AUCTION: 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda 440 Rapid Transit Show Car

After being hidden from the public for over 50 years, a 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda show car will be auctioned at Mecum Indianapolis in mid-May. This ‘Cuda was one of four show cars that made up the “Rapid Transit System” (RTS) Caravan, which went all over the United States in the early 1970s to show off Plymouth’s performance cars.

This ‘Cuda is an early production model with a 7.2-liter (440 cubic-inch) V8 with a Six Barrel intake. It still has its custom metal bodywork and unique orange-and-white lacquer paint job. This paint job is fascinating because it was done to cover up the custom green-and-white paint job it had during the 1970 show-car season. The car has only been driven 967 miles and is being sold unrestored. The car is wearing its spare tire, as the Crager from the driver’s front is in the trunk.

Designed by Harry Bradley and built by Chuck Miller of Styline Custom in Detroit, the car features several unique tweaks, including a faux parachute below the rear bumper, twin chin spoilers on a rolled front pan, customized taillights, and side exhaust pipes. Its all-metal nose-cone insert is perhaps the car’s most recognizable feature.

After completing its show-car duties at the end of the 1971 season, this ‘Cuda disappeared from the public eye and remained out of it for over five decades. Its history is somewhat messy, but it was known to only a few elite collectors who knew that it was living in Detroit near the Ambassador Bridge. A famous Mopar collector, Steve Juliano, tried unsuccessfully to buy the car several times in the late 1990s.

The other three RTS Caravan custom cars were owned and restored by Juliano and were sold by Mecum in 2019 after his passing in 2018. The 1970 Plymouth Road Runner and Duster and the 1971 Road Runner sold for around $250,000, while the former went for $341,000. Mecum has not released an estimated sale price for this ‘Cuda, but given its rarity and unique features, it is expected to fetch a high price at auction.

The car is a real piece of American car history, and its upcoming auction will surely draw car fans worldwide. Its unique features and low mileage make it hard to find, and the fact that it is part of the Plymouth “Rapid Transit System” Caravan makes it even more valuable. It will be interesting to see how much it sells at auction and who gets to add this great car to their collection.

You can check out the recent Auto Archaeology video above for an in-depth look at the RTS 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda. You can see the car in its current condition and hear its history from its builder.

To learn more about the bidding process, you can visit Mecum.com.

Rapid Transit System 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda Image Gallery:

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