Chrysler 'Cuda Convertible Concept at Cars & Coffee
by Frank Filipponio on Jun 14th 2008 at 3:25PM 
Click image above for high-res gallery of pics of this new 'Cuda Convertible Concept
Maybe the 'Cuda is alive after all. While we have speculated about the existence of one ever since we first heard a hint of the SEMA show car from last year, all we've had to work with since are rumors and sketches of what might be. Well, today at the weekly Cars and Coffee show in Irvine, a genuine 'Cuda Concept was parked right in the midst of everything. A convertible nonetheless. It just sat there with only a few people really spotting it for what it was. Considering that real original '70s 'Cudas are plentiful at this show and that several Challenger SRT-8s have already made appearances, it doesn't seem surprising that people might not spot this concept immediately. The surprising part is that it is painted purple with a white convertible top that can't be ignored no matter how hard you try. While the car sported no badges, it wore a mock "NEWCUDA" Colorado plate and had a seemingly stock Challenger-like interior, complete with a Hurst pistol-grip shifter for the automatic trans. While many of the details emulate the 70-74 cars, the bulk says Challenger. Particularly fun is the grill and headlight setup and the Shaker hood scoop. Very nicely done. The only badge we spotted was a big G on the front fenders, the mark of Metalcrafter's Gaffoglio boys. Looks like we have a SEMA '08 preview on our hands.
Gallery: Chrysler Cuda Convertible Concept
Photos Copyright © 2008 Frank Filipponio / Weblogs, Inc
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
MemphisNET 3:33PM (6/14/2008)
Good looking, but this is someone's wet dream. It is not up to Chrysler's quality in concepts. Too many details look slapped on. My guess... chopped and molested Charger by someone with a lot of money.
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styleguy 3:54PM (6/14/2008)
Agreed. This is nothing but a dream. The purple is distracting though. But in all seriousness, Chrysler LLC didn't make this. It's not even on their website. Ford did a better job distincting their Edge from the MKX. Totally badge engineered, if that is even how it was made.
MemphisNET 5:47PM (6/14/2008)
Don't get me wrong, kudo's to whoever put the time & effort in - but it does look like garage made effort. The back lacks any character, the front fender is modified charger, the interior is charger, the exhaust tips/cutouts look like a last minute job...
It just doesn't have that Chrysler 'punch' when it comes to show cars... and looks... well, sloppy compared to some of the best in the business (ex Foose)
Frank 5:53PM (6/14/2008)
Ironically Metalcrafters builds some of Foose's cars as well as most of the concepts you see at auto shows around the world. Take a look at their website and you'll see what I mean.
http://www.metalcrafters.com/
HotRodzNKustoms 7:38PM (6/14/2008)
I was there this morning and it looked ghastly in my own opinion. I'm a fan of the original concept but that though impossible to ignore it was for all the wrong reasons.
TwinTurboVR4 11:54PM (6/14/2008)
PLUM CRAZY PURPLE! lol
unless the chargers sell like hotcakes, i dont think this one will see showroom floors.
Plymouth revival anyone?
Red 3:34PM (6/14/2008)
I'm sure there are going to be fans, but to be honest, compared to either Challenger or Camaro, I don't find anything particularly special about this. Or that great looking. Maybe in a single, solid color.
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Red 3:47PM (6/14/2008)
Sorry. Meant to say like Hemi Orange or black, with tinted lights or something.
3seriesisking 12:24AM (6/15/2008)
Maybe, but I just don't find anything particularly appealing about this one.
4agze 4:03PM (6/14/2008)
very nice purple color perfect for push rod fans
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brandon 4:05PM (6/14/2008)
I think this looks way better than the Challenger (except the interior needs lots of work)
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Galley 4:24PM (6/14/2008)
That's "plum crazy"!
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Jrejre 4:35PM (6/14/2008)
Grill is kinda cool but overall looks. . . odd. I'd love to see that color combo on a challenger though.
And btw that's definitely a charger interior. I know the challenger one is mostly charger but center console in the challenger is different (better imo).
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Torrent 4:51PM (6/14/2008)
wtf it's a challenger interior with a ill-proportioned exterior.
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Torrent 4:55PM (6/14/2008)
scratch that. an ugly exterior.
Kimura 5:16PM (6/14/2008)
It's not a Challenger interior, it's a Charger/Magnum interior with apparently custom colors.
ML 5:41PM (6/14/2008)
This thing is some customizer's wet dream, not a factory effort. And it's detailing is amateur (the grille and headlights). If Chrysler displayed a 'Cuda concept, it would look like they spent a lot of money on it. This car is not a professional execution. I'll wait to see what Chrysler will do with a Challenger convertible, and I'll bet it won't be purple!
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Dave 5:59PM (6/14/2008)
This was actually at the Spring Fling in Van Nuys last month.
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zamafir 5:58PM (6/14/2008)
ugh everyone around me spotted it immediately, then moved on, the contours and colors appeared quite comic and simply didn't work. It felt like something out of CARs. I squeezed a few hundred RAW images and this car didn't even find itself in one, it was possibly the most underwhelming car at the show.
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Benfolio 6:30PM (6/14/2008)
Sooooo...... is Plymouth back?
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