Need info 1971 Cuda 440 Convertible Mecum Kissimmee Lot S55

[anlauto]

Yea, that's down right cheap...

[JH27N0B]

Let's say it's a 318 Barracuda, looking like it does....what's it worth, or more importantly what will it sell for at auction ? Will it reach six figures 

I sense the value rising as we're talking.   

I'm going to go with 90k.  But I'm the rookie here. 

New details added:

Upgraded to Cuda 440 Six Pack specification with billboards
Dana 60 rear end

Sold for 88K     Plus or minus the fees.  I'm never sure. 

I think that's a decent deal for quite the looker even if it is a clone.   71's have some kind of honey stuck to them

The sales prices shown on Mecums site are after buyers commission so this one hammered for $80,000.
Seems about right for a decent 440-6 clone convertible.

[anlauto]

Let's say it's a 318 Barracuda, looking like it does....what's it worth, or more importantly what will it sell for at auction ? Will it reach six figures 

I sense the value rising as we're talking.   

I'm going to go with 90k.  But I'm the rookie here. 

New details added:

Upgraded to Cuda 440 Six Pack specification with billboards
Dana 60 rear end

Sold for 88K     Plus or minus the fees.  I'm never sure. 

I think that's a decent deal for quite the looker even if it is a clone.   71's have some kind of honey stuck to them

The sales prices shown on Mecums site are after buyers commission so this one hammered for $80,000.
Seems about right for a decent 440-6 clone convertible.

Yea if it was a 70 Cuda or a Challenger, but that's downright a bargain on a 71 Cuda...Just wait it will be on eBay in two weeks asking $120K

[scf100]

Well I was all set to buy this car but a week ago I found a 70 Challenger convertible R/T 4 speed car .....

This Cuda was a good buy at 82K plus fees.....I looked it over and it was nicely done top and underneath

I would have been happy with it but I already have 4 other vehicles that are red/white

[JH27N0B]

You're making a lot of assumptions.  When you see the cars at a Mecum auction some are nice, but some are quite disappointing compared to the pretty pictures you saw on the auctions site.
Many times over the years I've commented online on cars I thought were well bought at auctions only to be chided by other posters who knew the cars and said they had issues.
How was the workmanship on that car?  What did it start out with, a 383 cuda convertible or a /6?
Do you have 6 figures burning a hole in your pocket for a clone like that? If not, who does?  I see clones listed high on eBay and broker sites like Cars online, Gateway and Streetwise often but that doesn't mean much, what are some recent actual sales?
Money is being thrown around like crazy at that auction, if it shows sold at $88K that probably is a good gage to determining the top of its value range.  I'm guessing the buyers didn't all take a lunch or potty break at the same time right before the cuda ran, and come back afterward and say damn I missed it!

[scf100]

You're making a lot of assumptions.  When you see the cars at a Mecum auction some are nice, but some are quite disappointing compared to the pretty pictures you saw on the auctions site.
Many times over the years I've commented online on cars I thought were well bought at auctions only to be chided by other posters who knew the cars and said they had issues.
How was the workmanship on that car?  What did it start out with, a 383 cuda convertible or a /6?
Do you have 6 figures burning a hole in your pocket for a clone like that? If not, who does?  I see clones listed high on eBay and broker sites like Cars online, Gateway and Streetwise often but that doesn't mean much, what are some recent actual sales?
Money is being thrown around like crazy at that auction, if it shows sold at $88K that probably is a good gage to determining the top of its value range.  I'm guessing the buyers didn't all take a lunch or potty break at the same time right before the cuda ran, and come back afterward and say damn I missed it!

I am at the auction and put eyes on it......I'm old enough to know what I'm looking at and have built a couple of cars from scratch so I know what it cost to put it to the condition of this car.........a real 6 pack vert 4 speed 1971 is 500k and up......so what's wrong with paying 82K for a clone that's fun to drive and you don't have to worry about it getting hit or stolen and looks badass?

