Factory Fish 2

A Vinyl top was available on the AAR but only in (V1X) Black. All cars came with a longitudinal sport stripe (V6H) that was only available in black regardless of body color. Even theTX9 (Black) cars received the black stripes! I just happen to be the proud owner of one like this:

Special Fiberglass Fresh Air Hoods (N94) painted Organsol black were used. Other exterior features include Side Exit Exhaust (N44), Ducktail Spoiler (J82) and front spoilers (J78). The radio antenna (N94) is relocated to the right quarter panel (first & last time on any Mopar product). All AAR's left the factory with G60x15 (rear) and E60-15 (front) Goodyear Polyglas GT tires. This was the first time any car produced in the U.S.had left the factory with two different sized tires. The taller rear tire, in conjunction with specially curved rear leaf springs, were necessary to give added clearance for the "megaphone" style exhaust tips that exited just in front of the rear wheels.Other options available were, rear windowlouvers, rear defogger, power windows, and wheel lip moldings (M26)

Another attention-getting styling trick for driver controls in the early '70's, used on some other lines in addition to the AAR Cuda, was a unique pistol grip for the manual transmission shift lever. This was one of the wilder scenes throughout the industry at the time. And yet it made a good shifter for quick speed-shifts with the heavy Chrysler 4-speed.

pstlgrip.jpg (6329 bytes)

Designed specifically for the T/A and AAR 'Cuda,the A-833 Four-Speed (D21) has close-ratio gearing with a 2.47 First, 1.77 Second and 1.34 Third. The 727 Automatic (D32) was optional.

The standard rear axle in all Plymouth models is an 8 3/4-inch (D56) with 3.55-to-1 gears and the 3.91-to-1, 8 3/4" (D57) optional. Both came in the form of "Sure Grip" (D91). The standard brakes are power disc front and 11-inch diameter drums in the rear.

There were a few modifications found on the 340 (E55) used in these cars that were unavailable on any other 340 equipped Mopar. A special block that would allow (but did not receive) 4-bolt main caps, special heads with relocated push rods to allow bigger valves (however, bigger valves were not installed), and the most noticeable feature was the three two-barrel Holleys on top of an aluminum Edelbrock intake manifold called Six Barrel.

Despite fluctuations in the collector car market, the AAR'Cuda remains a solid collectible. Prices for quality restorations are gradually increasing and should continue to do so.