Ever hear the phrase “rougher than a night in jail?” If it wasn’t referring to this ‘Cuda, it should. This fish has gone beyond patina’ed to crusty junkyard dog. But it sure had some bite at Las Vegas Motor Speedway this past Spring where it made pass after pass. The crowd loved it, cheering on the old E-body with every trip to the burnout box.

It proves once again that it’s the underpinnings that matter on the strip. Whether that’s the Las Vegas Strip or anywhere else. LVMS is a professional track and the tech inspections there are as rigorous as anywhere. So the car is obviously mechanically sound. And it’s obviously shed its paint in favor of scaly rust. But the owner doesn’t care. He’s having a ball tearing up the strip in a Mopar and pleasing the crowd at the same time.

Now before you go wondering if it’s got a Hemi in it, our sources say no. It’s a round tail-light car which means post-muscle 1971 era. So, from the factory, the best it can have is a 340 or 360. Of course, this car is as far from factory fresh as you can guess. Would we restore it? Heck, no! Should it be restored? Heck no!

First off, its post 1971 status means instantly upside-down on any restoration budget. Secondly, there’s more fun in beating on a junker like this than having a heart attack whenever a kid with an ice cream cone walks by your newly minted resto at a car show.

Look folks, get out your old Mopar “barn tenant” and get it running. After reading about this ‘Cuda you really have no excuse. See you at the track.