A man who stops by your house, takes you for a ride, let's you drive his Hemi Cuda, and then says "Thank You" before he leaves is not a friend...He Sir is a God Send!
Oh what a treat. I was in HS in the mid 80's. I am a total tomboy & I had an 81 Camaro. The engine was originally a 231 V6 (Buick) with a 3 speed dog leg manual trans. That was not the standard V6 for an 81 Camaro & I had issues finding parts and only years later did I find out it was some kind of experimental performance V6 car made in fairly low number. Anyways, at the time I didn't know it was the same block as the Grand National and had tons of performance potential. Without turbos it was kind of a gutless wonder. It would hang with a stock 80 or 81 Z28 but that's not really saying much. That time period was not a happy time for performance cars. Anyways, When it needed valves I decided to swap it for a V8. I took Auto Shop and put a 454 out of an old pickup in my Camaro. :) I didn't have the money to really build it right so I kept the truck cam and it wouldn't rev out but it was a torque monster and still faster than most street cars. We would go out cruising. I had my bleach blond hair, my black leather jacket, bandannas everywhere and stickers for every heavy metal band known to man on the bumper. I had been driving for years. I raced go carts when I was a kid & I was starting some local desert racing. I was very comfortable driving but I would act like I was nervous, I would act like I was having trouble shifting etc. Schooch up on the steering wheel like I couldn't see over the hood. I just pretended I didn't know how to handle that car then I would sucker guys in and smoke them at the lights. lol I got smoked plenty of times too but we had great fun and luckily nobody got hurt. Ohhh the memories!!
What a awesome car, sounds so seventy's. I used to own and drag race, a 1968 Roadrunner, headers,high rise, 4 speed, normally would go 13s in the quarter mile. Currently own a 1982 280 ZX Datsun Turbo, not as fast as the Roadrunner, but handles 10 times better in the curves. Nice that it dosent matter how old you get, you still love driving. I think I would be in jail if I owned that Cuda.
I know a guy who ordered one from a bigger small town because our small town (in Canada) wouldn’t do it (warranty worries I assume).He even got them to build it with drum brakes which apparently wasn’t available on the hemi cuda.Thi he said was desirable for drag racing.It was mainly used at the track.As I recall he sold it in the early 80s with 6,000 miles on it.what a beast.
I drove these often in Development at chrysler, the cars often didn't have I'd markings cause they were experimental or next years car. I always got excited when i saw the Choke handle. My honorable discharge got me the job in 69 the best ever. This sounds good.
Thanks much for sharing such a great experience. A truly beautiful car. I would love to have a neighbor like that...so I could check another item off of my bucket list!
I have been a Mustang guy all my life (9 of them) but if ever I did something else it would be 1 of 2 cars a Buick Grand National or a Cuda - this is gorgeous and ahh...fast
Hemi's are great racers but the 440 is a better street motor. The Hemi's made their name living above 4500RPM however the 440 delivers more street fun. Yes...I've driven both and owned one. Now the newer 392 Hemi will eat an older 426's lunch if properly set up and installed in a similarly weighted car. We retro'd a 70 Challenger with a modern "Scat Pack" engine and it was far superior to the old motor. I had a customer who windowed an original Hemi block and we welded it/stitched it back together...still running to this day. Very tough engine for sure though!
I don't know how TH-cam works, but it seems hard to comprehend how there are over 20,000 views, and only 28 "Likes" If someone wants to see a Hemi 'Cuda, why not like it? And one dislike, maybe that guy likes the Yugos or a Prius, but at least he made a statement. Is there some penalty for liking or disliking a video? I liked it.
