Fred Provenzano is the proud owner of a 1971 Plymouth Cuda convertible that he bought about 26 years ago as a major project.
“It was stripped…just a shell”, in Fred’s words, but he saw plenty of potential in the car.
One of the better reasons for his assessment was Fred is a body man who was talented enough to tackle a major project like the ’71 Cuda, so he knew the classic convertible was within his skill set.
Jim Sutherland
Fred told MyStarCollectorCar the Cuda was initially shelved for 12 years because life got in the way, and he had higher priorities over that time frame, but eventually Fred was able to donate a big chunk of his spare time to the car project.
A 1971 Plymouth Cuda convertible ranks among the more desirable Mopar pony cars because of its rarity. In fact, only about 300 Cuda convertible models were built in 1971, so Fred was aware of his Cuda’s rarity.
As mentioned earlier, Fred bought the Cuda as a major project with many missing parts, including its engine. Consequently, Fred decided to install a 512-cubic-inch big block crate engine that pumps out massive torque and horsepower.
The big block is paired with a solid 4-speed manual transmission to deliver plenty of power to the beefy rear end.
A convertible restoration is a complicated build because of major challenges like a good fit on doors on a car with no metal roof to distribute the stresses of torque and gravity. Fred recalled how he spent 20 hours fitting and refitting a door on his Cuda because he wanted a perfect fit on every bodyline of the convertible.
A perfect fit is not an easy task and requires an enormous amount of patience blended with skill to get it right on a convertible, but Fred was up to the challenge. He was willing to invest his time into a major project that would have cost him a lot of money if Fred had to rely upon the services of another body guy.
Fred had this assessment of the lengthy restoration process:” I don’t think I could have afforded it (the Cuda restoration)”, if he had to spend the cash required for somebody else to complete a build to this high a level of excellence. For the record, the body fit and paint finish are perfect on Fred’s Cuda.
The incredibly high quality of his Cuda build led to five trophies at a World of Wheels show the very first time Fred entered an event with his convertible.
Fred took care of the smallest details on his Cuda, including the decals under its hood. He also added a few improvements like an electric top for the convertible that is smooth as glass when in operation.
Fred loves the way his 70 Cuda performs on the road and said it “rides nice” on the highway.
He acknowledged that it’s “not like new cars” in terms of handling or noise levels, but Fred doesn’t really care because his Cuda will always be a true pleasure whenever he gets behind the wheel.
Jim Sutherland
BY: Jim Sutherland
Jim Sutherland is a veteran automotive writer whose work has been published by many major print and online publications. The list includes Calgary Herald, The Truth About Cars, Red Deer Advocate, RPM Magazine, Edmonton Journal, Montreal Gazette, Windsor Star, Vancouver Province, and Post Media Wheels Section.
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