1970 Unrestored AAR Cuda Numbers Documented

COPO_Chronic · #1 06-27-2015, 09:53 PM

Alert!!!!!!! Garage Find Time Capsule

I am selling my unrestored 1970 AAR Cuda didn't restore it because it has too much history behind it.

Fully Documented Y28 (1 of 2 Promotional Public Relations Vehicle) this one and the other Y-28 was featured in MotorTrend and Car & Driver.

Built by Chrysler Corp. for Chrysler Corp
Five (5) Y-Codes
Twenty-nine (29) Option Codes
Two (2) Internal Codes

Probably one of the most documented AAR in existence

Documents include:
Original Chrysler Motor Corp. Consumer Warranty Information Pamphlet
Original Vehicle Stopping Distance, Acceleration and Passing Ability, and
Tire Reserve Load
Copy of Chrysler Motor Corp Plant Copy of Hamtramck Assembly Internal Invoice –
Detroit Michigan. Plant
Original Broadcast Sheet
Original Dealer Invoice (Adair Chrysler Plymouth – Seguin, Texas)
Original Owners Manual with Original Plastic Pouch
Chrysler Motors Corporation: Notarized Subsequent Retail Purchaser Dealer Certification

Pros:
Original numbers matching drive train (340-6 engine, 727 trans, rearend, exhaust)
Original 47,000 miles
Original paint, rims, interior, fiberglass hood
All original sheet metal
Trunk pan in excellent shape/ original spare tire and NOS bottle included

Cons:
Needs rust repair in the front and rear windshield area has repo front windshield and original back glass
Driver side floor pan needs minor repair rusted through
Minor dent on rear driver side quarter panel near tail light
Front seats torn at the seams, has repo front seat covers
Original carpet needs to be replaced
Original dash cracked in several areas
Grill has small crack in the middle

Color: Lime Green Metallic

This AAR Cuda contains priceless and historic documentation.

In the late 1970s a devastating fire swept the Chrysler offices and all records for cars built in the 1960s and 1970s were lost forever.
Never before has such rare documentation ever been posted anywhere.
Because this AAR is a Y-28 Public Relations vehicle, it coincidentally happens to carry
a copy of the original internal order invoice which is probably the only surviving copy
known to exist not just for this vehicle but for any Chrysler product produced in that era.
In addition, an original Public Relations/Warranty release form was placed in this AAR’s
glove box.

This AAR is one of two of the most historic Chrysler Plymouth AAR Cudas in existence!
They were Chrysler Public Relations Vehicles used for the promotion of the “new” limited production AAR Trans AM Racing Cudas.
As mentioned, the other Y-28 Public Relations Cuda was sent to Car & Driver and MotorTrend magazines for test review.
This Lime Green Metallic AAR Cuda was ordered by Chrysler on the first day the AAR was announced as available to the public- March 4, 1970.

The story of this AAR is equally fascinating.

An Air Force military A&P mechanic (Mr. John Budy) was close friends with the local Chrysler dealer (Mr. Adair) in a small sleepy town in south Texas. (Mr. Adair was also ex-military and an ex- WWII “Ace” fighter pilot) had purchased a new 340 Cuda when it came out.
By 1971, Mr. Budy decided he wanted an AAR Cuda and if all possible a new one.
So Mr. Adair called around the state and could not find one, so what he did next was call
Chrysler in Detroit, Michigan.
It so happened that they had a program vehicle auction coming up and they had only TWO AAR Cudas available.
So Mr. Adair jumped in his private plane and flew up to Detroit for the auction.
Upon seeing the two AARs, he had mentioned that one was “a little rough”
(the magazine car) so he bid on this one.
He also stated that the bidding on these two cars was “very competitive”.
Before the auction, the vehicles were in the lot for viewing and had their internal order invoices in the windshields to show what options the car came with – of course that’s all the Chrysler had – no window stickers because they hadn’t been out of Chrysler’s hands yet. The copy went with the car to the winning bidder – and Mr. Adair placed it in the glove box and Mr. Budy kept it there along with the rest of the car’s paperwork.
So that is how this rare AAR Cuda made it’s way to a sleepy little town in Texas and the car has remained in Texas all it’s life.
Mr. Budy was a military “lifer” and was stationed overseas for many years.
So this AAR remained in storage for approx. 22 years. It was last state inspected in 1989 and registration expired in 1990.

At the Hamtramck plant, they apparently knew this was a special program car because the build sheet was placed inside the glovebox and not on top of it or under the seat.
There are also two consumer information brochures with the V.I.N. and Internal Order Number printed on them.
Also, there is the original dealer selling invoice, and dealer logo envelope it was kept in.
Even the original “Starting Instructions” tag was kept.
In the trunk, a complete set of NOS AAR stripes was found as well as a pair of original
uninstalled front spoiler whiskers.
Again, an important reason why the paperwork survived so long is that the car was in storage for 22 years since date of purchase and by having a meticulous very detailed
adult owner who valued documentation.

Since arriving in Honolulu, Hawaii in 2005, this AAR has been in storage for approx.
10 years.
My intentions were to restore this AAR Cuda, however after years of research I realized restoring a car of this significance was out of my expertise. Thus, I will leave this car to the experts to restore or collect it or leave it alone as a survivor.

To summarize, this is a very original unmolested matching numbers low mileage
Public Relations AAR Cuda. It is a very historical car in an unbelievable survivor
condition.
It will need a restoration if you want a perfect car, although the majority of the existing paint job is remarkable for it’s age.
As the old cliché reminds us, they are only original once.
This AAR holds many revealing secrets that will blow conventional Mopar concourse
restoration knowledge out the window.

Asking Price: $70,000.00 OBO

Thank you!

FYI: Still trying to figure out how to post pictures if interested I can send pictures to your email.