Wow........... That must have been so hard to resist putting your foot in it. Richard stuck his foot in it once there, but that was probably only about 1/3 throttle. Hardest accelerating car I've been a passenger in was back in 1965 in my future brother-in-law's new '65 GTO, with cheater slicks on the back. Scared me......... I'd like to see the faces on some of these young kids at the local drag strip when Richard rolls up to the line, they with their Mitsubishi Eclipses and Subaru WRX's........
i know the guys being really careful driving his friends car, but goddamn put your foot in it a little, i couldnt live with myself if i had a chance to drive it and didnt give it some gas to test the power a little...-when youre on a quiet part of the road, ofc so its safe
Lorrin Barth : Probably Cause Insurance Comps.Were Already Starting to Rip Us OFF ON THERE SURCHARGES,IF U HAD A BB,4 BARR.OR ,4 SPD.,REGARDLESS IF U HAD NO POINTS ON RECORD, U GOT A TREMENDOUS SURCHARGE INCREASE IN PREMIUMS.I SPEC.ORDERED MY 71 JAV.AMX ,TO HAVE A 360,IBSTEAD OF THE 401& ORDERED IT W/ 2 BARR.TO GET REG.PREMIUMS.OF COURSE ,ONCE THE WARR.WAS OUT,I SLAPPED A 500 CFM 2 BARR.& Increased the JETS TO 650 CFM,W/ OUT LETTING INS.COMP.KNOW LOL
He’s an old guy who’s had his fun. There is a reason the car is still around. It wasn’t best to death and totaled. The car is a retired race car turned small town cruiser. This old thing doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone, anyone who knows anything knows she’s a baaad girl.
A man who stops by your house, takes you for a ride, let's you drive his Hemi Cuda, and then says "Thank You" before he leaves is not a friend...He Sir is a God Send!
Oh what a treat. I was in HS in the mid 80's. I am a total tomboy & I had an 81 Camaro. The engine was originally a 231 V6 (Buick) with a 3 speed dog leg manual trans. That was not the standard V6 for an 81 Camaro & I had issues finding parts and only years later did I find out it was some kind of experimental performance V6 car made in fairly low number. Anyways, at the time I didn't know it was the same block as the Grand National and had tons of performance potential. Without turbos it was kind of a gutless wonder. It would hang with a stock 80 or 81 Z28 but that's not really saying much. That time period was not a happy time for performance cars. Anyways, When it needed valves I decided to swap it for a V8. I took Auto Shop and put a 454 out of an old pickup in my Camaro. :)
I didn't have the money to really build it right so I kept the truck cam and it wouldn't rev out but it was a torque monster and still faster than most street cars.
We would go out cruising. I had my bleach blond hair, my black leather jacket, bandannas everywhere and stickers for every heavy metal band known to man on the bumper.
I had been driving for years. I raced go carts when I was a kid & I was starting some local desert racing. I was very comfortable driving but I would act like I was nervous, I would act like I was having trouble shifting etc. Schooch up on the steering wheel like I couldn't see over the hood. I just pretended I didn't know how to handle that car then I would sucker guys in and smoke them at the lights. lol I got smoked plenty of times too but we had great fun and luckily nobody got hurt. Ohhh the memories!!
Great to see and hear this wonderful old car. I owned a 1970 Camaro Z/28 back in the day. The only cars that I feared, street racing, were Hemi cars.
Now I have to watch Phantasm tonight!
Charlie Bernth that's the movie where I first noticed a Hemicuda. It's been my #1 dream car since. Unicorn
What a awesome car, sounds so seventy's. I used to own and drag race, a 1968 Roadrunner, headers,high rise, 4 speed, normally would go 13s in the quarter mile. Currently own a 1982 280 ZX Datsun Turbo, not as fast as the Roadrunner, but handles 10 times better in the curves. Nice that it dosent matter how old you get, you still love driving.
I think I would be in jail if I owned that Cuda.
The grin on your face said it all. Wow. And he let you drive it. Manual steering because it probably didn't corner well anyway. Thanks for sharing.
I know a guy who ordered one from a bigger small town because our small town (in Canada) wouldn’t do it (warranty worries I assume).He even got them to build it with drum brakes which apparently wasn’t available on the hemi cuda.Thi he said was desirable for drag racing.It was mainly used at the track.As I recall he sold it in the early 80s with 6,000 miles on it.what a beast.
I drove these often in Development at chrysler, the cars often didn't have I'd markings cause they were experimental or next years car. I always got excited when i saw the Choke handle. My honorable discharge got me the job in 69 the best ever. This sounds good.
wow! What a car... Love that start up and drive away it was cool
Awsome cuda! I love that white jeep commander at the end as well.
