71 Cuda standard engine

[fuscobros]

So my 71 Cuda has a 383 in it from the factory.  I'm trying to figure out if that was an optional engine or the standard engine.  I see a lot more 71 Cudas out there with a 340?  Leads me to believe the 340 was standard and the 383 was an upgrade...why would anyone order a smaller less hp 340 if the 383 came standard?   Also, anyone have production figures for a 1971 Cuda 383 automatic with the Shaker option?

[anlauto]

If you walked into a dealership and ordered a brand new 1971 CUDA (BS) the base engine was the 383 4bbl. Only options were the 340, 440+6, 426Hemi.

Fast forward 50 years and that is why the 340 is more sought after because some will say it's a better performing engine then the 383, but I say it's nice just to have "one more option"

The 340 outsold the 383 I believe so your 383 is actually rarer than a 340

Nobody will have an EXACT 383 shaker production figure breakdown.

[anlauto]

Yours being an 383 automatic makes it 1 of 1168 made for US production.

[fuscobros]

Yours being an 383 automatic makes it 1 of 1168 made for US production.

1168...that's a pretty low number...
Now if I could figure out how many of the 1168 were ordered with a Shaker?....hmmmm
Gotta be some data out there somewhere?

[anlauto]

Problem with Chrysler is that they never kept exact records of each car they produced.
What they did release is an options and accessory report for each year.
HOWEVER that report was only based on percentages and didn't break down option combinations only individual options.

For example They list the total BS23 & BS27 "cudas as being a total of 5675 for the model That's ALL engine convertible and hardtop with a VIN starting with BS

Then out of that total they list each option by percentage like E55 (340 engine) being 60.6%  or 5675 X 60.6% = 3439 BS23's & BS27's

A21 Rubber front bumper is only 2.6 % or 148 cars

N96 Shaker hood is 14.4% or 817 BS23's & BS27's That's ALL engine convertible and hardtop with a VIN starting with BS

NOBODY can tell you out of the 817 shakers how many were with each engine....

Some people like to make assumptions using the number we do know, and that may give you a large ballpark to play in, but it won't be accurate...

For Example WE know there was 1168 383 auto made, we know 14.4% of ALL cudas had shakers, but one could think 14.4% of 383 autos had shakers, but that's not how it works. that would make you think yours was 1 of 168.....but that's likely high.

[anlauto]

Yours being an 383 automatic makes it 1 of 1168 made for US production.

1168...that's a pretty low number...
Now if I could figure out how many of the 1168 were ordered with a Shaker?....hmmmm
Gotta be some data out there somewhere?

That's also only US sales, there's also Canada and International not counted in that number.

[fuscobros]

Problem with Chrysler is that they never kept exact records of each car they produced.
What they did release is an options and accessory report for each year.
HOWEVER that report was only based on percentages and didn't break down option combinations only individual options.

For example They list the total BS23 & BS27 "cudas as being a total of 5675 for the model That's ALL engine convertible and hardtop with a VIN starting with BS

Then out of that total they list each option by percentage like E55 (340 engine) being 60.6%  or 5675 X 60.6% = 3439 BS23's & BS27's

A21 Rubber front bumper is only 2.6 % or 148 cars

N96 Shaker hood is 14.4% or 817 BS23's & BS27's That's ALL engine convertible and hardtop with a VIN starting with BS

NOBODY can tell you out of the 817 shakers how many were with each engine....

Some people like to make assumptions using the number we do know, and that may give you a large ballpark to play in, but it won't be accurate...

For Example WE know there was 1168 383 auto made, we know 14.4% of ALL cudas had shakers, but one could think 14.4% of 383 autos had shakers, but that's not how it works. that would make you think yours was 1 of 168.....but that's likely high.

Thanks...very interesting!  I have both the A21 Rubber front bumper AND the Shaker, so from what you're telling me the car is no more than 1 of 148 cars (based on the bumper alone) and definitely fewer than that number because it also has the Shaker hood.  (US sales of course)
Did I mention it also came with rear louvers?  I understand those are a rare option, so we may be talking double or even single digit production figures.
Where can I find that options and accessory report for 1971 Cudas...?  it might be possible to extrapolate even further based on some of the other options on the car i.e. leather, road lights, front spoiler, etc.

Even if I can't get an exact number, it gets me close.
Thanks for the lead by the way on Labrecque Autocraft here in CT.  I spoke with Mike the owner at length...nice, knowledgable guy.  I think I'm going to have him do some of the restoration, mainly body and paint.

[anlauto]

Here's where I got my 1971 Barracuda options and Accessory Report, but it looks like he no longer sells them ?
http://galengovier.com/services/options-acc-pack/
Maybe somebody has a copy we could get posted up on here in our info section ?

Your car is definitely 1 of 1 with your options. That happens a lot in the Mopar world, but you could never use these reports to PROVE that claim with absolute certainty. As I said Chrysler's records don't work that way.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE....When you're talking with Mike again, be sure to tell him you got his name from me Alan Gallant ...I would love to here his reaction.  

[anlauto]

Here are some other percentage figures for the options listed on your tags. Looks like the 3:55 gears are the rarest option if I'm reading it correctly. Not everything is in the report.

