy car":http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/active#!/1970-Plymouth-Cuda/134066 we featured a month ago and the "cool Vipercuda":http://www.rkmotorscharlotte.com/sales/inventory/active#!/1971-Plymouth-Cuda/134091 we featured a few weeks ago, we continue to be your number one source for EVERY incarnation of Plymouth's most storied muscle car. After all, what's not to love about a classic that defines the dominant era of Chrysler ingenuity, showcases an unparalleled era in American culture and represents the best era of Detroit's manufacturing might? Absolutely nothing; and that's why this striking '71 'Cuda pro-tourer, with its 605 cubic inch Hemi V8, fully custom suspension and sleek leather interior, is perfect for the muscle car fan who wants the best of absolutely everything!

The beneficiary of a professional, frame-off restoration that was completed by the owners of Lakeside Rods and Customs in Rockwell City, Iowa, this slick Plymouth super star features a seamless custom appearance that's highlighted by an immaculate coat of matte-finish paint. The team's plan was to create a car that was unlike anything they'd ever built. And this gnarly pro-tourer, decked in PPG Dark Titanium, detailed in a striking combination of black, orange and silver, and finished in PPG Flex N' Flat clear, ended up the perfect cross between a '70s drag car and a modern Autocross king. Now, we all know it isn't easy to perfect a body that's going to be dipped in such a revealing pigment. And that difficulty doubles when said pigment is pretty much the ONLY thing prospective admirers have to focus on. But no worries here; just take one look down the sides of this 'Cuda's rock-solid fuselage and it becomes obvious that excellent care was taken to ensure every panel is aligned to better-than-factory fit. Step closer to the car's hypnotic finish and check out its straight and ripple-free surfaces which are a product of both rust-free sheetmetal and high quality prep work. Grab the car's well-adjusted hood and feel how smoothly it closes to provide an excellent fit which is set off by precise gaps and flush surfaces. Now, step back and watch it all add up to one very well-done pro-tourer that's built to exacting specifications and features a great combination of skilled workmanship and first-rate detailing.

The key to creating a world class custom is building a car that, even though it looks virtually seamless, actually contains many labor-intensive modifications. At the front of this 'Cuda's profile, a custom front valence hangs a small “'hemicuda” emblem inside a 2009 Challenger grille, Flat N' Flexed 2009 Challenger headlights and a custom chin spoiler. At the sides of that profile, custom J&B Microfinish fender gills combine with shaved doors, shaved drip rails and a distinct lack of brightwork to hint at the car's serious personality. At the top of the profile, a custom hood and hand-built shaker scoop lead the eye to tinted, flush-fit glass. And at the back of the profile, a tucked and painted bumper rides between a textured valence, factory tail lights and a custom roll pan that's pierced by large stainless exhaust tips.

When this sinister 'Cuda rumbled into the showroom, it caused such a commotion that our entire staff came out of their offices just to check it out. And when we lifted the hood and found a 605 cubic inch Indy Street Legend Hemi that produces an amazing 850 horsepower and a stunning 790 lb./ft. of torque, we certainly weren't disappointed! At the top of that Maxx aluminum block, a custom shaker forces wind through a reusable filter element into a giant King Demon carburetor that's cinched to a ported intake and fresh stainless fuel lines. At the sides of that intake, Indy 426 heads, which have been fitted with high quality roller rockers and clean stainless valves, hang slick orange covers over an Indy-supplied rotating assembly that includes Wiseco 10.75 to 1 pistons, Eagle H-beam connecting rods, a Callies 4340 crank, ARP bolts and a Comp roller cam. At the sides of that rotating assembly, black long-tube headers swirl spent gases into a rowdy true dual exhaust system. At the front of those headers, a familiar Billet Specialties Tru Trac system spins a chrome Powermaster alternator above a polished Billet Specialties power steering pump. The big motor's fires are lit by a Painless Wiring harness that utilizes an MSD 6AL ignition system to spark an MSD coil, a color-keyed MSD Pro-Billet distributor and high performance MSD plug wires. Cooling is supplied by a heavy duty aluminum radiator that's equipped with a quick-spinning electric puller fan. Lubrication cycles through an eight quart Milodon oil pan via a high volume Melling pump. And aesthetically, the ripped engine provides an excellent contrast to the car's sleek engine compartment, with details like a custom radiator shroud and billet hood hardware cementing its status as a well-rounded piece of mechanical art.