Thanks much for sharing such a great experience. A truly beautiful car. I would love to have a neighbor like that...so I could check another item off of my bucket list!
Damn. Cool he let you drive it!!
GOURGOUS CAR !!!!
That is absolutely gorgeous!
Your smile tells it all. 😁
Wonderful Video !
Perfict example why you want to have your cameras charged and ready to go at all times.
I have been a Mustang guy all my life (9 of them) but if ever I did something else it would be 1 of 2 cars a Buick Grand National or a Cuda - this is gorgeous and ahh...fast
Hemi's are great racers but the 440 is a better street motor. The Hemi's made their name living above 4500RPM however the 440 delivers more street fun. Yes...I've driven both and owned one. Now the newer 392 Hemi will eat an older 426's lunch if properly set up and installed in a similarly weighted car. We retro'd a 70 Challenger with a modern "Scat Pack" engine and it was far superior to the old motor. I had a customer who windowed an original Hemi block and we welded it/stitched it back together...still running to this day. Very tough engine for sure though!
Dude let's. You drive his real hemi cuda!!!
I don't know how TH-cam works, but it seems hard to comprehend how there are over 20,000 views, and only 28 "Likes" If someone wants to see a Hemi 'Cuda, why not like it? And one dislike, maybe that guy likes the Yugos or a Prius, but at least he made a statement. Is there some penalty for liking or disliking a video? I liked it.
+MO Silver a lot of people just watch and move on. But likes help. Thanks.
So cool 😎
When granpas a badass! Lol!
Memory Waves! 1974 for me.
Wow........... That must have been so hard to resist putting your foot in it. Richard stuck his foot in it once there, but that was probably only about 1/3 throttle. Hardest accelerating car I've been a passenger in was back in 1965 in my future brother-in-law's new '65 GTO, with cheater slicks on the back. Scared me......... I'd like to see the faces on some of these young kids at the local drag strip when Richard rolls up to the line, they with their Mitsubishi Eclipses and Subaru WRX's........
My dream car
Holly blue pump singing in the background
i know the guys being really careful driving his friends car, but goddamn put your foot in it a little, i couldnt live with myself if i had a chance to drive it and didnt give it some gas to test the power a little...-when youre on a quiet part of the road, ofc so its safe
I graduated from college in 1970 and the new car lots were full of these and they were not selling. I dunno why.
Lorrin Barth : Probably Cause Insurance Comps.Were Already Starting to Rip Us OFF ON THERE SURCHARGES,IF U HAD A BB,4 BARR.OR ,4 SPD.,REGARDLESS IF U HAD NO POINTS ON RECORD, U GOT A TREMENDOUS SURCHARGE INCREASE IN PREMIUMS.I SPEC.ORDERED MY 71 JAV.AMX ,TO HAVE A 360,IBSTEAD OF THE 401& ORDERED IT W/ 2 BARR.TO GET REG.PREMIUMS.OF COURSE ,ONCE THE WARR.WAS OUT,I SLAPPED A 500 CFM 2 BARR.& Increased the JETS TO 650 CFM,W/ OUT LETTING INS.COMP.KNOW LOL
I would do cream my jeans driving a 'Cuda!
There are very very few documented hemi cada ever made
"Does that thing record sound" lol... It's not 1914 sir..
Ok! Wheres all these Demons at?
quarter mile e.t. and mph?
an automatic?
Yes, but you have to shift it manually (i.e., it has no clutch pedal).
Bad A***
OK, OK, OK, OK, OK, ...........
2:20 Stab that throttle!!!
Ps there are worth 1,000,000
+Gregory B hard tops from 1970 aren't quite as valuable as convertibles from 1971. Still, it's a rare and desirable car.
Testosterone car
That was like riding around with my Grandmother … might be a great car, but that video showed NOTHING. PLEASE … Somebody …. give it some gas !!!
He’s an old guy who’s had his fun. There is a reason the car is still around. It wasn’t best to death and totaled. The car is a retired race car turned small town cruiser. This old thing doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone, anyone who knows anything knows she’s a baaad girl.