[anlauto]

1971 Cuda convertible 318, patched up, roached out projects with no drive line sell for $40K so $88K is a pretty dam good deal...

[JH27N0B]

I'm not saying it's a bad car I'm just saying it likely sold for price that reflects it's true value as a clone.
I've been to dozens of car auctions and the ones that truly end up bargain sales are ones that run at early days of the auction or Sunday, or are run late in the day when a lot of bidders have left. And the cars that run on off days and hours usually are more pedestrian type cars, not the top dogs.
Today and yesterday are the prime days of Mecum, the moneys in the house.  Top dollar prices are being achieved and no bargains likely being had.
And cars that armchair quarterbacks including myself think sold cheap at auctions while watching at home often turn out to have issues.
88 grand is good money, that's more than 85% of Americans earn in a year. If you build a 440-6 '71 cuda vert clone that's likely what Hagerty will want to insure it for.

[scf100]

1971 Cuda convertible 318, patched up, roached out projects with no drive line sell for $40K so $88K is a pretty dam good deal...

Exactly...........then add up costs.....no this car was not perfect but in my little eyes was damn nice

You know the old saying...'you couldn't build it for that'

[MKA]

Everything you guys said, but also I want a t shirt for being closet to the pin on my guess

I would have bought it for that assuming nothing structural   For a clone it has all the desirable goodies and looks the part for sure and being a clone you got some freedom to diverge.   You never know until you drive it and not much information on it but a seller that has had it 20 years, I'd take that gamble and enjoy it no matter the gremlins

[MoparCarGuy]

I looked this clone over on Saturday (15JAN). This car's restoration is top-notch. The interior and exterior look as good as the row of real R- and V-Code Cudas. The engine compartment needs a bit of work though. It has a lot of options added that are extremely desirable like the Elastomeric front and rear bumpers, Rimblow steering wheel, Dana 60, etc. I can tell you that seeing the Rimblow turned to the right and the tires pointing straight ahead grated on my nerves. LOL.

I agree that the new owner could flip this car for a profit and time will only see this type of "drivable" car go up, up, up.

EDIT: Also, I looked at the fender tag and this 318 Barracuda had the A21 option (front Elastomeric bumper) from the factory.
Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of this car or the fender tag.  It would have been good for this discussion to do so.

[RUNCHARGER]

Sounds like it was well worth it. As they say "you can't build it for that".

[anlauto]

My guess is it will be on eBay in a few weeks...

[Joegrapes]

I'm going to add my two cents here. We need to stop comparing an original from the factory car to a car that was built the way the owner wanted. People that want an original car look for an original car. But that's not important to everyone in this hobby. Just because a car didn't come from the factory that way doesn't make it any less of an E-body. To me it's no different than if you built say a '32 Ford hot rod. Sure it didn't come from the factory that way but you see where I'm going with this. It's apples and oranges. Understand I'm not defending someone who copies an original from the factory car and tries to sell it as original. That's wrong by any definition. That's not what we're dealing with here. It's a beautiful car that was built by someone who should be proud of his work and should be judged that way and in cases like this not by the way it came from the factory.

[scf100]

I looked this clone over on Saturday (15JAN). This car's restoration is top-notch. The interior and exterior look as good as the row of real R- and V-Code Cudas. The engine compartment needs a bit of work though. It has a lot of options added that are extremely desirable like the Elastomeric front and rear bumpers, Rimblow steering wheel, Dana 60, etc. I can tell you that seeing the Rimblow turned to the right and the tires pointing straight ahead grated on my nerves. LOL.

I agree that the new owner could flip this car for a profit and time will only see this type of "drivable" car go up, up, up.

Also, I looked at the fender tag and this 318 Barracuda had the A21 option (front Elastomeric bumper) from

the factory. They added the rear Elastomeric bumper.
Unfortunately, I did not take pictures of this car or the fender tag.  It would have been good for this discussion to do so.

Where did you see the fender tag?.......it was gone when I looked at the car Friday