Live from SEMA: MOPAR Fans Get a ‘Cuda
Oct 30, 2007 at 6:14PM
LAS VEGAS — Welcome to SEMA 2007. We’re here at the MOPAR Speedshop display, home of the Dodge, Jeep and Chrysler offerings, bringing you the Dodge-related action (it’s so crowded at this show, were actually typing this on the front seat of a rally-style Jeep on display just to find a place to work.)
We’ll have a full wrap tomorrow of the fun around town (including more of the Dakota MX Warrior), but for now — in the spirit of all the MOPAR fans who are eagerly awaiting Challenger’s debut — enjoy a look at the 2008 Concept ’Cuda. It’s been one of the stars of the show so far, creating a whisper campaign in some circles as to if this meant a return of the crowd favorite nameplate. Well, we can tell you it’s just a show car. It was custom made for MOPAR to display at the show, created from a Charger SRT8. It has a 6.1 HEMI, pistol-grip shifter mated to a six-speed autostick and (this being SEMA) rolls on 22s.
No doubt, it’s a looker and should give a bit of pleasure to those who have chanted its name on this very site. Plus, there’s a peek at the Challenger Stock concept…the cousin of the Orange.
More to come…
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29 Comments
Build the cuda’,stay away from the 71-72 tail,the one they are showing looks waay too much like a m …..[I cant even type that,i hate that brand].They should offer the twin hood scoops,aar hood and the shaker hood for the big motors[ if they offer one].And of course more impact colors than challenger has.Also add the rear window louver option,the more options [Not packages]that you can choose from the better.That way you can customise and make it your car,not just a cookie cutter car. Individuality is empowering and the american way.Go mopar
I wouldn’t be doing chrysler any favors if I didn’t put in my 2 cents. Please build the cuda!!! I was born in ‘75 didn’t get my license until ‘91. My dream car was phased out before I was ever born. Please give me the chance to order a restyling of car I have always wanted, a 1971 hemicuda. P.S. I am a chevy man but an affordable fish would get me into mopars corner for sure.
This shaker scoop was made by Danko Reproductions Inc for the new Chargers and Magnums (Danko Direct) and is sold on Ebay .
or at www.dankoreproductions.com
After being the once proud owner of a 70 AAR Cuda,i would purchase one or maybe two cuda’s
I still build mopars for racing and have a Hemi-Daytona truck and Caravan but what’s missing is a “CUDA”
im visiting the site today to check out the charger info,it was great to see the cuda,i think the major car co.’s should realize that there is a market for retro-stlye muscle cars.alot of car guys my age were yo young and missed the old cars,now unless you have major money,you can’t touch an old school car.So thanks for bringing back some cars that we can appreciate,but one bit of “talk on the street”advise -bring back the retro colors,even if its done as a option package,lets relive a little.
when your done building the cuda how about a 64 330 two door sedan.
THE CAR NEEDS TO BE A 71 CUDA. AT CHRYSLER, YOU DO REALIZE THAT A 71 WITH THE RIGHT OPTIONS IS WORTH $200,000. TO 2 MILLION DOLLARS? IF YOU WERE TO BUILD THIS CAR I WOULD SELL MY FERRARI FOR GARAGE SPACE AND BUY 2. DESIGN THIS CAR AS A CONVERTIBLE, SO THAT IT WILL WORK AND PERFORM BETTER. OH YES, I FORGOT TO MENTION, A COMPANY IS BUILDING A COPY OF THE 71 HARDTOP AND GETTING OVER $70,000. PER COPY (UNDER THE BRAND NAME PREDATOR). SO WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?
you guy’s need to build this car between the challenger and the cuda you’ll be on top in sales!!!!
The Cuda that I want is is the one from Phantasm, a 71 with a 340, all black, and a pistol shifter. That is the car that could drive me away from European makes such as BMW. Give me something like that.
Also, incorporate the exhuast tips into the bumper…..!!!
Please tell us whether Dodge is going to build the Cuda. Dodge has to take advantage of the Cuda name, but it has to be done right. I think the concept is 95 Percent there, it just needs some fine tunning on the exterior (like the gas cap & front grill) But Dodge cannot & should not pass up on the International name recognition that the Cuda brings to game. Of all the muscle cars, the most admired & respected is the Cuda & Challenger. Yes people like Mustangs & Camaros, but when you ask them which is the best, it’s the Cuda. And that is evident by the fact that Cuda’s & Challenger have the highest value at muscle car auctions. Now that Chrysler is under new ownership and trying to attract new customers to its brand, nothing could be better than all the free press (and increased sales) if they bring back the Cuda. I’ll take mine in Sublime Green, so I can park it next to my 2009 426 Hemi Orange Challenger.
