4. 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda
With its unique set of four headlights, the ’71 Cuda packs a punch under any of its unusual paint jobs (see Sassy Grass Green). It is also one of the most valuable American muscle cars for collectors, owing to its low production/sales when it was released. It was nearing the end of the muscle car age, but the Cuda proved it could take on the great muscle cars of the era with its exceptional style.
Featuring a 350 HP 426 V-8 engine, the 71’ Cuda had moved on from the Valliant body style featured by earlier models to a new, sleeker body that had a new grill, taillights, seat, and trim. It also included four signature gills on the front fenders just below the hood.
For the ’71 model, only 13 Hemi Cudas were built, and only seven were sold in the U.S. At a recent auction, one went for 3.5 million USD. Needless to say, this is one of the most sought after muscle cars of all! And word has it that Dodge will be releasing an updated model with a V-6 engine in the 2019 model year. But we know it won’t hold a candle to the ’71 Hemi Cuda.
Engine: 426 Hemi V-8 – Top speed: 150 mph –
Quarter mile time: 14 seconds – 0-60 mph time: 6 seconds