This No-Reserve 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda 440 Six-Barrel Has a Military Origin Story Stretching to SpainA numbers-matching 1971 Plymouth 'Cuda built around Chrysler's 440 Six-Barrel V8 is crossing the block with no reserve at Barrett-Jackson's 2026 Las Vegas auction, and its paperwork tells a story most muscle cars can't match. Photos and vehicle details courtesy of Barrett-Jackson show a Tuxedo Black hardtop that was special-ordered by a U.S. serviceman stationed in Europe, coded by Chrysler as an export unit, and shipped across the Atlantic to Spain.Under the shaker hood sits the original 440ci Six-Barrel engine, paired with its factory-correct A833 four-speed manual transmission and Hurst pistol-grip shifter. Chrysler's Track Pak axle package backs up the drivetrain with a Dana 60 rear end, 3.54 gears, heavy-duty leaf springs and heavy-duty shocks, the same hardware buyers ordered when they wanted a 'Cuda that could handle real load at the strip.The exterior wears Tuxedo Black paint, a shaker hood scoop and a rear spoiler, while the black cabin includes bucket seats, the A62 gauge package with a factory tachometer, and a period aftermarket air conditioning unit, an option few buyers checked on a car ordered strictly for performance.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhat sets this particular car apart is its paper trail. It retains its factory VIN and trim tag, and the sale includes two build sheets, multiple production broadcast sheets, an MSRP sticker, the original military vehicle order form and a Wise Elite Validation Report. The car has also been ICCA Detroit-certified against July 2025 judging standards and logged in the MMC Detroit Global Vehicle Registry, with an Elite Wise inspection report backing up its condition.According to Hagerty's Valuation Tools, a 1971 'Cuda hardtop coupe with the 440 Six-Barrel currently carries a #3 (Good) condition value of roughly $86,200, essentially flat over the past year. That number climbs quickly once the option list changes: a 426 Hemi 'Cuda hardtop in the same #3 condition is valued near $284,000, and a Hemi convertible reaches into the millions. Hagerty's guide also notes that 1971 was the final model year for the Hemi, 440 Six-Barrel and 383 engines in the Barracuda line, and that Barracuda production fell from 55,499 cars in 1970 to just 18,690 in 1971. That production drop is a big reason documented, numbers-matching six-pack cars like this one keep drawing attention whenever they cross the auction block.This 'Cuda is not the only Mopar-adjacent headline heading to Las Vegas. The same 2026 Barrett-Jackson sale includes a charity Ram truck duo backed by Dana White and a resto-modded 1968 Camaro running an LS3, a reminder that no-reserve sales keep pulling in everything from documented originals to modern resto-mods. Collectors tracing Plymouth's broader model history through the era may also want to revisit our look back at the 1966 Plymouth Fury.⚡️ Read the full article on MotoriousSign up for the Motorious Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
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