J81-REAR SPOILER  13.9%
L34-ROAD LAMPS  26.3%
G36-DUAL PAINTED RACING MIRRORS  36.3%
J25-3SPD WIPERS  54.4%
J68-REAR LOUVERS  3.2%
A62-RALLY DASH  33.1%
B51-POWER BRAKES  42.7%
C16-CONSOLE  64.9%
C62-6-WAY ADJUSTABLE DRIVERS SEAT  4.7%
G15-TINTED WINDSHIELD  21.7%
V1X-BLACK VINYL ROOF  41.2%
A01-LIGHT PACKAGE 34.5%
A21-FRONT RUBBER BUMPER 2.6%
A36-3:55 AXLE PACKAGE  2.4%
A45-SPOILER PACKAGE  6.3%
EV2-TOR-RED PAINT  11.2%
SRX9-BLACK LEATHER INTERIOR  13.1%
N96-SHAKER HOOD  14.4%
R35-AM/FM RADIO  12.5%

This is a percentage of 5675 total BS23 & BS27 'Cudas . That's ALL engines convertible and hardtop with a VIN starting with BS

[Matt M]

Alan

Great information you provided in this thread. So interesting for one of the greatest muscle cars of all time.

I sold my soul and 71 Cuda for a swimming pool when I down sized and moved to FL
Jesus please forgive me.

[fuscobros]

Here are some other percentage figures for the options listed on your tags. Looks like the 3:55 gears are the rarest option if I'm reading it correctly. Not everything is in the report.

J81-REAR SPOILER  13.9%
L34-ROAD LAMPS  26.3%
G36-DUAL PAINTED RACING MIRRORS  36.3%
J25-3SPD WIPERS  54.4%
J68-REAR LOUVERS  3.2%
A62-RALLY DASH  33.1%
B51-POWER BRAKES  42.7%
C16-CONSOLE  64.9%
C62-6-WAY ADJUSTABLE DRIVERS SEAT  4.7%
G15-TINTED WINDSHIELD  21.7%
V1X-BLACK VINYL ROOF  41.2%
A01-LIGHT PACKAGE 34.5%
A21-FRONT RUBBER BUMPER 2.6%
A36-3:55 AXLE PACKAGE  2.4%
A45-SPOILER PACKAGE  6.3%
EV2-TOR-RED PAINT  11.2%
SRX9-BLACK LEATHER INTERIOR  13.1%
N96-SHAKER HOOD  14.4%
R35-AM/FM RADIO  12.5%

This is a percentage of 5675 total BS23 & BS27 'Cudas . That's ALL engines convertible and hardtop with a VIN starting with BS

This is great!  Thank you. 
Do you know the difference between the A33 Track Pak w/3.54 Ratio option vs. the A36 Performance Axle Package w/3.55 Ratio? 

YES...I DID tell Mike you referred me to him.  He knew right away who you were and said he used to see you often at English Town...I actually ran my 68 LeMans 400 with a turbo 400 and 12 bolt 4.10 there a few times...mid 12s on slicks!  Saw Don Garlits flip his dragster there in 1986.   https://www.nhra.com/videos/2017/don-garlits-1986-englishtown-blowover
Mike said to say hi and hasn't seen you in a while.  Said thanks for the referral as well.

[71vert340]

 Here's a couple of items concerning shaker e-bodies you might be interested in. The first is a page taken form a 1990 Chrysler Power magazine. I'm certain this isn't the most accurate as it doesn't include Canadian ordered E-bodies.  Here's a website for the registry of shaker Challengers you may find interesting. It shows the shaker cars were not common. I don't know if there's a registry for shaker Cudas.  https://340shakerrt.wixsite.com/dcshakers#
Terry

[6bblgt]

the STANDARD engine in a 1971 'cuda is the 383HP "SUPER COMMANDO", Holley 4bbl equipped & painted "street HEMI orange"
&
the 340 4bbl was a $44 OPTION
the 440 6bbl was a $253 OPTION
the 426 HEMI was a $883 OPTION

the SHAKER hood was included with the HEMI OPTION & extra cost on the other engines

the above numbers show that the SHAKER 'cuda production was similar 1970 VS. 1971 (~700 hoods) but 1970 'cudas outnumber 1971 'cudas 3 to 1 (so they are more "common" on a '71)

4bbl SHAKERS are extremely RARE on a '70 'cuda

and here are some WAG "huge ballpark" 1971 SHAKER 'cuda numbers for @anlauto 383 (~150) * 340 (~400) * 440+6 (~150)

also, the 383 SHAKER 'cudas probably had the lowest survival rate because they were ONLY 383s & more likely to be parted for "valuable" parts in the '80s, '90s, etc. 

[6bblgt]

This is great!  Thank you. 
Do you know the difference between the A33 Track Pak w/3.54 Ratio option vs. the A36 Performance Axle Package w/3.55 Ratio?

1971 'cuda:
the A36 package is an 8-3/4" rear axle with 3.55:1 gears - available with: 340, 383, 440+6 automatic & HEMI automatic

the A33 package is a DANA60 (9-3/4") rear axle with 3.54:1 gears - available with 440+6 4-speed & HEMI 4-speed ONLY

[6bblgt]

& MOPARS are real easy to get to that 1 of 1 "mindset" **** 1971 'cuda hardtops (BS23) 6,228 built

10 engine/transmission drivetrain combinations X 18 exterior paint codes X 16 available interiors* = 2,880 combinations, so you only need 2 YES or NO OPTIONS (sure-grip, fog lights, tinted glass, etc.) to exceed  10,000 possible combinations

* I understand all interiors don't work with all exterior colors (I doubt there are any "In-Violet" cars with tan leather interiors) but there are a few vinyl top choices to increase the combo numbers