1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible Sold For Record $2.5 Million

By Gary Gastelu |

Aug 19, 2024

Too bad for the buyer the price wasn’t in Canadian dollars.

A rare 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda convertible that was originally built for the Canadian market was sold at the Mecum Auctions Monterey event in California for $2,530,000, which set a new auction record for the 1970 model.

The Lemon Twist car is one of just 14 Hemi Cuda convertibles built in 1970, with just three earmarked for our northern neighbor. It’s also one of nine that were equipped with a three-speed automatic transmission, controlled via a Slap Stik shifter.

The matching-numbers muscle car has been put through a full rotisserie restoration to its factory specifications and features a black top and tan vinyl interior with bucket seats and faux wood trim, which is a unique combination with the yellow paint. Other specifications include a manual top, AM radio and painted steel wheels.

(Mecum Auctions)

The car was previously sold at auction in January for $2,145,000 million following a $1,980,000 sale in 2019.

The all-time record for a Hemi Cuda still stands at the $3,850,000 that was paid for a 1971 car in 2014.

That car is one of 12 convertibles that were built in 1971 and one of two that were sold in the U.S. with a four-speed transmission.

It is the only one that still has its original engine and is considered by many to be the Holy Grail of muscle cars. Its exact value today is unknown, but a more recent auction result may offer some insight.

There was a third Hemi Cuda convertible with a four-speed, but it was exported to France. The Winchester Gray car returned to the U.S. in 1993, however, and was offered for sale at the Mecum Auctions Indy event in 2021 where it received a high bid of $4,800,000, which wasn’t enough to meet its undisclosed reserve.

1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible Sold For Record $2.5 Million

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