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THIS ARTICLE IS FROM GOODGUYS GAZETTE - Neil Patrick is co-founder of Modern & Classic Performance.
NVN Pick
Mark Stephens
1972 Plymouth Cuda
Many of us wish that we could have a second chance at our first car. Few people are lucky enough to retain
that first automobile, and even fewer can take an opportunity to finally build it into the car of their dreams.
Mark Stephens is one such lucky individual who did.
He began looking at cars around 14 or 15 years old, dreaming of a 68 Camaro until he rode in his brother-n-law's Coronet with a 383 and a pistol grip. He says that he instantly liked the raw power of the Mopar, but wasn t into the boxy body style. His brother-in-law suggested that he check out a sleeker Challenger or Cuda. "What is a Cuda?" he asked.
NVN Pick
Mark Stephens
1972 Plymouth Cuda
Many of us wish that we could have a second chance at our first car. Few people are lucky enough to retain
that first automobile, and even fewer can take an opportunity to finally build it into the car of their dreams.
Mark Stephens is one such lucky individual who did.
He began looking at cars around 14 or 15 years old, dreaming of a 68 Camaro until he rode in his brother-n-law's Coronet with a 383 and a pistol grip. He says that he instantly liked the raw power of the Mopar, but wasn t into the boxy body style. His brother-in-law suggested that he check out a sleeker Challenger or Cuda. "What is a Cuda?" he asked.
The answer came in the form of a B5 blue, 340/Auto Cuda that was sitting without an engine or trans. The owner was tracked down and $600 later it was Mark's. He and his father installed a 360/727 from the local wrecking yard, painted it, and added a custom interior.
Then they entered it in the 4th Annual Mopar Nationals in 1984, and had a blast. Mark drove the car for the next couple of years, even on his first date, before entering college. The Cuda was deemed a bit too unreliable for the college life, so he decided to sell it. His father wisely suggested that he put it in his enclosed building instead, because the day would come when he would want it back. So there it sat, safe and sound for over 20 years as life rolled on.
Then they entered it in the 4th Annual Mopar Nationals in 1984, and had a blast. Mark drove the car for the next couple of years, even on his first date, before entering college. The Cuda was deemed a bit too unreliable for the college life, so he decided to sell it. His father wisely suggested that he put it in his enclosed building instead, because the day would come when he would want it back. So there it sat, safe and sound for over 20 years as life rolled on.
Two decades later Mark was living in Harrisburg, PA, and thinking about his old car as his parents were up for a visit. That weekend also happened to be the All Chrysler Nationals in Carlisle, a mere 10 miles away. Mark and his father decided to go, and a river of memories came flowing back. The hook was set, and he decided it was time to pull the Cuda out and do it right. It was loaded on a flatbed, brought home, and torn apart. He says it was like he was 16 again, only now he had money to do it right.
Mark decided to go through the Cuda and "fix the things that Mopar did wrong" while modernizing and updating wherever possible.
He began by bringing the chassis into the 21st century with an AlterKation front suspension, torque boxes, subframe connectors, and a Musclebar 4-link rear. He added air bags to easily adjust the ride height.
Stopping chores are handled with massive 12" Wilwood discs. Mark splurged on a set of Fikse wheels because he felt they best conveyed what he was trying to do with the Cuda.
He began by bringing the chassis into the 21st century with an AlterKation front suspension, torque boxes, subframe connectors, and a Musclebar 4-link rear. He added air bags to easily adjust the ride height.
Stopping chores are handled with massive 12" Wilwood discs. Mark splurged on a set of Fikse wheels because he felt they best conveyed what he was trying to do with the Cuda.
The old 360 was replaced with a new at the time 6.4L Chrysler crate hemi with a displacement of 392 cubic inches. It went right in with a set of TTI headers, a Vintage GenIV air system, and a Keisler TKO 600 5-speed.
