Hot Rods Bitch-a-Little Cuda Jim Patrick

I had left numerous voice mails with Joe Krupinski. Finally, I wrote him a letter and included a photo of the car and my contact info. A few days later he called. He had been in CA and just got home. My letter arrived the next day, so he called right away.

He remembers the car and especially that Lee Austin was involved in the build. Joe and Lee built a dragster and campaigned it together.

Joe said that to the best of his recollection, the Cuda initially ran a naturally aspirated 340 Mopar, likely with a tunnel ram. He didn't know after that.

I sure get a kick out of the lettering on the side: "Joe Krupinski, racing engineski"

So that is the focus now, to get a handle on what is available and at what cost.

 

looks to me like a car built to run udra. there were a lot of those kind of injected cars in this area. it was a class for the guys that couldn't afford a blown nitro car. i would look for us 30 magazines and programs from the area tracks. just because its old doesn't mean it ever ran at a track. which could be the reason it looks so good. some race results would be nice to have. i will make some calls. i know some collectors that have spectacular collections on local tracks. cool car.

 

This Barracuda was at the Meltdown drags in the car show. The original grill looks way better then the 1970 Challenger grill it had. Did anyone there notice what engine was in it? I see its no longer injected.