1970 Plymouth AAR 'Cuda 340
Probably everybody that cares about sweet classic muscle cars has seen the picture of the cute, sexy blonde with the mini skirt and go-go boots that were typical attire of the girls of my youth. If you looked really closely at that picture, her fine butt was propped against the fender of a bad ass ride, also from the days of my youth. It was the 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda.
A special 'Cuda derivative for 1970 was the race-themed AAR. This car, much like Dodge's Challenger T/A, and was a tribute to Dan Gurney's ‘All American Racers’ Trans-Am racing team. The AAR 'Cuda was produced to race in the SCAA road racing and to compete with the Ford Mustang.
Only 2,724 AAR 'Cudas were built in 1970 at the Hamtramck, Michigan, plant. The AAR Cuda was ONLY produced between March 10th and April 17th, 1970. There was however the pilot car that was produced February 3rd. The powerhouse was a 340-cu.in. V-8 topped with three 2-bbl. Holley carburetors, and it made 290 hp when mated to the A-833 four-speed manual or the A727 three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. There were 1,120 produced with the A-833 manual 4-speed transmissions, and the remaining 1,604 had the A727 TorqueFlite automatic 3-speed transmissions.
AAR Cuda's featured staggered front and rear tires, a black grille with a matching, functional, NACA-ducted flat black hood and fender tops, distinctive "strobe" side stripes that incorporated the tri-color AAR shield logo and a special “ducktail” trunk lid spoiler. The exclusive AAR engine was a side-exhausted, the AAR's exhaust came out near the back wheels, the rear of the 'Cuda was raised nearly two inches to allow for the side-exit exhaust.
The AAR had special stocks and rolled on Goodyear Polyglas GT 60 15-inch tires in the rear and E60 15-inch tires in the front. This gave the 1970 AAR 'Cuda the distinction of being the first Detroit production car with staggered wheel-sizes.
Buddy of mine in high school (early '80s) had a Dodge Dart with a 340 3-speed. Those Dart/Duster bodies were light as hell, and that thing would move.
ReplyDelete--Tennessee Budd
Yes sir. I bough a CHEAP early '80 Duster with a 340 3-speed (He installed it himself.) from a guy who was given about 3 days notice that he got his PCS orders for Korea. He had to get rid of the car quick because he had no family to come get the car and they wouldn't store it for him. That thing would scat. He didn't tell me that the sun roof was loose and in the middle of February, in the snow, I drove it off the base (Ft. Campbell, KY.) with a friend following in my truck. The sun roof sucked out and my friend ran over it. Destroyed. Cold drive home and being pissed off too.
DeleteThose were sweet, sweet rides, buddy(rich daddy) had one with the 440 cid, shaker hood and a Muncie 4 speed. Flat out would kick ass!
ReplyDeleteWith a 440, it would be a chore for me to keep the front tires on the ground. I'll bet it did kick ass.
DeleteThe top photo contains the top two items on my high school need/want/gotta have list - a fast car and hot girl. I got one - the girl. I count it as a win.
ReplyDeleteIf she turned out to be a keeper, you can indeed count it as a win.
DeleteI would say the best looking car of the seventies. Always wanted never had.
ReplyDeleteIt was a fine looking ride.
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