«Graveyard Carz» is an American reality TV format. The show is about restoring vintage cars from the 1960s and 1970s. Manufacturers are limited to vehicles of the Chrysler, Dodge and Plymouth brands from the former Chrysler Group (now Stellantis).
The name cemetery (cemetery) already suggests that these aren’t easy restorations: For most ordinary people, vehicles are just junk – or dead, but Graveyard Carz founder Mark Worman sees it as a challenge and resurrects legends.
Wreckage of an accident
It started with the 1971 Plymouth Barracuda with a 440 6-barrel V8 engine under the hood. This corresponds to a displacement of 7.2 liters and made the muscle car known as the Cuda for short, 390 hp. On July 5, 1980, the driver of the car had an accident on a country road in the USA. While trying to overtake, he went off the road and landed on an embankment. After that, Cuda has been around for about 25 years, ruined and rusted.
A collector discovered the coveted muscle car in 2008 and paid $50,000 for it despite its desolate condition. Because he knew: Only 108 from this 1971 Plymouth Cuda with a 440-6-barreled V8 were built back then, of which there are only 28 today. That’s why they sell for high prices at US auctions: $255,000 to $300,000 are offered for barrel cudas!
tv star today
Mark Worman was tasked with rebuilding the wrecked car and actually just wanted to document his work on video. But then came the idea of making a reality TV show from that, and it was a complete success – season 13 is currently underway in the US. Christened “Phantom Cuda”, the crash car’s rebirth took ten years (from 2008 to 2018) and was accompanied by “Graveyard Carz” for the first six seasons. After that, it was almost better than it was in 1971 when it came off the assembly line.
Luckily, this TV star now belongs to a Swiss car enthusiast! Daniel R. Singy, owner of classic and used car dealer Top Auto Oerlikon, specializing in muscle cars, bought the reborn Plymouth Cuda from 1971 and this precious piece is part of the Auto Zurich Classic in Hall 6 this year. as exhibiting. Auto Zurich. In addition, Top Auto Oerlikon is also showcasing the 340 Sport Coupé “Grace Cuda” from 1970, rebuilt by “Graveyard Carz”.