Ex-Nicolas Cage 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda to be auctioned this weekend – UPDATE: Sold

UPDATE, 30 January 2024: The 1970 Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda previously owned by actor Nicholas Cage has sold at auction for $US605,000 ($AU915,000).

This makes it – by just $5000 – the highest price paid for a third-generation Barracuda coupe in the past 12 months, but doesn't set a new record for the model.

A 1971 Hemi 'Cuda sold at auction exactly one year ago for $US935,000 ($AU1.4 million), without any celebrity ownership provenance.

27 January 2024: In the fictional world of the 2000 movie Gone in 60 Seconds, the range-topping, big-power Plymouth Barracuda was known simply as ‘Shannon’.

There, the 1971 Hemi ‘Cuda was certainly bold, finished in ‘Moulin Rouge’ pink with matte ‘Hemi’ motif stripes and as a 1971 model, the only year to feature quad headlamps.

And while Oscar-winning actor Nicolas Cage’s character, Memphis Raines, dutifully ‘liberated’ Shannon from her owner, the star’s connection to the Mopar muscle car also extends off the screen.

A fully-restored 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda, previously owned by Nicolas Cage, is set to be actioned at the Barrett-Jackson Scottsdale event in Arizona, US this weekend.

Originally launched in 1964 – the same year as its competitor, the Ford Mustang – the first-generation Plymouth Barracuda was based on the US-market Chrysler Valiant (known, and built in Australia as the AP5/AP6 generation).

It was available initially as a two-door 'fastback' with a hatchback-style tailgate, but in 1967 – for the second generation – a 'notchback' coupe and convertible with traditional boot lids were added to the line-up.

In 1970, the Barracuda left the Valiant behind and for the third (and final) generation used the near-exclusive Chrysler 'E-body' platform, shared only with its cousin from within the Chrysler group, the Dodge Challenger.

The new ‘Cuda featured wild colour schemes and a plethora of configuration options that spanned two body styles (coupe and convertible), three transmissions (three and four-speed manuals and a three-speed automatic), and a staggering eight engine choices.

Buyers could start with a modest 3.2-litre inline six-cylinder engine, but in true muscle-car form, could expand this to an enormous 7.0-litre, 317kW Hemi V8.

The Nicolas Cage car offered for sale is a black-on-black 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda fitted with the high-output 426 cubic-inch (7.0-litre) Hemi V8 and four-speed manual transmission. The car features matching engine and body numbers and has undergone a restoration and certification.

All documentation is included, which includes the car’s original purchase details and restoration history, and lists Cage as the previous owner.

The highest price paid for a ‘Cuda was $US1,950,000 ($AU2.96 million) earlier this month for a yellow-over-black 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda convertible. A 1971 coupe sold at the same event (Mecum Auctions, in Florida) for $US600,000.

One of just 13 1971 Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles ever built failed to achieve an auction reserve of $US4.8 million in May 2021, and according to Classic.com, the average price of $US123,000 hasn’t really changed since 2020.

Cage’s ‘Shannon’ is set to be auctioned with no reserve this weekend. You can view the listing here and we’ll update you with the result.