The video discusses the 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda, a special one-year homologation car built for racing in the SCCA Trans Am series. It highlights its unique features, including a high-revving 340 cubic inch V8 engine, handling upgrades, and distinctive exterior design. The AAR Cuda was a street-legal version of the race car and is now a sought-after collector's car. The video provides details about its performance and market value.
1. The American Racing scene in the late 1960s to early 1970s involved various American automakers competing in different types of racing, including track and road course driving in the SCCA Trans Am series.
2. The 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda was an iconic race car that had racing in its DNA from birth, designed for SCCA racing series.
3. The AAR Cuda was built on the e-body Mopar chassis, sharing it with the Dodge Challenger, but it was smaller and more nimble than the Challenger.
4. To be eligible for racing, Plymouth built 2,700 AAR Cudas for street use, each equipped with a 340 cubic inch small block engine making around 340 to 350 horsepower.
5. The AAR Cuda featured a manual transmission with an iconic pistol grip shifter and had optional 391 gears for those seeking shorter gearing.
6. The car had distinctive exterior features, including side exit exhaust, front canards, a functional hood scoop, and a ducktail spoiler. It also had unique side stripe design and matte black accents.
7. In terms of performance, the 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda could do 0-60 mph in about 5.8 seconds and run the quarter mile in around 14.47 seconds.
8. Despite not performing exceptionally well in races, the AAR Cuda left a mark on the industry, and around 1,500 AAR Cudas exist in the official registry today.
9. The current market value for a 1970 AAR Cuda in good condition is approximately $84,000, with exceptional, low-mileage examples reaching into six figures.