Moving to the interior, Mark sourced a set of front seats from a convertible BMW 645. These have a sleek profile and integrated seat belts, perfect for a pillar-less car like the Cuda. The back seat was split and equipped with shoulder belts before Nick Epps covered everything in black leather. The dash was revamped with a Rocky Mountain Dash panel and white-faced AutoMeter gauges. Mark finally got his pistol grip shifter, complete with a carbon fiber grip.
Moving to the interior, Mark sourced a set of front seats from a convertible BMW 645. These have a sleek profile and integrated seat belts, perfect for a pillar-less car like the Cuda. The back seat was split and equipped with shoulder belts before Nick Epps covered everything in black leather. The dash was revamped with a Rocky Mountain Dash panel and white-faced AutoMeter gauges. Mark finally got his pistol grip shifter, complete with a carbon fiber grip.
Adding elastomeric bumpers from a 70, recessing the side-marker lights, and installing an AAR chin spoiler cleaned up the body. Mark says his "ultimate car" was a plum crazy Cuda with a shaker scoop. "They were just so rare when I was growing up," he says, "but when I went back to Carlisle they were everywhere, so I really struggled with the paint choice. It took me two years to settle on the Stormy Mica Blue." He wanted an AAR stripe, but he didn t want it to be "in your face," so it was sprayed in Flint Mica and almost disappears like a ghost stripe in dark light.
The goal was to build the Cuda, and return to Carlisle with his father. As the project progressed, his father s health began to deteriorate, and the push was made to get the car done. His good friend Neil Patrick flew in from Canada for a 10-day thrash to get the car put together. "He s awesome," says Mark, "he s the kind of guy who can look at any bolt or bracket on a Mopar and tell you exactly where it goes. He saved me weeks of work with his expertise. We thrashed 14 hour days the entire time."
The goal was to build the Cuda, and return to Carlisle with his father. As the project progressed, his father s health began to deteriorate, and the push was made to get the car done. His good friend Neil Patrick flew in from Canada for a 10-day thrash to get the car put together. "He s awesome," says Mark, "he s the kind of guy who can look at any bolt or bracket on a Mopar and tell you exactly where it goes. He saved me weeks of work with his expertise. We thrashed 14 hour days the entire time."
The end result was a happy one. Mark finished his first car for a second time and made the Nationals with his father. He was also proudly present at the Nashville Nationals and is a heck of a nice guy. Thanks Dad, for having enough insight to help Mark keep his car safe and sound to drive another day and continue to make memories together.
Tech Specs:
Body: Recessed side markers, smoother firewall, AAR spoiler, 70 bumpers, torque boxes, sub frame connectors, Stormy Blue Mica paint, Flint Mica grille, rear panel and painted AAR.
Chassis: Alterkation front suspension with airbags, Flaming River power rack and pinion steering, Musclebar 4-link rear with air bags, 12" Wilwood brakes, Moser 60 rear with 3.54 gears.
Power: 6.4L Chrysler crate Hemi, custom top covers, Keisler TKO 600 5-speed, TTI headers, Vintage Air GenIV.
Wheels and Tires: 18x10.5" and 18x9" Fikse wheels. BF Goodrich tires.
Interior: Black leather upholstery, BMW 645 convertible front seats with integrated seatbelts, split rear seat, custom console, AutoMeter gauges, Rocky Mountain Dashes gauge plate.
Tech Specs:
Body: Recessed side markers, smoother firewall, AAR spoiler, 70 bumpers, torque boxes, sub frame connectors, Stormy Blue Mica paint, Flint Mica grille, rear panel and painted AAR.
Chassis: Alterkation front suspension with airbags, Flaming River power rack and pinion steering, Musclebar 4-link rear with air bags, 12" Wilwood brakes, Moser 60 rear with 3.54 gears.
Power: 6.4L Chrysler crate Hemi, custom top covers, Keisler TKO 600 5-speed, TTI headers, Vintage Air GenIV.
Wheels and Tires: 18x10.5" and 18x9" Fikse wheels. BF Goodrich tires.
Interior: Black leather upholstery, BMW 645 convertible front seats with integrated seatbelts, split rear seat, custom console, AutoMeter gauges, Rocky Mountain Dashes gauge plate.