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E-Bodies Cuda & Challenger (sponsor: ROSEVILLE MOPARTS) => Your Restoration project (ROSEVILLE MOPARTS) => Topic started by: E74cuda on April 29, 2020, 08:56:59 AM

Title: 1971 cuda convertible
Post by: E74cuda on April 29, 2020, 08:56:59 AM
I picked up this 1971 cuda convertible a few months ago. It's an unrestored car with a 30 or so year old exterior repaint. Ordered as a Y13 dealer demo it has some pretty good options such as Curious Yellow exterior, black interior and top, power steering, power front disc brakes, air conditioning, power top, light group, AM/FM radio, luggage rack and a few more. Original standard gauge with clock along with column shift. A late build car with it's complete original drive train intact a few build sheets and original paperwork that goes back to the original owner and dealership. I'm going to clean it up, make a few changes and put some miles on it.
Title: Re: 1971 cuda convertible
Post by: E74cuda on April 29, 2020, 09:10:49 AM
The first thing on the list was to convert it to a floor shift. Kind of crazy buy I think I was the first person to take the original carpet out of the car. There was several screws and other hardware under the carpet. The hard core guys would probably cringe but the floor shift is just much better looking to me. I did use all original parts for the swap.
Title: Re: 1971 cuda convertible
Post by: E74cuda on April 29, 2020, 09:29:57 AM
Someone sprayed the trunk with Chevy type spatter paint. I stripped it down to the original paint, cleaned and refinished in the correct color. I reused the original exhaust hanger plates along with cleaning up the rear harness and tail light housings. I did a little work to the engine compartment also but it still needs more.
Title: Re: 1971 cuda convertible
Post by: anlauto on April 29, 2020, 09:32:52 AM
Very nice car :drooling: I'm not sure I could have changed it to floor shift, but like you said, it's much better looking and to each their own  :drinkingbud:

What other changes are in store ? Billboards ? Shaker ? Spoilers? Rubber bumpers ? :)
Title: Re: 1971 cuda convertible
Post by: Scooter on April 29, 2020, 10:34:43 AM
Great looking car! My mindset on hot rods has always been "Burger King.. have it your way". If floor shift is what you want... make it so.  :bigthumb:
Title: Re: 1971 cuda convertible
Post by: RzeroB on April 29, 2020, 12:54:25 PM
Nice!  :bigthumb:  Looks like the car Jason was selling ... I assume it has to be the same car??
Title: Re: 1971 cuda convertible
Post by: cudaize on April 29, 2020, 03:41:11 PM
That Cuda convertible was owned by a Gentleman in the Emmaus/Macungie PA area from about 1978 until about 10-15 years ago.  I think Wendell bought it from the original owner who was a lady school teacher form Maryland or Virginia.  Here's a youtube video of Wendell driving it and his wife narrating.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFohdSi4gTU

I wouldn't be surprised if the paint job is 40+ years old.  I've known the car since about 1983 and has mostly been the same.  Wendell really enjoyed driving the car and having fun with it.

Good luck with it.

Mike Afflerbach
Title: Re: 1971 cuda convertible
Post by: cudaize on April 29, 2020, 03:45:05 PM
Here's a picture of it from about somewhere in the neighborhood of 1983-1986.  This was taken at Don Rook's Farm in Pleasant Valley, PA.  He had a party at his house every father's day and it drew about 300 or so cars.  Free beer and food for all.  Burnouts in the street.

Title: Re: 1971 cuda convertible
Post by: Matt M on April 29, 2020, 05:01:36 PM
Eric

Very cool your getting it cleaned up and the way you want it.
Awesome history with photos and video

Matt
Title: Re: 1971 cuda convertible
Post by: nsmall on April 29, 2020, 10:07:28 PM
I like that video from 1998.  Very cool car. :bradsthumb:
Title: Re: 1971 cuda convertible
Post by: E74cuda on April 30, 2020, 08:48:10 AM
Quote from: anlauto on April 29, 2020, 09:32:52 AM
Very nice car :drooling: I'm not sure I could have changed it to floor shift, but like you said, it's much better looking and to each their own  :drinkingbud:

What other changes are in store ? Billboards ? Shaker ? Spoilers? Rubber bumpers ? :)


Planning on adding black billboards. I will go as far as adding some options that a car could have actually had from the factory. So with A/C, no shaker. I also discovered that the car is equipped with S74 which is quick ratio power steering. That includes a T/A power steering box which is on the car.