Documented 2,010 Actual Mile Highest Optioned Hemi 'Cuda Survivor

Whether we like it or not basic Psychology confirms that stereotypes, oth positive and negative, re usually founded in reality. That means all those catchy sayings you've heard about North Carolina country boys being brave, olite and simple are absolutely true. See, earheads in the Tar Heel state know all it takes to have a good time is something with an engine, omething with bullets or somewhere with a little bit of land. And that basic outlook on life is probably why we've built such a great reputation as fun-loving, ree-spirited adventurers. The all-original time capsule 'Cuda you see here was custom-ordered by one of North Carolina's most fearless backwoods daredevils, nd spent most of its life sitting in his world-class car and motorcycle collection. Not only is the car packed full of rare and unique options, t's also equipped with a top-of-the-line, igh performance drivetrain, till covered in original paint and still cradling a 2,010 mile original Hemi V8. We all know time travel, owever desirable it may be, s a phenomenon that's only found in fiction. But when you take one look at this untouched Plymouth survivor, he ultimate, owest mileage reference-grade Hemicuda in existence, ou'll begin to question both your sense of time and perception!

There's a reason, er auctions results, he 1971 Hemicuda is the most valuable muscle car of all time: they were unique and exclusive cars even when new. And, s with any hand-picked hobby car, ou really can't get a feel for this Plymouth's significance until you thoroughly understand its owner. Zachary Taylor Reynolds, orn in 1938, ived a life most people only dream about. He was the grandson of the world's biggest tobacco tycoon, he son of a prominent political figure and the heir to seemingly unlimited money, ame and intelligence. By the early 1900s the Reynolds family's penchant for reckless behavior was already a subject of national conversation. But in the midst of the roaring 20s Zach's dad Dick Reynolds, nd the uncle Zach was named for, ealed the deal by becoming well-known members of New York's Gotham club scene and transporting Mafia bootleggers on their personal planes. Eventually that risky lifestyle gave way to Zach's uncle dying under mysterious circumstances, nd Dick moving back to Winston-Salem to become a pillar of the community and the Mayor of the city. But Dick was a natural wonderer, nd although he wanted to settle down and raise his young family, e just couldn't resist a chance to sign up for the Navy and rediscover adventure. Unfortunately his combat service in World War II did not quell his appetite for new acquaintances, nd it wasn't long until his wife Elizabeth learned of her pending divorce via a popular radio news show.

Now charged with raising four kids by herself, ach's mother decided he and his younger brother would eschew the prominent private educations of her two eldest sons in favor of public schools and summers on the family's 12,000 acre estate. A few years later, ith only one parent in the house and 22 miles of fenced in property at his fingertips, ine year old Zach had already become an avid gun enthusiast; a skill that would later net him a national marksmanship title. And by the time he attended R.J. Reynolds high school, ach had already established his first motorcycle club and become a race winning rider. Unfortunately the unscathed survival of a few serious wrecks slowly convinced young Zach of his perceived indestructibility, nd he began spending most of his nights terrorizing the streets of the town his family essentially founded. The police were none-to-happy about Zach's penchant for blatant street racing and daredevil trickery and, t his mother's urging, ade him spend many nights in jail and eventually revoked his license. Not to be outsmarted, nd knowing North Carolina doesn't require a license to operate a tractor, ach simply re-geared one of his family's rigs and happily chugged up and down Winston-Salem's quaint country roads at speeds approaching 60 MPH. Fortunately all those growing pains weren't in vain as Zach ultimately wanted to become an engineering undergrad student. However, is mom insisted he attend Wake Forest University, nearby college that was devoid of engineering programs, nd Zach eventually swapped educational ambition for enlistment in the Navy.

