1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda

As the muscle car era drew to a close and the infamous malaise set in, the auto industry gave us one last truly special model, the 1971 Plymouth Hemi Cuda! The significance of the 1971 model year won’t be lost on most enthusiasts, as this was the year the emissions restrictions officially came into effect and Plymouth were faced with a choice; follow other examples and cut performance to meet those new standards, or kill the model.

Plymouth decided to ignore the emissions and delivered a muscle car that was about as subtle as a punch in the face. It boasted a hood as big as an aircraft carrier’s deck with a shaker hood scoop, six gaping grille nostrils, angled shark gills on both of the front fenders, and enough attitude to intimidate any modern American heavy-hitter. It was simply known as the Cuda. It was the last of the true muscle cars, which began to wane in the early 1970s