1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible

Pony car powered by 426 Street Hemi V-8.

Actual 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible photographed at Mecum Kissimmee 2024; used as the page's primary convertible exterior image.

Body style Cuda convertible ordered with 426 Street Hemi

Engine 426 cu in Hemi V-8, dual four-barrels

Factory output 425 gross hp / 490 lb-ft

Reported production 14 convertibles: 9 automatics, 5 four-speeds

Authentication anchor BS27R0 VIN pattern plus fender tag and broadcast sheet evidence

Story

The 1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible is the open-air version of Plymouth's top E-body performance car: a Cuda convertible ordered with the 426 Street Hemi. The public identity is not just "a Hemi Cuda"; it is a BS27 convertible body with the R-code Hemi engine, which is why authentication depends on VIN, fender-tag, broadcast-sheet, and drivetrain-date evidence.

The shared Hemi Cuda facts are straightforward: 426 cubic inches, dual four-barrel carburetion, 425 gross horsepower, 490 lb-ft, and availability with either the A833 four-speed manual or TorqueFlite automatic. Convertible-specific references report only 14 Hemi Cuda convertibles for 1970, split between nine automatics and five four-speeds. That tiny count is the reason this page keeps car-level claims conservative: documented auction examples are useful evidence for option patterns, but they are not treated as proof that every one of the 14 cars carried the same axle, stripe, interior, or comfort equipment.

The chassis record separates general Hemi Cuda equipment from example-specific details. Reviewed references report Shaker induction, F60-15 tires, 15x7 wheels, and Hemi drivetrain axle patterns, while the Mecum F109 convertible example documents A34 Super Track Pak, 4.10 Sure Grip, 26-inch heavy-duty radiator, power front disc brakes, N96 Shaker, J45 hood pins, and P37 power convertible top on that car.

The gallery uses the best available licensed media: a Commons-hosted actual 1970 Hemi Cuda Convertible image, a licensed 1970 Cuda convertible body-style reference, shared licensed 1970 Hemi Cuda component views, and video embeds with live thumbnails. Captions state when an image is an exact convertible match versus broader E-body Hemi context.

**1970 Cuda 340 Convertible; representative convertible body-style context only, not Hemi drivetrain proof.**Sicnag via Wikimedia Commons

Price history

Values

Nominal dollars from original price sheets, auction archives, and approved value references.

Original Price

A verified base MSRP is not yet available. Documented option and charge prices are shown below.

Option price $871

426 Street Hemi engine option in 1970 Cuda context (1970)
Over-Drive states the 425 HP Street Hemi was an $871.45 extra in TorqueFlite-equipped Cuda models.
1970 Plymouth Barracuda Fact Sheet

Market Observations

Price guide value $1,550,000

Jul 28, 2026 · Hagerty Valuation Tools · Current guide point
July 2026 #3 good-condition benchmark for the exact 1970 Plymouth Cuda two-door convertible with the 426cid/425hp dual-quad Hemi. · unknown · good Hagerty showed $1,550,000 for the exact Hemi convertible configuration in July 2026. The published automatic-transmission adjustment is context only and is not applied; this is a configuration guide, not an individual-car authentication.
1970 Plymouth Cuda Hemi convertible valuation
Auction sale $1,980,000

May 17, 2019 · Mecum Auctions
Lemon Twist automatic Hemi Cuda convertible BS27R0B305097 with two broadcast sheets, Canadian-export provenance, one-of-one color combination, rotisserie restoration, and documented ownership history. · restored · concours Mecum records the $1,980,000 completed sale. The same chassis sold again in 2024; only this 2019 observation is normalized to avoid double-weighting. Automatic transmission, restoration, Canadian provenance, color and trim, documentation, equipment, and consignor-supplied description materially affect comparison.
1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible BS27R0B305097
Auction sale $2,942,500

Jan 22, 2016 · Mecum Kissimmee 2016
1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible, FY1 Lemon Twist, 426/425 HP Hemi, A833 four-speed · restored · unknown Mecum F109 shows a sold result of $2,942,500 for BS27R0B156924.
1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible, Lot F109, Kissimmee 2016
Auction sale $2,475,000

Aug 14, 2015 · Mecum Auctions
Triple Black automatic Hemi Cuda convertible BS27R0B207654, John Herlitz's documented Y22 executive demonstrator, with broadcast sheet, 2002 restoration, A32 axle package, and extensive factory equipment. · restored · concours Mecum records the $2,475,000 completed sale. Executive-demonstrator provenance, broadcast-sheet documentation, restoration, automatic transmission, color, equipment, ownership history, and consignor-supplied description materially affect comparison.
1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible BS27R0B207654

Values move with paperwork, originality, options, condition, venue, and body style. High bids and guide values are labeled separately from completed sales.

