When the redesigned 1970 Plymouth Barracuda came to the muscle car market, there would be no excuses for not putting a big engine under its wide hood. Design engineers had widened the car by more than 5 inches and increased both the front and rear tracks by 3 inches. As a result any Chrysler engine would fit in the engine bay, right up to the street version of the "King Kong" racing power plant, the 426 cid Hemi.

The Hemi was an $871.45 option for the muscular ‘Cuda hardtop which had a base price at $3,164.

Street Hemis got new hydraulic lifters for 1970, but a new cam profile gave the Mopar Engineer no reason to alter the 425 advertised HP rating. The Hemi’s two Carter A=B four-barrel carburetors breathed through the Air Graber "SHAKER" hood scoop.

In order to get the horses to the pavement, Hemi-powered Cudas relied on heavy-duty drive-line parts. There was a choice of the New Process A-833 four speed manual gearbox or the 727 Torqueflite automatic. A Dana 9 ¾ differential was kept in place by a leaf spring rear suspension with six leafs on the right and five leafs plus two half-leafs on the left. Fifteen inch diameter, 7 inch-wide wheels held F60x15 tires.

In short, power was the Hemi ‘Cuda’s long suit. Not long was the list of buyers. Insurance companies did not look kindly on Hemi ‘Cudas and did not care if they could do 0-60mph in the mid 5 seconds and run down the quarter mile in 14 seconds or less at over 100mph. By the time the 1970 run came to an end only 652 hardtops had left the factory with Hemi power and 284 of them had four-speed transmissions.

This Hemi Cuda Recreation has gone through a Rotissirie Restoration of every nut and bolt on the car. The exterior of this spectacular Hemi Cuda is the best of show caliber. The correct black interior is just as nice as the exterior. The dash with its ralley gauges are in showroom condition with everything in working order. The seats, door panels, dash, carpet, and pistol grip shifter are all like new.

The Hemi 4 speed transmission is completely restored and correct. It shifts perfectly with the pistol grip shifter. The rear differential consists of a 4:10 DANA.

Under the hood is the massive 426 Hemi engine sitting in a highly detailed engine compartment that is second to NONE. This 426 Hemi is not original to the car. It is a factory crate engine installed during the restoration

   This Hemi Cuda was purchased on JULY 15/05 from Terry Smith President and CEO of the Boyd Auto Group of Winnipeg, Manitoba. It now resides in Penticton, B.C. in the private collection of Daryl Carter.