The ’71 ’Cuda Marked the End of an Era, and Collectors Still Want In Several factors make 1971 model-year muscle cars special, particularly when it comes to Mopars. While some holdouts would last a few more years, the horsepower war among the Big Three was beginning to wind down. This was the final year for the monstrous, menacing 426 Hemi, as well as the end of regular production for its sister big-block, the triple-carbed 440—Six-Barrel in Plymouth parlance and Six-Pack in Dodge’s dialect. In the case of the ’Cuda, it marked some styling changes as well. For just one year, the ’Cuda wore chrome fender gills, setting it apart from the standard Barracuda and Barracuda Gran Coupes. All 1971 Barracudas received quad headlights—like their Dodge Challenger E-body counterparts—and a unique grille for one year only, before returning to a single headlight per side. This 1971 ’Cuda, recently sold by Barrett-Jackson, was also optioned with the one-year-only billboard graphics that plastered the ’Cuda’s engine displacement prominently on each quarter panel and accentuated the E-body’s lines. The flat black graphics are most subtle on a black car like this, and while Mopar muscle cars were not known for being subtle, the combination is a clear winner. Equipped with the 385-horsepower 440 Six-Barrel, A833 four-speed manual, bucket seats, a pistol-grip shifter, and full gauges, it had everything a driving enthusiast could ask for. The shaker hood added a bit of flair, but otherwise it was a rather no-nonsense performance car. It has survived with its numbers-matching engine and transmission, along with two build sheets and multiple production broadcast sheets to prove its impressive options list. Its September 12 sale at Barrett-Jackson’s Las Vegas event for $363,000 made it one of the most interesting results of the weekend. Our current valuation for a #1 (concours) 1971 ’Cuda 440 Six-Barrel with a four-speed is $180,400–$213,400. This Barrett-Jackson sale puts it at double the low end of the scale, which is still not at the value of a 426 Hemi car in the same condition, but far above the norm. We asked Greg Ingold, Hagerty’s senior manager of Vehicle Valuations, to weigh in. “This was a hefty sale, rising above expected numbers. Taking a dive into the specs, a lot of that premium starts to come into focus. On top of the desirable 440 Six-Barrel engine, the original buyer opted for a four-speed manual, which sets you up with a Dana 60 axle. Externals like the billboard stripes, Go Wing, and shaker hood scoop are also non-trivial selections, which were all extensively documented. This car had a lot going for it, and it brought a deserving premium.” We expect the wild, “High-Impact” Mopar colors to drive auction excitement, but this ’Cuda was equipped with all of the right options. Black-on-black with black graphics has a charm all its own, and this sale proves the right muscle car can still bring out the bidders and shake things up.