$2.53 Million 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible Heading Back To The Auction Block
What difference does a decade make for a muscle car?
We’re about to find out as an ultra-rare 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda convertible that was last sold for $2.53 million at the Mecum Auctions Kissimmee, Fla., auction in 2016 returns to the auction block at the 2026 edition of the event on Jan. 17.
The fully restored “Sno White” car is one of just five Hemi Cuda convertibles that were built for the domestic market in 1971 with an automatic transmission, the final year that the 426 Hemi V8 was offered.
The Mecum car is not listed with its original engine, but has a period-correct replacement that drives the rear wheels through an A727 TorqueFlite transmission and an A36 performance axle with a 3.55 Sure Grip limited-slip differential.
CLICK TO BOOST AMERICAN CARS AND AND RACING IN YOUR SEARCH RESULTS
The 425 hp motor breathes through a shaker hood secured by J45 hood pins and the car is equipped with power steering and brakes.
On the appearance front, its bumpers, fender gills, rockers, tail panel trim and exhaust tips are all chrome and the black Hemi billboard graphics were added during the restoration.
The black top is power-operated and the car has been fitted with a modern space-saver spare and an AM/Cassette radio with a microphone and recording function.
SUBSCRIBE TO THE FREE AMERICAN CARS AND RACING NEWSLETTER FOR THE LATEST CLASSIC CAR AUCTION UPDATES
Plymouth only built seven Hemi Cuda Convertibles for the domestic market in 1971 and the auction record bid stands at $3.5 million for one of the two four-speed manual cars, which resulted in a $3.85 million sale after buyer’s fees were added.
MORE COLLECTOR CAR NEWS FROM AMERICAN CARS AND RACING
No sale has come close to that one, but a 1971 Hemi Cuda convertible four-speed that was one of five export cars and originally sold to a buyer in France received a high bid of $4.8 million at the Mecum Auctions Indianapolis event in 2021, but it wasn’t high enough to meet the seller’s reserve price.
Follow American Cars And Racing across our social media on X, Flipboard, YouTube, Reddit, Instagram, and Facebook.