73/74 Cuda

[Karl Sheffer]

Well, here is my latest build which I was able to (almost) complete it in time to debut at NNL East. I was going for a mid to late 70's street machine look. The paint is Tamiya Orange (TS-12?) and the vinyl top was painted with Krylon Semi Gloss Black.

This build was to reflect someone who may have bought this car new in 73/74 and had some bucks to update it a little bit over the next few years. I built it as more of a canyon carver than a drag racer, hence the wide tires on all four corners. I'm blaming 70's Mopar quality for the alignment of that right fender striping!

The front license plate reflects a local speed shop (S & W, which is still in business in Spring City PA). The hood is a Bandit Resin piece. Both bumpers were replated using Alclad (rattlecan version) and I kept those hideous bumper guards for a period look. I tried to fix the headlights on the snap kit body by filing the surrounds and sinking the lenses in a bit. The rear license plate is a circa 1976 Pennsylvania Bicentennial plate (an old Scale Vanities item). See that chromed rearend cover peeking out?

The engine is supposed to represent the 340/360 that may have been ordered with the car (hence the blue block, heads and valve covers), but somehow this owner came across an AAR six barrel setup and installed it (after painting the intake manifold "aluminum" - couldn't leave it orange). Hey, it's 1976 and who cares about "factory correct"? LOL! We just wanted to go fast back then!

And what self respecting street machiner wouldn't want BF Goodrich tires (if they could afford them!) and Keystone Klassics (just like on the Sox and Martin Cuda! LOL!). The tires are from an ARII wheel and tire set and the mags are Modelhaus items. Note that I had to sleeve the tires for the rims to fit those tires.

And here is my parting shot heading towards my next build.

Not a bad Mopar for an AMC nut, huh? Thank goodness for Ebay Motors and Google Image Search which provided a lot of detail shots. Sure beats searching through my volumes of car magazines! A couple of little things I still want to do and this one is ready for the shelf.

Hmmmm, what should I build next? See ya!

[Lyle Willits]

This is REALLY NICE! And I'm not even a Mopar guy. Great job Karl.

Edited May 3, 2008 by Lyle Willits

[Spike]

VERY nice build. i dont care for the street machin look but you did a hell of a nice job on it

[m3m]

I am a cuda nut, and i love it! The stance is perfect! I have been looking for a set of those tires for a long time, were can i get a set? Thanks, and great job!

[lizardlust]

FINALLY - a musclecar that looks the way I remember them looking, not restored to nicer than new or attacked by the Pro-Tour movement!! Great job of replicating that particular time frame, as well as making silk outta some AMT pork!!!

[george 53]

Heck ya,sure looks period correct to me! I remember seein cars like that runnin around back in the day.Looks great no doubt!I like it alot!

[Guest Gramps-xrds]

Looks real good to me too. Nice job.

[VW Dave]

I'm a sucker for E-body Mopars, and that was easily one of my favorite models at the NNL East....I'm sure my Charger lurking in the background made the 'Cuda look even nicer

[Darrell Gwinn]

Im no mopar man, but I must say that is a sweet ride. I like the orange with black stripes, I built a 70 Challenger a few years ago with the same color combo.. doesn't look as you as your cuda though.