Like I’ve always said since Plymounth went away - Mopar - should be the name for a muscle car nameplate and bring back a Road Runner! Otherwise make Plymouth come back for this instance. I really like the Cuda concept tail lights but make the ‘71 grill but stay with one head light on each side.
Also, get away from the orange color for the concept as people that are not Mopar enthusiasts will always compare it to the new Challie.
Nice. Go ahead and build it!
Lacks a lot of the focal points that the Challenger has. The first thing I noticed was the gas cap in the back looks like a ‘70 Ford Mustang gas cap. The 70 Cuda had it hidden behind the license plate- do that instead. The grille is from a 72 Cuda and not as interesting as the 70 Cuda or better yet the 71Cuda with the fish gills in the fenders.
I like the direction, but it should stay focused on one model year not a hodge podge of 70-74 Cuda body cues.
As a previous owner of a 1970 aar cuda,i would love to see the cuda name return with the challenger. This concept car looks just like the 1970 cuda and that’s the way the new ones should look. 1970 i believe was the best year for sales for the cuda name. It also demands some of the highest resale value for cars today. Build them and i will buy one to put in my garage. It’s about time for their return.
As a previous owner of the ‘70 HemiCuda that used to dominate the local track, please build it! I had a 67 Formula S Barracuda and the 70 HemiCuda and sold the HemiCuda for 100X more than I paid for it and still regret it. I am a sucker for the single headlight grille and the shaker hood scoop. Leave the quad headlights for the Challenger, stay true to the 70 Cuda.
I personlly would be willing to pay more for the Cuda. I paid $3645.00 for my first HemiCuda when you could buy a new grocery getter for under $2K. Put the most power you can stuff under the hood and make it the dominator that it once was. Chrysler HemiCuda sounds ok too, just build it and we will buy it.
Way to go MOPAR! What a great idea to resurrect the Cuda. The car looks good but we need better pictures. I have to agree that you used the wrong grille, I also am partial to the 71.I would assume all options available in the Challenger would crossover the way they did in 70-71. The 1-2 punch of a Challenger AND a Cuda to choose from would be too much!I will be buying A Challenger but I will wait until the final decision is made on this car first. Build it!
Plymouth is DEAD! but that doesn’t mean the Cuda has to also!!!!Chrysler PLEASE BUILD THIS CAR - But with better thought to the body than cutting up a Charger - Anyway back to begging!!! BUILD it and we will buy it! Oh yeah and ditch the merged grill of the 70& 72-74 it has to have quad head lights and incorporate a 71ish grill. Ask Foose his looked good.
The car in this article looks more a Ford Mustang than the car I’ve been seeing on the front page. I hope they are not building the one in this article.
CUDDA, SHMUDDA! charger srt 8 or challenger, or nothing; gimme mopar or gimme DEATH!
Don’t get too worked up over this car. It\’s NOT an official Chrysler vehicle and was NOT built by Chrysler. It was built by Metalcrafters using a Charger SRT-8.
I can appreciate the amount of work that Metalcrafters put into this, but the body looks like hell. It would have turned out a lot better if they could have used a Challenger body instead of having to cut up a Charger to make one.
Chrysler Barracuda does NOT sound right, BUT Chrysler “Hemi Cuda” or Chrsyler “Cuda” is music to my ears. I agree with the comments below espically on the interior… needs re-work much more sportier and less frills (I picture the interior quite similar to the Challenger in black w/ color inserts and a stronger looking pistol grip b/c I will be ripping the gears on the manual tranny.
Chrysler Barracuda . . . it doesn’t have quite the same ring to it as ‘Plymouth Barracuda’, but I could get used to it in time. It would be cool if a Chrysler ‘Cuda was built that was similar to the Challenger, only smaller, lighter, cheaper. It would appeal to the folks who think that the Challenger is too big. I’m a sucker for the quad headlight front-end of the challenger and the ‘71 cuda. If a Chrysler Cuda is built, give me the option of a quad-headlight facade & cheese grater grille and I’ll have to make room for one in my garage - next to the challenger of course.
WHOA!! WHOA!! WHOA!!
Wait a minute hear. So we get two new muscle cars? Ohhhhh My God im in heaven. Please lord of car gods build this car too. Now i can expect this to be the cheaper of the two being not the challenger. Right? The ‘Cuda was the cheaper car right? The stripped down version of the Challenger. Correct me if im wrong. But anyway build it with all the hemi options. Peace
mmm. . . there’s no interior picture up there. There’s one on autoblog I think. . .
Please let the Challenger interior look better than that!!! Seats with exterior paint matching inserts will be acceptable too!
I thought a ‘Cuda was a Plymouth. And Plymouth is no more.
Amen!
Two words. “Build It”