1971 Plymouth Barracuda

Vipercuda Convertible

Viper V10

Manual

Clear

Gasoline

RK Motors Charlotte 5527 Lakeview Road, Charlotte, NC, 28269, US Phone : (704) 596-5211 Email : information@RKMotorsCharlotte.com Viper 'Cuda Convertible 8.0 Liter Viper V10 6 Speed Engine swaps have been around from the earliest days of motoring. More sophisticated hot rodders pioneered chassis swaps to get more performance and less weight. But rare is the car that can so seamlessly blend two completely different vehicles as seamlessly as this 1971 Plymouth Barracuda convertible. You see, that body is just an illusion, because underneath it's a 2001 Dodge Viper, complete with a thundering 450 hrosepower V10, 6-speed manual transmission, and fully independent suspension. What's truly exceptional, however, is how beautifully built the entire car is, and the engineering required is truly mind-boggling. Why, just for starters, note that it's now a two-seater, just like the Viper, although the proportions of the 'Cuda body remain unchanged. How cool is that? Starting out with a clean, complete 318-powered '71 'Cuda convertible, Time Machines in Hudson, Florida was contracted to mate the two different vehicles, having experience in such things after building the award-winning "Six Shooter." The body was gutted and stripped, with the floors removed but saving the front subframe, rockers, and radiator cradle. After the conversion (which we'll talk more about in a few moments), the entire body was refinished to show condition using 100% original 'Cuda sheetmetal and no fiberglass. Bright Viper Red paint was appropriately selected to cover the radical new E-body, and the two-stage urethane looks about a mile deep, even out in the bright sun. If you're going to build a car like this, there's no point in keeping it subtle. Notice the trick details like the custom-made billboards which feature a Viper logo in place of the usual engine size designation. And the forward-tilting hood is both a tribute to the original Viper setup and an extremely trick way to attract a TON of attention at any car show. Open this sucker up and you'll be able to sell admission tickets. All the original chrome and trim remain, including the freshly plated bumpers, as well as items like the door handles and side gills. Bright stainless was polished up and reinstalled around the windshield, and the stock hood was upgraded with a set of "Viper Powered" badges from an SRT-10 pickup. The original grille has been repainted in the stock argent silver, and the blacked-out tail panel looks factory fresh, and is perhaps the only stealth part of the entire build-there's not even a stock 'Cuda badge back there. The overall look is incredibly stock, yet extremely impressive. Now, about that chassis swap. The foundation of this car is a 23,000-mile 2001 Viper, which was purchased from X2 Collision, who specializes in wrecked Vipers. They delivered this fully intact chassis sans bodywork, to Time Machines for the conversion. For the most part, the conversion was straightforward, but the tricky part was getting the A-pillars lined up, which is why Time Machines fabricates a special all-steel dashboard to make that transition, and special brackets to mount the stock 'Cuda sheetmetal fenders. But otherwise the Viper mechanicals made the translation 100% intact. The drivetrain is completely stock-with 450 horsepower on tap, do you really need upgrades? That also ensures that it idles, drives, and behaves like a stocker, which means easy driving with no worries. Look closely and you'll see just how OEM the conversion really is-note factory hose clamps, air filter assembly, and even cables actuating the dual throttle bodies. Custom sheetmetal panels were fabricated to frame the V10 in the 'Cuda's engine bay, and it's obvious that there was a ton of fabrication involved, seeing how the engine is snuggled up under the windshield for improved weight distribution. It fires up like a stock Viper, idles perfectly, and is happy to drive in rush hour traffic without getting cranky or overheating, all signs of an OEM, not a homemade project. One of this car's coolest tricks is the electrically-operated hood, which uses a massive actuator to effortlessly open and tilt the assembly forward, an extra step that few other customizers would have pursued. The chassis is also from the Viper, and features a bulletproof Tremec 6-speed manual transmission and a heavy-duty 3.07 rear end that can handle massive holeshots and not break a sweat. The Viper already uses a fabricated tube frame, so grafting it to the 'Cuda's unibody was relatively easy. Custom floors were created to fit the body tightly over the frame, and the suspension was fortified with a set of Aldan coilover shocks, but otherwise it would look familiar to any Chrysler tech at the dealership. The exhaust is handled by a custom dual setup that uses glasspacks and resonators that dump out just under the rear bumper, and bystanders will undoubtedly do a double-take when they hear 10 cylinders fire up. More than two years were invested in getting the chassis setup exactly correct, and today it drives like a stocker with no questionable handling, no bone-rattling ride, just a smooth, fully engineered piece that can cruise like a factory-built car. It even rides on stock Viper SRT 6-lug wheels, 18 inches in the front and 19 inches in the rear, that wear 275/35/18 front and 335/30/19 rear Michelin Pilots. As you can imagine, the interior was a big challenge, but the transformation from 5-passenger to 2-seater is seamless. Time Machines fabricated a custom all-steel dashboard that not only houses the original Viper gauges, but provides the right setback for the engine and allows the interior proportions to be adjusted to fit those two Viper bucket seats. The transition between the dash and door panels is especially well done, blending Viper and 'Cuda shapes until you can't even see where one ends and the other begins. The dash is very driver-oriented and recalls the Viper with its simple leather-wrapped surfaces and white-faced gauges, and the mileage shown is on the original Viper drivetrain. The power window and lock switches were relocated to the console, and the Viper's stubby shifter protrudes just enough to make the shifts. And there's just nothing like the power of an OEM climate control system, which delivers effective heat and A/C that no vintage or retrofit system could ever match. A new Pioneer AM/FM/CD stereo has been fitted to the dash, with speakers in the rear area that has been completely