This Dodge Convertible Was Rarer Than Any Hemi Cuda
Muscle cars were never really meant to be rare. This genre of performance car was launched by the Pontiac GTO in 1964 with the primary aim of selling as many as possible. And so it was that cars like the GTO sold in their hundreds of thousands in the ’60s, with Ford’s Mustang pony car breaking records by selling almost half a million units in the first year alone. Muscle Cars were designed to be affordable, fast, and were a clever cocktail of parts from the duller corners of carmakers’ ranges, making them the perfect product for the restless Swinging Sixties. But after the dust settled, it turns out that a few models are not only unicorn-level rare, they are eye-wateringly expensive.
The ‘Cuda Hemi Is One Of Dodge’s Rarest Muscle Cars — Right?
Plymouth launched its new E-body pony car offering in three different flavors. The base model was the Barracuda, which could be had with a 198-cubic-inch slant six, with the Barracuda Gran Coupe one rung up, offering a mix of muscle and luxury. But the real performance offering was the top-tier ‘Cuda, which came with a range of hearty V8s. But the one to have, if you liked intimidating fellow stoplight waiters, was the ‘Cuda fitted with a race-bred 426 Hemi, breathing through a standard-fitment Shaker hood scoop.
By 1970, a number of clouds were gathering over the muscle car outdoor picnic, such as rising insurance premiums and a cooling economy. This meant that Hemi Dodges were not exactly flying off the shelves, and even less so, convertible versions. Ironically, convertible versions of muscle cars tended to be heavier (even though the roof had been removed) due to structural reinforcements to the body. And extra weight is not conducive to going faster, so the coupe would be the option for serious gearheads.
Dodge’s Coronet R/T Convertible Was A Wild Muscle Drop Top
The Dodge Coronet was always a car that didn’t need to attract attention. That job was left to the edgy Charger and later Challenger. The Coronet always seemed happier as more of an underdog; not too flashy, just quietly confident in a world of multicolored AMC Rebels and Carousel Red GTO Judges. So it was slightly surprising that Dodge decided to give the Coronet a Hollywood-style makeover in 1970, the kind that had people wondering what had happened to those effortless natural good looks. The new front end of the Coronet R/T had a split grille, and fake rear fender scoops sprouted from the back. It wasn’t bad looking, just a bit more “look at me” than before.
At the top of the range was the R/T, with a 440 Magnum as standard, and the option of a 426 cubic-inch Hemi V8 with dual quad carburetors and 425 horsepower. But very few buyers ticked that box — just 14 Coronet R/Ts came with the Hemi. But if you think that’s rare, there was a version that was built in far smaller numbers.
The Coronet R/T Hemi Convertible Is Rarer Even Than A Hemi ‘Cuda Convertible
Dodge made just two—yes, two—Coronet R/T convertibles with the optional elephant motor. One with a four-speed, the other with a Torqueflite automatic. By comparison, in 1967, Dodge dropped 283 Street Hemis into Coronet R/Ts against just 118 in Chargers, making the B-body the factory’s top Hemi carrier. These weren’t exactly huge numbers, but the decline is pretty dramatic. In 1970, of the Coronets that received Hemis, just four were manuals.
So how does this stack up to the ‘Cuda Hemi convertible? Of the 50,627 Barracudas of all types sold in 1970 (according to Hagerty), only 666 were optioned with Hemis. Serious performance guys and gals tended to go for coupes too, which equated to just 14 of those Hemis being convertibles. If you were one of the 14 people who spent around $3,900 on one of these ‘Cuda Hemi convertibles in 1970 and kept it, you’d be in the money today (but more on that later). The ‘Cuda Hemi came with a four-speed manual gearbox fitted with a pistol-grip Hurst shifter.
Why The Coronet R/T was Overlooked
For many, the Coronet was the working-class muscle car, offering no-nonsense power to the masses. It’s hard to say exactly why the sales dropped off in 1970, but Dodge found that the R/T had little interest. Just 2,319 hardtops and 296 convertibles were built in total, says Hemmings. It was likely a combination of things, not least the cooling of the muscle car market. But that new, bolder front end perhaps didn’t win as many fans as Dodge had hoped.
There was another reason that hit just as close to home. The second-generation Dodge Charger (1968 to 1970), with its “Coke bottle” styling, ticked all the right muscle car boxes, and perhaps left buyers wondering why they needed a Coronet. Ultimately, it was a perfect storm of bad timing, perception, and changing market forces. In 1970, the Hemi was seen as pricey, thirsty, and arguably overkill for the street. In the end, the Coronet was a little unloved, and, according to Hemmings, many had a tough life on the rust belt and became disposable, making them a rare muscle classic today.
The Story Of One Of The 1970 Coronet R/T Cabrios Backs Up The Idea They Were Once Unloved
The story goes that the manual Coronet R/T Hemi convertible eventually ended up in a Canadian salvage yard, where it slowly deteriorated. Whether the owner couldn’t afford to run and maintain the Hemi, or saw an opportunity to cut their losses, the car was discovered in a sorry state without its original 426 Hemi and A833 four-speed manual transmission. Thankfully, a Mopar enthusiast recognized its VIN and saved it from oblivion. The car did return to the road and, after passing hands, finally ended up in the Brett Torino Collection. It was sent to Graveyard Carz for a meticulous nut-and-bolt restoration and returned to its former glory.
Prices Of The Hemi Coronet Convertible — And Why They Are Worth It
With just two 1970 R/T Coronet convertibles apparently in existence, they have that rarity and unique spec in abundance that muscle car enthusiasts adore. So, while this rag-top Coronet may have been overlooked when new, it would stop traffic if seen in public today. The prices match this unicorn status. Considering one of the four manual-equipped 1970 Dodge Hemi Coronet R/Ts fetched $247,500 when it went up for auction in 2023, it is likely the convertible is worth a lot more. Hagerty’s experts estimate a minimum value of $1,000,000. Graveyard Carz estimates the value at more like $1,500,000. We’d have to wait until one of these rare convertibles hits the auction block to know for sure. The price for one of those 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda Convertibles? A cool $2,576,000 when it went up for auction.
Sources: Hemmings, Hagerty, Dodge, Plymouth
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