After four years honing his mechanical prowess in a Virginia ship yard Zach came home to find that his absentee father, ho was displeased with his daredevil lifestyle, ad disowned him AND his three brothers. But Zach, lready substantially wealthy thanks to several independent family trusts, ad no intentions of changing for anyone and began building one of the world's largest private motorcycle and muscle car collections. The Hemicuda you're currently looking at was special ordered from Ed Owens Plymouth in Winston-Salem, orth Carolina to be a centerpiece of his amazing collection. Serviced and inspected by Zach's friend Lonnie Maines, t's not only one of the highest optioned 'Cudas ever built, t's also a fully documented, eference-grade survivor that still has many traces of its original owner ingrained in its octane-rich DNA. The car's three fender tags set it up as follows:

One of the many historical documents included with this amazing Mopar's sale is an original Chrysler broadcast sheet that lists the following factory build sequence:

One of the coolest things about "Dr. Zacho" Reynolds was his unique sense of style. Zach knew actions speak louder than words, nd he also knew there wasn't one single person on this planet he had to impress. That laissez-faire outlook and subsequent freedom from societal norms allowed him to pull off a certain flamboyance and creativity that ONLY someone of his presence and stature can. I mean, o you know anyone else who can don a red jumpsuit, rap up in a black cape, am-fist a skull swagger stick and be taken remotely seriously; let alone look straight badass while doing it? No. That's because Zach possessed a perfect balance of danger, harisma and youthful charm that was as intriguing as it was welcoming; and all that character and personality certainly flowed into his cars and bikes.

Being the heir to the Reynolds tobacco empire, nd having an avid love of Winston cigarettes, ach predictably ordered his brand spankin' new 'Cuda in Chrysler's FE5 Rallye Red, V1X black vinyl top and V6X Hemi billboards. When the car arrived at Ed Owens' dealership a few touch ups were performed on its hood and fenders, 0s assembly line quality being what it was, nd the black billboards were automatically accented with white Hemi letters and white outlining stripes that continued onto the car's profile. As any decent daredevil knows, ou can't be good at cheating death unless you taunt death; so in addition to having his name painted right above both of the car's door handles Zach commenced decorating its fenders, ood and trunk with his typical array of skull decals, ce of spades decals and American flag decals. For the first 30 years of its life, his is exactly how the car would remain. It was only after a high caliber Mopar collector Steven Juliano bought it from a North Carolina museum that it was returned to 100% factory luster. Steven determined the only way to safely separate the vintage decals from the vintage paint was to carefully scrape them with his finger nails. The painted "ZACH" letters on the doors were whittled to a mere outline using a mild buffing compound. And the entire car was treated to a through polish and shine. Today, 6 years after that cosmetic freshening, his 'Cuda sits as one fantastically straight head turner which possesses new car solidity and looks as if it could have rolled out of Dodge Main yesterday. And lest you think Zach's spirit isn't still with the car, ne careful look at its doors reveals the faint outline of his official brandings!

Of course, ven without Zach's unique aesthetic tweaks, his sinister stoplight brawler is still very easy on the eyes and STILL some of the meanest looking muscle to ever grace American roads. At the front of the car, n optional Rallye Red multiport grille hangs four 1971-exclusive halogen headlights above a showroom fresh chrome bumper, riginal chrome road lamps, lush-fitting parking lights and optional wing spoilers. At the top of the car, fresh air hood props stainless hood pins, small chrome "PLYMOUTH" script and a "hemicuda" branded shaker in front of original tinted glass that's cleared by turtleback wipers and framed by original stainless trim. At the sides of the car, riginal Hemi Fender's hang small turn signal indicators and 1971-exclusive fender gills in front of optional body-matched racing mirrors, atin-finished door handles, ptional door edge guards and dent-free rocker mouldings. And at the back of the car, traditional flat black valence centers a cool silver "'cuda by PLYMOUTH" emblem and 1971-exclusive tail lights between original rear window louvers, n optional decklid wing, second showroom fresh chrome bumper and correct stainless exhaust tips.