Reference records

Options, Colors & Components

Source-backed details for trim, chassis, production, and authenticity.

Transmission

Factory transmission A833 4-speed manual
Factory transmission TorqueFlite automatic

Options

Production summary card: 14 reported 1970 Hemi Cuda convertibles, split nine automatics and five four-speeds.Classic Muscle

E74 426 Street Hemi engine optional · performance · The R-code 426 Hemi is the defining powertrain for the Hemi Cuda Convertible.
N96 Shaker hood fresh-air induction factory · performance · Reviewed reference states all Hemi Cudas had Shaker hood setup; Mecum F109 also lists N96 on the documented convertible example.
A833 Four-speed manual transmission optional · performance · Reported for five of the 14 1970 Hemi Cuda convertibles.
TorqueFlite Three-speed automatic transmission optional · performance · Reported for nine of the 14 1970 Hemi Cuda convertibles.
A34 Super Track Pak optional · chassis · Documented on the Mecum F109 four-speed convertible example with 4.10 Sure Grip, heavy-duty radiator, power front disc brakes, and seven-blade fan.
P37 Power convertible top optional · comfort · Documented on the Mecum F109 convertible example; do not generalize to every Hemi Cuda Convertible without car-level evidence.

Paint

**1970 Hemi Cuda rear-quarter detail; representative tail-panel and body-side trim context.**Valder137 via Wikimedia Commons

FY1 Lemon Twist factory · solid
FC7 In Violet factory · solid
FJ5 Lime Light factory · solid
EV2 Tor-Red factory · solid
FE5 Rallye Red factory · solid

Appearance

**1970 Hemi Cuda head-on view; representative grille, hood, and front trim context.**Valder137 via Wikimedia Commons

Interior

Bucket seats are part of Barracuda/Cuda context; F109 documents black vinyl interior and C62 six-way adjustable driver seat. factory · seat
Four-speed cars use Hurst Pistol Grip shifter context; automatic cars use TorqueFlite shifter configuration. optional · shifter
A62 Rallye instrument cluster and N85 tachometer are documented on the F109 example; exact gauges are car-specific. optional · gauge
Convertible top color and upholstery trim code require fender-tag or broadcast-sheet confirmation for each car. unknown · trim

Chassis

Cuda performance trim included heavy-duty suspension context; Hemi applications need tag-level confirmation for torsion bars, springs, and shocks. Suspension · factory
A34 Super Track Pak is documented on the F109 four-speed convertible example and should be treated as car-specific equipment. Suspension · optional
Cuda model context includes heavy-duty drum brakes; power front disc brakes are documented on the F109 A34 example. Brakes · factory
Power front disc brakes must be verified per car rather than assumed across all 14 convertibles. Brakes · optional
Automatic Hemi Cuda applications are reported with 8.75-inch rear axle equipment. Rear axle · limited-slip · factory
Four-speed Hemi Cuda applications are reported with Dana 60 equipment; 3.54 standard and 4.10 optional ratios are cited in reviewed reference. Rear axle · limited-slip · factory
F109 documents A34 Super Track Pak with 4.10 Sure Grip rear end on one four-speed convertible. Rear axle · limited-slip · optional

Production

Drivetrain and chassis source card for Hemi, transmission, axle, and brake evidence.Classic Muscle

1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda Convertible total · 14 · reported
1970 Hemi Cuda Convertible automatic by transmission · 9 · reported
1970 Hemi Cuda Convertible four-speed by transmission · 5 · reported
BS27 Cuda convertible with R-code Hemi by body · 14 · reported

Authenticity

Authentication source card showing the BS27R0 pattern and paperwork requirements.Classic Muscle

VIN body-engine pattern BS27R0 plus assembly plant and sequence: B Barracuda, S Cuda price class, 27 convertible, R 426 Hemi, 0 model year · VIN tag, title paperwork, fender tag, broadcast sheet, and body stampings · fraud detection
Engine and drivetrain identity R-code/E74 426 Hemi with dual four-barrels and car-correct engine, transmission, and axle date evidence · Engine pad, casting dates, transmission stamping, axle housing, broadcast sheet, and original paperwork · numbers matching
Convertible paperwork Fender tag and broadcast sheet supporting BS27 body, Hemi powertrain, paint, top, trim, and options · Fender tag, broadcast sheet, door data label, ownership history, and restoration records · trim correctness
Option-code evidence N96, A34, P37, A62, C62, J45, and other option claims must match the specific car's tag and sheet · Fender tag decode, broadcast sheet, restoration documentation, and period photos · date correctness

Still Researching

paint colors The page lists high-impact and documented example colors, but does not claim a full factory paint matrix or color-by-production split for the 14 convertibles.
interior The page includes interior equipment and example trim, but exact upholstery/top combinations across all 14 cars require registry or tag-level evidence.

Codes & names