Back in 1971, the standard form of power transfer on showroom-new 'Cudas was either a tough A833 4-speed or a smooth A727 Torqueflite. But when you're ramping up a powerband this big, you need a transmission that's as broad as the Mississippi River and as flat as the Kansas plains. Behind this Plymouth's high-octane engine, you'll find a TCI-supplied Powerglide that's wrapped in a Reid Racing case. That stalwart 2-speed spins a custom driveshaft that's hooked to a Ford nine inch Traction-Lok rear end, tall 3.73 gears and Strange 31-spline axles. As you can probably tell from our pictures, that rock-solid drivetrain is suspended by a custom Art Morrison MaxG chassis that's fitted with a Corvette C6 front clip, a Corvette C6 sway bar, a Watt's Link rear clip and Strange coil over shocks. Smooth apexes and easy turns come courtesy of AGR power rack and pinion steering. Quick stops and clean speed scrubs are provided by 6-piston Wilwood calipers that clamp 14 inch drilled and slotted rotors. Exhaust rolls from the big, long-tube headers into three inch pipes that are complete with heat-wrapped Flowmaster mufflers and straight stainless tips. And power flows to the pavement through a slick set of custom Intro wheels that spin 245/40ZR18 and 335/30ZR20 Pirelli P Zeros around chrome lug nuts and color-keyed paint. The bottom of this channeled 'Cuda is over-restored to the same high standards as its solid exterior panels and clean engine compartment. And accordingly, a full array of finishing components, which include a Chrysler RB engine cradle, a mandatory mini starter, a new stainless fuel tank and fresh fuel and brake lines, is markedly present and entirely accounted for.

Inside this stunning Mopar you'll find a completely custom interior that's tight, technological and in excellent condition. The firm seats, custom-stitched suede and leather units that are equipped with RCI Camlock harnesses, feel comfortable enough to spend a sunny afternoon in. In front of those seats, a custom, Lakeside-built dash hangs a sweet set of Classic Instruments Velocity gauges above Large Rockford Fosgate speakers and small Rockford Fosgate tweeters. Below that dash, a custom, Lakeside-built console anchors a modern Kenwood CD player in front of a TCI Outlaw shifter, two power window switches and a small Kenwood remote. At the base of that console, premium black carpet flows toward a custom rear panel that's equipped with Rockford Fosgate Punch subwoofers. At the sides of that carpet, custom-stitched suede and leather panels hide discrete door handles inside sculpted armrests. And above those panels, a custom suede headliner frames a discriminative roll cage. The car's driver stays connected to the road via a painted tilt steering column that's complete with stylized stalks and a sporty Momo Nero wheel. And the car's passengers stow their payload in a custom upholstered trunk that features hidden storage space and a hidden Optima battery.

In case you were wondering, the sale of this 2010 Goodguys Muscle Machine of the Year Finalist includes a stack of build photos, a pile of build receipts, a few component manuals and an official dyno sheet.

In summary, this killer Plymouth pro-tourer represents creative engineering at its very finest, combining stunning design and execution with no-excuses, no-limits performance. Put it on a pedestal and stare at it… Take it to the local cruise… Take it on the Hot Rod Power Tour… Whatever you elect to do with this cool 'Cuda, it is sure to be the centerpiece of your collection, the focal point of your garage, and, most importantly, the car you most look forward to driving and being seen in!