While most of the rumble at the New York International Auto Show came from the 1,025 HP Dodge Challenger 170 on the upper level, this interesting, and perhaps more historically significant, Mopar sat quietly parked among other vintage iron in the lower-level displays.
Originally exported to Paris, France, Henri Chemin raced this four-speed 1970 Hemi ‘Cuda for several years as the #42. The 426 Hemi is better known for tire-smoking quarter mile passes in the United States rather than tearing up the small, twisty tracks and road courses of Europe. AAR ‘Cudas of the same vintage featured a special variant of the 340 small block V8 for Trans Am racing.
Discovered as a barn find in France, the ‘Cuda was shipped back to the United States for a comprehensive restoration back to its racing form by Redline Automotive Restorations out of Black Rock, CT. When completed, old No. 42 returned to France where Henri, then in his eighties, once again took it out for a few laps before its final journey back to the United States.
