Okay, so a ’73 Plymouth ‘Cuda may not be your idea of a prime American muscle car. After all, it was at least a year too late to be a high-horsepower car and two to four years too late to be in the real heat of the muscle car war. But to Californian Arial Alvarez, this Mad Max looking ‘Cuda is about as stellar as it gets. Check it out in this week’s episode of Big Muscle from the DRIVE network above.

Having been his dad’s car, Alvarez’s ’73 ‘Cuda has a long family history. But beyond that is Alvarez’s passion for tinkering that has made the car what it is today.

Back in the day, Alvarez wanted a sport bike but with push-back from his dad, he opted to purchase the ’73 Cuda from his father instead. His dad got the money he needed and Alvarez got the performance outlet he was looking for.

With track performance in mind, the car features a 340ci small block with aluminum heads, sticky tires and a plethora of added aerodynamic components. Sure, there are still holes in the floor and firewall, no interior and the car remains a primer black color, but it’s not about looks in Alvarez’s eyes.

The current engine produces a hardy 300hp to the rear wheels while the exhaust note is enough to have you taking a second glance. Still, the car is definitely a work in progress, and by Alvarez’s own admission, it will more than likely never be done.