Few vehicles in Mopar history carry the same weight, mystique, and outright presence as a 1971 Plymouth HEMI® ’Cuda Convertible. And in January, one of the most significant examples of them all will cross the auction block at Mecum Kissimmee 2026.
Finished in Sno-White (GW3) exterior paint and known since new as “The White Elephant,” this car is the first of just 12 HEMI ’Cuda Convertibles produced for the 1971 model year, which also marked the final year of ’Cuda convertible production altogether. Even more staggering, only five of those twelve were built with the TorqueFlite automatic transmission—making this example a true outlier among outliers.
This ’Cuda was built on September 9, 1970, at the Hamtramck Assembly Plant in Michigan, and it remains a matching-numbers car today. Under the Shaker hood sits its original 7.0-liter (426 cubic-inch) HEMI V8, factory rated at 425 horsepower, backed by a A727 TorqueFlite automatic transmission and the desirable A36 Performance Axle Package with a 3.55 Sure Grip differential. Power steering and power brakes were also factory-equipped, making this HEMI monster surprisingly streetable by early-1970s standards.
The exterior presentation is pure top-tier E-Body. The Sno-White paint is paired with a painted grille, N96 Shaker hood with J45 hood pins, chrome bumpers, chrome fender gills, and bright rocker and tail panel moldings. The car rides on color-matched steel wheels with small-diameter hubcaps, keeping the look period-correct and understated—at least by HEMI ’Cuda standards.
Inside, the car features a black bucket seat interior and a P37 power-operated convertible top. The dash retains its R26 AM radio, complete with microphone and cassette recorder, a rare and fascinating period option. N42 chrome exhaust tips finish things off out back.
This ’Cuda underwent a high-level restoration in 2003 by Restorations by Julius in Chatsworth, California, with noted Mopar restorer Julius Steuer at the helm. During subsequent restoration work, the iconic billboard stripes were added, giving the car the aggressive visual identity most enthusiasts associate with the ’Cuda nameplate today.
Documentation is extensive and includes a partial broadcast sheet, original carpet and door tags, discovery and restoration photos, a copy of a 1977 Kansas title, and two complete Dave Wise Elite Validation Reports, further cementing the car’s authenticity and provenance.
Set to cross the Mecum Kissimmee auction block on Saturday, January 17, 2026, this 1971 Plymouth HEMI ’Cuda Convertible carries a pre-sale estimate of $2.75 million to $3.25 million. Given its status as 1 of 5 built with an automatic transmission, its early build position, and its exceptional documentation, it stands as one of the most important E-Body Mopars ever offered publicly.
For collectors, this isn’t just a car—it’s rolling American muscle history at its absolute peak.
1971 Plymouth HEMI® ’Cuda Convertible Image Gallery:
