70 HEMI 'CUDA " THE MOST SAUGHT AFTER OF ALL !! "

From 1966-71, Dodge stuffed their massive Hemi into the small E-Body platform and the 1970 Hemi 'Cuda is widely accepted as one of the most saught after of these. Only 652 were built when new, including 14 rare convertibles, making an original Hemi 'Cuda a rare sight. The Hemi 'Cuda was forced in scarcity due to the extra $900 it cost to build one-nearly a third of the standard purchase price. At $250, the 390 bhp 440 V8 became the norm and made the Hemi Cuda an exception. Motor Trend tested the 426 Hemi ’Cuda in their May 1970 issue, reaching 0-60 in 5.8 seconds and the 1/4 mile in 14 seconds at 102 mph. The long list of options made available for 1970 Barracudas included such goodies as a Track Pak with a 3.54:1 differential ratio, Rallye wheels, a range of exciting colors including Plum Crazy, pistol grip shifters, hockey stick sport stripes, hood pins and a variety of creature comforts. Of all the options, the R-code steet Hemi 426 was the most legendary Mopar engine. It typically delivered 425 bhp through the solid 727 Torqueflight automatic and a 3.55:1 Sure Grip rear axle. That is, unless the car was one of the 284 that got a 4-speed manual. With their classic shape, tire-shredding American power, limited production and huge popularity a 1970 Hemi 'Cuda can easily fetch over $150 000 USD. This is a remarkable amount for a car with the same build quailty as a mass-produced Plymouth. However, the aggressive sound of Hemi combined with visual street cred and Barrett-Jackson publicity now make these Cudas more expensive than most Ferraris produced in the same era. Changes for 1971 were minimal and included a more complex 6 inlet grille design and fender gill louvers. Only 100 or so of these were built and the seven ultra-rare 1971 convertibles are the most expensive muscle cars money can buy. In 72, the government and EPA kicked the muscle car in the ass with emissions regulations. After that time, no more Hemi or more big block models could be ordered

Friday, March 19, 2010

Classic 62 Corvette Style with the New Style C5 Performance Check out " CRC "

62 Corvette Body Style for C5 Corvette – The CRC

The 1962 Corvette had a classic body style, a favorite of many Corvette enthusiasts, but the tremendous advances in suspension and drivetrain make the modern Corvette so superior to the early models, there simply isn’t any comparison. If a great driving experience is what you’re after, the new Vettes are the clear winner.

But what if you could re-body your C5 Corvette to look much like the ‘62 while retaining all of the performance and driveability you expect from a modern car? Classic Reflection Coachworks of Lakewood, Washington has your answer, the CRC. Starting with your C5, the body panels are carefully removed then everything is precisely measured to be sure the frame and underlying structure is aligned to factory specs. Then, all of the new panels are installed, fitted and aligned. When everything is set, the body is prepared for paint and the color is applied. When the painting is complete, the new interior is fitted and after final inspection, you now have a beautiful new Corvette that looks like what might have been the logical extension of the ‘62 body style if things hadn’t changed in 1963. The CRC is definitely not a kit car, the entire process takes place in Lakewood, Washington and you can check in on the progress of your car right from their web site.

The CRC came about when an initial car was built on a ‘93 chassis using a stock ‘62 body, somewhat like the SN65 Mustang project we wrote about earlier. The success of the car and the interest from those who saw the result was the impetus to design a new body on computers at the Boeing Company. Engineers in the Boeing Chairman’s Innovation Initiative Program, spun off their project forming REALADI, a company that can reverse engineer 3D forms when no model exists. Once in the computer, the information can be used to create CAD drawings for use in production of those parts.

The engineering information was used to create the molds for the body which is made from SPRINT CBS, a material used by Aston Martin and Mercedes for their SLR McLaren. Much of the trim was manufactured specifically for this car. The complete car is quite stunning, just what you would expect from a high end project of this type.

If you think your C5 Corvette might look good with a little retro styling, check out CRC. They have what you need.
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