resculpted to eliminate the back seat, yet still provide a sleek top-down profile. A stock black convertible top operates as it should, and all four windows seal up tightly. The trunk has been upholstered to match, and houses electronics for the stereo system. This is a well-known car, having appeared in several magazines including the February 2011 issue of "Mopar Action."This is an extremely impressive car that has been professionally engineered and built to the highest standards. It will run the tires off a stock Hemi 'Cuda, and handles like a Viper, which is no mean feat. With OEM-grade mechanicals that will last virtually forever and the ability to be serviced at any Chrysler dealership in the world, it's a no-compromises car that encompasses the best of both worlds. Expensive? Maybe. But it's still a fraction of the construction cost. Go price a 'Cuda convertible and a Viper, then get back to us. Pro-touring has never been this accessible, and if you're the kind of guy who wants something nobody else has, this is your E-ticket ride. Call today! FACTS & FIGURES Year : 1971 Mileage : 40319 VIN : Transmission Type : 6 Speed Manual Type of Vehicle Title : Clear Engine : Viper V10 Primary Color : Red Interior Color : Black About this auction & RK Motors Charlotte RK Motors Charlotte is single largest retailer of classic cars in the world. Our staff of 40 employees in Charlotte, NC and Mentor, Ohio love classic cars and serve our worldwide customer base with the best service in the business! Please note that all sales are binding and final. Our cars are sold "as-is" with no warranty expressed or implied. Please carefully read the terms & conditions of the sale before bidding. Winning this auction does not entitle you to come inspect the car and decide if you want to buy it, but obligates you to complete the purchase! A $1000.00 deposit via PayPal is due within 24 hours of the auction close ... NO EXCEPTIONS. We do not release our reserve prices, as this would be unfair to the other bidders, so please don't ask! Note that our cars are on display in our showroom, in national print ads, listed for sale on our website, and listed for sale in multiple, nationally known, online dealer showrooms at all times. Since our cars are for sale in a number of other mediums, we reserve the right to cancel the auction at any time. RK Motors Charlotte sells 40-50 cars each and every month to collectors worldwide. Each and every one of these cars is listed on Ebay, but only one sale, on average per month, actually occurs on Ebay. Accordingly, if you see a car you like, don't wait! Call us! When you see it disappear, it means that it sold to someone who saw it somewhere else. If you have ZERO feedback on Ebay, please call or email us to request our authority to bid on our vehicles. If you would like to make a sales visit or inspection, we would be happy to schedule a personal appointment with you. To do so, contact Frank Carroll at (704)999-9826 or (440)413-0871. For those of you who need to fly in, we can provide transportation to and from Charlotte Douglas International Airport. We can also provide accommodations within walking distance of our facility. For those international buyers, note that we've shipped cars to collectors and classic car fans world-wide for years. You can feel confident in our representations, and post-sale service. Our Transportation Manager, Jason Spruill, stands ready to help your transport & shipping needs. A common question we receive is: "do you accept trades"? We do accept trades, but will only consider #1 or #2 condition vehicles. If you would like us to review a trade, please send detailed pictures of the entire car, including the underside. Also send a detailed description which includes all specifications, facts, figures, history and documentation present with the car. Lastly, give us a clear idea of what you are seeking in trade value. Email information on your trade directly to Frank Carroll. Frank's email address is: Frank.Carroll@RKMotorsCharlotte.com. Our retail showroom and service facility is located in two side by side buildings in sunny Charlotte, NC. We usually have 200-250 incredible cars on display, and there's always something new. Feel free to make an appointment, stop in and meet our staff, and, more importantly, see the Greatest Showroom on Earth! Each and every one of our employees is an absolute car nut and we do this because we love cars! In addition to our retail showroom in Charlotte, NC, our sister company, RK Motors Restoration is a full restoration mechanical/assembly facility and a restoration body/paint shop, located in Mentor, Ohio. We perform complete restorations for classic car fans around the globe. RKM restored cars have won numerous national weekends and our cars won their classes at both the 2009 Mopar Nationals and 2009 Pontiac Nationals. We stand behind our work and value long-term relationships with our customers! For information on your restoration project, contact Mike Velek at (440)350-1638. Mike's email address is: mike.velek@RKMotorsRestoration.com Do you want your car customized? New wheels? Air conditioning? We have a full service shop staffed with veterans who have been there and done that we can give you what you want! For a quote on customizing or add-on products, contact Bill Swart at: (704)596-5211. Bill's direct email address is: william.swart@RKMotorsCharlotte.com. Check out our feedback from other customers who have purchased cars from us in the past. Here's what some of customers have to say: http://RKMotorsCharlotte.com/testimonials.htm. We pride ourselves on describing our cars accurately, and, our cars really do look better in person than in the pictures! Bid with confidence! For general information, call us at: (704)596-5211. Frank Carroll V.P. of Operations 5527 Lakeview Road Charlotte, NC, 28269 RK Motors Charlotte Phone : 704-596-5211 Fax : 704-596-5980 Mobile : (440)413-7118 frank.carroll@RKMotorsCharlotte.com Joseph Lewis Inventory Manager 5527 Lakeview Road Charlotte, NC, 28269 RK Motors Charlotte Phone : 704-596-5211 Fax : 704-596-5980 joseph.lewis@RKMotorsCharlotte.com Jason Spruill Transport Manager 5527 Lakeview Road Charlotte, NC, 28269 RK Motors Charlotte Phone : 704-596-5211 Fax : 704-596-5980 jason.spruill@RKMotorsCharlotte.com William Swart Service Manager 5527 Lakeview Road Charlotte, NC, 28269 RK Motors Charlotte Phone : 704-596-5211 joseph.carroll@RKMotorsCharlotte.com Quick Links Contact Seller View Our other Auctions Email to Friend RK Motors Garage Copyright © All rights reserved.