As you are probably well aware, the term “street car” is somewhat relative. In reality, we all know that a street car is one that, no matter the engine output or suspension set up, is reliable, legal to drive on the road, and offers driving comfort a notch or two above a tuned road racer.

This ’70 Hemi ’Cuda, rolls all of that experience into one of the baddest real-world street cars we’ve ever seen. Take a closer look and we think you’ll agree.

The ’Cuda was practically rust-free and in exquisite condition, the car was stripped, dipped , replaced the floor trunk for good measure, rewelded the subframes, and added gussets to the inside of the frame rails for extra rigidity (instead of welding in subframe connectors). The car looks pretty much stock inside and out. It had to have exemplary street manners, be reliable, and still kick some serious tail on the street and at the track. A Hemi it would be, but with a most significant twist. Ray Barton Engines wanted to build a “new” Hemi engine that would have the bottom end response of a 440, but with the upper horsepower capabilities of a Hemi.

Ray put together a package that consisted of a 528 cid Siamese Mopar block fitted with Manley rods, JE pistons, aluminum Mopar heads, Pro Flow valves, a Comp Cams valvetrain featuring Dick Landy stainless roller rockers, and an Indy intake manifold. The clincher was that the Hemi would also be fuel injected.

Rance Baxter of Rance Fuel Injection received the Indy intake, which was drilled to accept the direct port EFI system, and provided a base fuel map developed from another Hemi Rance had built, although that one was for a 426 cid engine. Once the EFI setup was completed and installed, the car was sent to Norwood Autocraft in Dallas so the ’Cuda could be chassis dynoed in order to make the wide open throttle adjustments with the four-speed tranny. The results were right on the mark. The fuel-injected Hemi was able to achieve 480-500 lb/ft of torque in the 2,800-3,000 rpm range—an output Hemis typically don’t see until around 4,000 rpm.

With the WOT settings established, we are now able to customize our EFI system to meet specific driving conditions via a laptop computer that plugs into an on-board port located in the dash.

The original goal was to see how fast we could make this ’Cuda while retaining streetability and still have reliable transportation. Mission accomplished. This way-out ’Cuda not only makes a healthy 500 plus horsepower, it is frequently driven throughout the area, and we don’t hesitate to take it on long interstate hauls. The car averages around 14 mpg around town, and 15 mpg on the highway. As for quarter-mile performance, how does 11.67 at 119 mph on street tires sound?

A streetable Hemi? That...and a whole lot more. Just goes to show what can happen when high tech meets vintage iron.