Despite his loved ones' constant attempts to dampen his desire for fast cars with storms of personal threats, ach always drove the most impressive metal in town. There was the infamous Catalina 421 Super Duty he purchased for "family transportation". There was the 140 MPH NASCAR-built Cobra he bought to outrun a few specific loudmouths. There was his custom-built, ocket powered Ford Galaxie that made a 200 MPH pass down Interstate 40 and became unofficially known as The Tobacco King. Hell he even had five planes, ncluding one custom-built Pitts, hich earned him both a national aerobatics title and the nickname Cigarette City Flash! The point is: Zach ALWAYS had a need for speed and an appetite for the very best. And given how well he and his friends maintained his lust-worthy collection, he engine bay of this top-dog 'Cuda is exactly how you'd expect it to be. There's an all-original, ow-mileage Hemi which wears a correct 2468330-2 casting number above a matching 295999 partial VIN. There's a gracious amount of original Hemi Orange overspray that creeps onto the engine's closest ancillary components. And there's original Rallye Red paint covering a firewall and inner fenders that look so fresh they've likely never seen a mechanic's cover. Fuel and air are supplied by two 4-barrel Carter AFB carburetors which are bolted to a high performance intake manifold. Compression is sparked by high quality Chrysler Electronic Suppression wires which are snapped onto an original dual point distributor. Spent gases are expelled through original low restriction exhaust manifolds which seal tight below an obviously vintage set of Organisol coated valve covers. And resultant combustion is cooled by a 26 inch heavy duty radiator that comes complete with original hoses, riginal squeeze clamps and an original fan shroud. Visually, his reference grade engine compartment is clean and understated... Well, s understated as an all-original, atching numbers HEMI can be. The engine cranks immediately and runs just as well today as when it rolled into Ed Owens showroom. And there are tons of little details like specific fuel lines, riginal carburetor hardware, riginal brake booster hardware, riginal coil wiring, ild weave hoses and original factory-fill fluids that can't even be duplicated by today's nicest NOS and concours cars.

Ace stunt pilot or not, don't think Zach ever got the wheels of this solid Plymouth off the ground. But if you decide to do just that, opefully via a conventional lift instead of an actual flight plan, ou'll find a clean original undercarriage that appears so untouched it could have been teleported straight from 1971. The high powered big block spins an original A727 TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic transmission that's branded with a correct 3515849 Barracuda code and a matching 295999 partial VIN. And that heavy duty gear slinger churns torque through an optional Dana 60 rear end that's still equipped with a tough Sure Grip differential, iller 4.10 gears and an original factory paper strap that's branded with a build sheet matching 026 part number. At the front of the car an original torsion bar suspension, hich is complete with a thick sway bar, pecially tuned shocks and original control arms that still display a thin layer of factory Cosmoline, elps increase both drivability and track times. At the back of the car, he aforementioned Dana pumpkin utilizes original leaf springs and a second pair of specially tuned shocks to ensure tight turns and drama free launches. Stops come courtesy of an optional power brake system that employs optional front discs and traditional rear drums. Turns feels firm and responsive thanks to a factory optioned power steering. Spent gases are whisked away by an original true dual exhaust system which features an H-pipe crossover, ear-mounted resonators and Chrysler branded turbo mufflers. And all this first rate hardware proudly stands on original 15 inch Rallye wheels which wrap original F60-15 Goodyear Polyglas GTs around pristine center caps and spotless trim rings. Aesthetically, he bottom of this Super Track Pack 'Cuda is just as reference-grade as its engine bay. And all its original details, ncluding optional undercoated floors, asty paint drips, tandard chalk marks, teel chassis hardware and an old school stainless gas tank are precisely where the factory left them.

