NASH BRIDGES 'cudas

[6bblgt]

25 years later 

this recent article (12/31/20) about the NASH BRIDGES 'cudas is odd timing with currently two available for sale   
https://www.motorious.com/articles/features-3/nash-bridges-plymouth-hemi-cuda/
I guess facts are difficult to find and some "claims" are from Fantasy Island

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/plymouth/cuda/2454533.html
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-Plymouth-Barracuda-/193835352007?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

from the beginning there were 4 cars built for NASH BRIDGES as documented in MOPAR MUSCLE February 1997
2 were 1970 340 'cudas & 2 were 1971 318 Barracudas
an additional car was acquired for a later episode, a prop 1972 Barracuda hardtop (with its roof cut off) was "blown up"

the show had 6 seasons:  1996 - 2001

the inspiration for the cars to be used in NASH BRIDGES was Otis Chandler's 1971 HEMI 'cuda as pictured on the dust cover for the book about his collection: American Muscle - due to lighting the car does not appear to be FY1, but this was the desired "LOOK"

the blue 340 car was the #1 car for season #1, by the #6 season the yellow 340 car was in the best condition & the #1 on screen car - when the show ended Don Johnson kept this car (never restored it) & sold it at Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale, AZ January 2003

all 4 convertibles have been "restored" & currently have HEMI power - in the 2000s Finer Details restored one & Totally Auto restored another (anyone know which cars these two companies specifically restored?)

[1 Wild R/T]

There's clearly info missing from that breakdown... A guy I knew (Ed Hagerty) sold them a 71 318 vert that was originally FY1.. He took me over to SF & I met a few of the people involved...

Also Ed Briggs sold them tons of parts (Lotta rare stuff like real shaker hoods) & did some work on the cars....

[6bblgt]

thanks @1 Wild R/T

I have pics of a couple of the fender tags but can't find them - the last car on the list must be the one from Ed, the other '71 was a clone 440+6 in FC7 when purchased for NASH BRIDGES

[1 Wild R/T]

The one from ED was a POS... But today compared to the stuff I've seen sell on Ebay would be a great start....  Ed owned Deal Auto Wrecking in Richmond Ca... Guess what the future of that car was.... 

[mccannix]

Jeff Bobst from Iowa was intrumental in securing and helping put together a couple of the cars for the filming as well.

[Spikedog08]

That was a great show although most of the time I just watched for the car!   Made the show for sure!

[autoxcuda]

Jeff Bobst from Iowa was intrumental in securing and helping put together a couple of the cars for the filming as well.

I believe he did the cars for the pilot. Not sure if he worked on them in one or two iterations.

I remember when they went to Julius's shop and we got to check them out. They were pieced together for sure. But for just a pilot, they are not going to invest a lot. After the show got picked up, Julius put crate 360's and sorted them out more.

I remember once one or more was sent down from San Francisco. It had a gnarly butchered in frame put in underneath it. More than subframe connectors. They were beating the hell out of the cars for the show. When the car handler (hacker) in SF got over his head or needed detail work done, they'd send them to Julius.

[autoxcuda]

I've seen some comments on wondering why these cars weren't left just like they left the show...most now have complete restos with other motors

The answer is...

...The same reason you need a mortician after a horrible mutilated death.

The guardrail frame they put under the one convertible I saw was not preventive measure. That was done only AFTER they bent the entire chassis.

[YYZ]

Jeff Bobst from Iowa was intrumental in securing and helping put together a couple of the cars for the filming as well.

Jeff had certainly put together the first car -- the other 3 were done at Ultimate Rides and I sold Alan Foxx the Tuff wheels and rallye dashes for those cars as well as some other minor components.

Seems like a lifetime ago now...

[larry4406]

What's the story of the one vert with a '72 grille?

[Burdar]

Jeff Bobst from Iowa was intrumental in securing and helping put together a couple of the cars for the filming as well.

Jeff lives about an hour away from me.  I've known him all my life.  When I was young, we used to go to church with his parents.  I got my high school senior pictures taken with his dad's 55 Chevy.

I remember buying a couple Challenger fenders from Jeff sometime in the early/mid 90's.  He showed me pictures he'd taken of the Nash Bridges chase scene from the pilot.  He was on hand when it was filmed.  He told me that he(and a couple other guys) built three cars in less than a week for the show.  They were just thrown together to look good on camera.  So I took that as meaning he helped build the first three cars.

[Jay Bee]

What's the story of the one vert with a '72 grille?

From the original post...

an additional car was acquired for a later episode, a prop 1972 Barracuda hardtop (with its roof cut off) was "blown up"

[72hemi]

This show really got me into Mopars and I love to see information continue to pop up about the cars. One day I will own a 71 hemi cuda convertible Nash Bridges clone. Such a cool car and a fun show.

[davy442]

Yes, the article from mopar muscle 2/97 is a great article.

Of the two cars currently for sale

https://www.hemmings.com/classifieds/cars-for-sale/plymouth/cuda/2454533.html
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1971-Plymouth-Barracuda-/193835352007?_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49292

The hemmings car is Nash #3,   s/n BS27H0B203686 . currently in AZ.  It was a stunt car, and I think was the car used in the pilot episode where coming down the hill, Nash pulls in front of the bad guys car, slams on his brakes to stop the car from hitting pedestrians.

The ebay car ad does not state which # car, but after talking to the guy who placed the ad, not the owner, he stated that the car was purple when purchased for the show, which makes me believe this car is Nash #2,  s/n BH27G1B282953, and I think was used in a lot of the chase scenes.  I believe the gentlemen who first purchased this car after the show, is still the current owner, and had this car restored by Finer Details.  Of note is that this car now has the elastomeric front bumper, when during the filming of the shows, I believe it had a painted steel bumper, of which Nash #3  and  Nash #4  also had.  I believe this car is in Indiana.

Nash #1,  s/n BS27H0B163146, was damaged during shooting the pilot episode, when chasing the bad guys down the hill, the car bottomed out, severely damaging the front suspension / cross member and 340 engine.  The suspension / K-frame was repaired, and a crate 360 was installed. Following this, I believe this car was used for the still shots, and also for most non-chase cruising scenes.  As this car was the only one with the elastomeric front bumper, when watching the episodes, you can identify this car if you get a glimpse of the front bumper..  Since being auctioned off, this car has changed hands several times, and is the one restored by Totally Automotive.  It currently is in Ohio.

Nash #4  BH27G1B415179 , was I believe first used in the episode where the female cop jumps off the building ? parking garage, landing on Nash's car.  I believe this car was beat on probably the most.  Don't know where it is.

[JS29]

  @davy442  Great first post! You might want to go to the new members thread and tell us about your self.