Although Plymouth built a few factory HEMI-powered dragsters in 1968, the Barracuda didn't receive the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8 as a regular option until 1970. That's when Plymouth introduced the third-generation model on the then-new E-body platform.
The company sold nearly 49,000 units that year, but only 666 customers ordered the 426 HEMI. The engine was quite expensive, and insurance rates weren't exactly affordable either. In 1971, total sales dropped to about 16,500 units and only 114 HEMI 'Cudas.
When Plymouth dropped the HEMI for the 1972 model year, only 780 Barracudas were equipped with the top-of-the-line engine. That's just 1.2 percent of the total 1970 and 1971 production. Not surprisingly, well-maintained HEMI 'Cudas are now worth six figures, but some have sold for more than $1 million at auction.
Convertible versions are usually the most expensive because they are considerably rarer. Of the 780 HEMI 'Cudas sold in the United States, only 21 were ordered with soft tops. Fourteen were delivered in 1970 and only seven were sold in 1971.
The latter is obviously the most expensive of the bunch. In 2014, one of only seven 1971 'Cuda Convertible HEMIs changed hands for a cool $3.8 million. Two years later, another convertible went up for auction for $2.5 million. In 2021, one of these rare 'Cudas failed to sell despite a high bid of $4.8 million. Yes, these cars are getting more and more expensive and will soon end up pretty high up on the “most expensive American classic” list.
The 1970 version, of which 14 were built, isn’t quite as expensive, but it has topped the $2 million mark. A pristine Lemon Twist was auctioned off in January 2024 and found a new owner for $2.14 million (including buyer’s premium). The car was expected to fetch between $2.5 million and $3 million, but the sale price was enough to set a new record for a 1970 Barracuda.
But the owner didn’t keep the HEMI ‘Cuda for long. The convertible resurfaced with a $2.57 million sticker just a month later. The Mopar was finally put on the market at Mecum’s Monterey 2024 auction and put up for auction on August 17. This time, the hammer fell at $2.53 million, a $400,000 increase in just seven months. That’s a new record for a 1970 ‘Cuda and a price that makes this Lemon Twist convertible the second most expensive Barracuda ever to come to auction.
Restored to perfection by Legendary Motorcar of Ontario, Canada, this HEMI 'Cuda features a matching numbers transmission and retains most of its original components. The HEMI relies on a three-speed automatic transmission to spin the rear wheels, making this vehicle one of nine equipped with this transmission combination. It is also one of only three 1970 HEMI 'Cudas built for the Canadian market. It is also the only example ordered in FY 1 Lemon Twist with an H6T5 Tan interior.
Like most million-dollar muscle cars, the Mopar comes with two transmission sheets, an Elite Report from Chrysler expert Dave Wise, and a documented ownership history. It’s a holy grail of a classic, much like the 1969 Dodge HEMI Charger Daytona that sold for $3.3 million at the same event.