Ever hear the old southern saying "I told you this story to tell you another story"? Well, 'm going to tell you a short story to tell you an even shorter story. While recovering from a motorcycle accident that landed him in the hospital, ach ordered a small Ham radio to stave off boredom. That little bit of exposure to the hobby excited him so much he built an entire two-room system in his house that could broadcast worldwide. Among other people, ack often talked to the Shah of Iran and Arizona native Barry Goldwater; and his signal became so powerful the FCC would regularly visit his house to complain about his interference with local radio stations. Now, told you that story to highlight a very rare option in Zach's 'Cuda. Because he was such an audiophile, e was one of the few guys to actually check the order form for a premium factory stereo that came complete with a microphone jack and a recorder. Of course, hen it comes to most Hemicudas, here are two things to consider: 1) They were bought mainly for performance, nd 2) The addition of Chrysler's almost $900 Hemi usually didn't leave much room for frivolous extra-cost luxuries. But I guess one of the many perks of being a millionaire heir to the world's largest tobacco company is checking the box for pretty much anything you want, nytime. Inside the car a rare split bench front, ull bench rear seat combination displays virtually no signs of wear at all. Opposite those seats, fresh black dash hangs and a fully-functional Rallye instrument cluster above a standard Music Master AM/FM radio, n optional locking glove box and a lit ashtray that still conceals butts from Zach's beloved Winston cigarettes. On the doors, culpted panels proudly hang bold "'Cuda" emblems above optional power window switches, ntegrated door handles and chrome lock latches. The driver interfaces with the road through an optional three-spoke Rim Blow steering wheel and a chrome column shifter. And the passengers stow their cargo in a virtually untouched trunk that props an original mat and an original Space Saver spare tire below optional rear window speakers, n optional rear window defroster, nd factory wing springs.

Just in case this world class Tar Heel survivor's amazing story isn't enough to impress you, t also comes with extensive documentation and the provenance of being part of high profile Mopar collector Steven Juliano's ultimate collection. According to the car's Mopar Action spread Steven, ho exclusively buys Mopars "the hardest of the hardcore collectors can only dream about", anted to find the ultimate Hemicuda and subsequently put the word out in his inner circle of Mopar aficionados. An associate of well-known restorer Roger Gibson mentioned Zach's 2,000 mile survivor and, fter a few leads, teven finally got a number and made the call. The owner promptly told Steven the car wasn't for sale but did eventually agree to let him look at it. So Steven grabbed fellow Mopar aficionado Tony D'Agostino, anded in the piedmont of North Carolina and, fter two hours of crawling all over this 'Cuda, realized he had actually found the kind of survivor that's usually reserved for car guy fantasies. Upon asking Tony his thoughts, e received the response "If you don't buy this car right now, will. And I'll never need to own another Mopar as long as I live." And that's all Steven needed to hear to blurt the word "DEAL!" before the owner even finished naming his price.

Here's an itemized list of this one-of-a-kind Hemicuda's documentation:

Throughout his life "Dr. Zach" was in the company of celebrities, ock stars and what most considered the upper crust of society. But no matter who visited him, r who he traveled to see, e always called Winston-Salem his home and Winston-Salem residents his closest friends. Unfortunately time waits for no one and Zach, ow pushing his 40s, ad suffered a series of accidents and was beginning to have premonitions of dying in a plane crash. At the behest of his wife, e decided to quit flying altogether and settled into being a mentor and friend for community kids who had long admired his daredevil spirit. One of those kids, local 18 year old, ad just gotten his pilot's license and was eager to take Zach up to show him a few moves. Given his premonitions Zach was secretly reluctant, ut his kind nature would never allow him say no to a kid. On that fateful evening in 1979, he tenth anniversary of Zach's national aerobatics championship, e would take off from his namesake uncle's regional airport and perish in a terrible plane crash. His friends and fans in Winston-Salem remember him as someone that, espite his privileged status, as always magnetic, arm, elcoming and exceedingly generous. And one friend described his perpetual youth by saying: "When we were 10, ach was 14. When we were 19, ach was still 14".

As an avid gearhead, t seems only fitting that Zach Reynolds would pass his gift of perpetual youth to his amazing cars. Flashy, nique, cary and possessing the best of everything this car, he ultimate reference-grade 1971 Hemicuda in existence, s a refreshing reminder that extraordinary things ARE still possible and extraordinary things DO still exist. If you're looking for the absolute ultimate muscle car that's guaranteed to please the most discerning collector and serve as the perfect centerpiece to any collection, ere's your ace in the hole!