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option, but it was not available with the A/C and a 4-speed. So, this was homes like the ones in the picture. One had a brown roof; one had a
the top dog you could get with those options. metal roof with a shed out back. And soon enough, there it was, clear
Time had not been kind to the car, it was indeed sitting in the open as day! You could see the car right there sitting in the backyard. I put
in a field. Just down a little hill from the house where the brother lived. the information into an online map to follow up someday.
At one point the trees were closer to the car, but a storm years ago had Well, a few years had gone by and my sister was moving to Utah. It
brought a bunch down, including one right over the Chevelle, crushing provided me with the excuse to check out this car as it wasn’t far off the
the windshield and other parts of the car. Even with as bad the car was, route west! After a few days, I made it to the owner’s house just a bit
being a complete example of such a rare and unique car made it was before sunset, unfortunately. Time was not on my side, but I knocked
worth restoring if it could be saved. on the door and the owner came to the door asking what he could help
I got in touch with the owner of the car after that, and he told me me with. I quickly told him the whole story, at which point he chuckled
the history of the car. He was drafted into the Army, and while overseas and said he would show me the car.
his brother would send him brochures on different Chevrolet products The owner was very gracious with his time and allowed me the
coming out. So, he special ordered the Chevelle while in the Military. opportunity to uncover the car, in winter, when it had frozen solid to
He ordered everything he wanted in the car, and wanted the higher the car, ruining the cover as we pulled it off. But there it was, a legit
horsepower engine, but was denied when that engine couldn’t be paired 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda in Violet Purple. The original 426 Hemi
with the A/C and 4-speed. The brother paid for the car while he was in engine was still residing between the front fenders, and a manual
the Military, it was so well optioned it topped out at $7,000. Once he 4-speed transmission, surrounded by a white interior that rounded out
got home, he raced the car all over the place. the car beautifully. Only a handful of cars like this were made, and
In the 1970s the car was a bit worn out. He eventually parked the fewer with this exact combo. It’s an extremely rare car, and normally
car in his neighborhood and when a neighbor’s kid shot out the driver’s into the mid-six-digit range or more.
window, the car was moved out to the brother’s farm for safekeeping. Back in 1975, the owner was looking for a 1970 Dodge Challenger
And that is where it sat for decades. Just recently, though, the brother R/T Convertible with the rare 440 cubic inch V8 with Six Pack
sold the farm and they moved the car back to the owner’s garage, induction on the engine. He could not find one in Northern Michigan
hopefully, to be restored someday. at the time. After two tours of duty in Vietnam, he was assigned to
various Strategic Air Command radar sites in the U.S. So, he was
1970 Hemi ‘Cuda looking for a fast car, and he settled on the Hemi ‘Cuda. He drag-raced
the car for a few years, had his fun. Eventually, his job took him out
For years I had heard stories about a purple 1970 Plymouth Hemi west and he brought the car with him, and since he doesn’t have a
Barracuda sitting in a guy’s back yard out west. Hemi ‘Cudas are to garage, he put it up on jack stands in his back yard and that’s where it
most the epidemy of the Muscle Car era. They look mean, sound mean, has been ever since.
and are insanely priced nowadays. Through the years I pieced together I talked with the owner recently and nothing had been changed.
information from people I met from that part of the country to see if I The car was still in his backyard, with a new car cover that I supplied,
could nail down where the car was sitting. I didn’t get much, but then after ruining the last one. He said maybe if he wins the lottery things
luck was on my side and I got a really solid lead. might change. But right now, he’s just happy as a clam having it
In one of the Facebook Groups I frequent on Barn Finds and chilling in his back yard. So, who knows what will be next for it!
Hidden Gems, an individual posted a single picture of a purple 1970
Plymouth ‘Cuda sitting in a backyard area in a suburban neighbor- My name is Ryan Brutt, and I am known as “The Auto Archaeologist.”
hood. The poster would not share any information on where the car I travel around the country documenting cool cars in neglected situations.
was with anyone. Just that it was a 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda in purple. But Sometimes they are in barns, or junkyards, or back yards. If it is something
with the information I had collected, that one picture was all I needed interesting with a story, I’ll want to document it. I’ve seen everything from
to work out where the car was. a Duesenberg in a shed to a Hemi ‘Cuda in the backyard. There is so much
In the picture was some sort of stadium light. The shadows in the interesting history out there that people just don’t know yet. Another one of
picture showed that the car was sitting North West of this light because my codas is I don’t share who the owners are or where they are at. I want
the shadows were pointing east as the Sun was setting. After that, I to protect them from unsavory individuals that would do bad things to these
jumped on Google Earth and began looking at different stadiums, cars. But they are out there if you are willing to look hard enough.
football fields, etc., looking for one that matched the one in the picture. Thankfully I do not have a social life, so I’m always on the hunt. Find me
It was easy enough to go back and forth on Google Earth looking for online at www.barnfinds.org.

1970 Hemi ‘Cuda

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