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2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is a name that, at first hearing, conjures up two very different images in the minds of car enthusiasts. On one side, you can almost hear a classic V8 screaming, a true American muscle car roaring down the street. On the other side, you feel like you are stepping into an art gallery, where every surface on the body, every crease on the hood and each wheel choice looks like a piece of sculpture. That is why so many people who search for a 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish Review want to answer a question that seems simple but is not easy at all: is this a Plymouth for someone who loves to drive, or for an art collector?

To answer that question in a structured way, we have to start from the foundation. We need to see what 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is inside the Plymouth Cuda world, what it inherits from the legendary “Sick Fish” created by Chip Foose and Rad Rides by Troy, and how this 2026 version is positioned in the eyes of those who actually spend money to own it. From there, this 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish Review will take you through three perspectives: its design as a work of art, its performance as a real driver’s machine, and its ownership experience in real life.

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Who Is 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish In The World Of Plymouth Cuda?

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Before we talk about 2026, we need to look briefly at the heritage that 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is carrying. It did not appear out of thin air. It is the “next generation” on top of a custom project that has been very famous in the American car community.

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From Classic Plymouth Cuda To The Legendary Sick Fish

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Plymouth Barracuda and its Cuda variants from the 1970s were already muscle car icons, considered by many to be among the most beautiful Mopar models ever made. On that foundation, Chip Foose and Troy Trepanier (Rad Rides by Troy) created “Sick Fish”, a 1970 Plymouth Cuda that was cut, stretched and reworked in its chassis and body almost from scratch, turning it into a rare restomod: classic Cuda proportions but with updated stance, surfaces and interior all reimagined in modern design language.

Later on, when Joe Rogan’s Sick Fish was upgraded again, there was a very clear philosophy: keep the soul of the classic Cuda, but replace the entire “internal hardware” with a modern chassis, new suspension and a Mercury Marine SB4 7.0 liter V8 making around 750 horsepower, plus a new transmission and driveline. That real world example is a good reference point for how to imagine a modernized 2020s style build.

2026 Plymouth Sick Fish As The Next Step Of The Restomod Philosophy

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From a content perspective, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish can be understood as the way enthusiasts talk about a “new era” Sick Fish. This is when the Cuda is not only upgraded in terms of power and performance, but also taken to a higher level in terms of refinement, stability and day to day usability. In other words, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is no longer just a show car to be photographed. It aims for the standard of “driveable art”, a work of art that you can actually drive.

In that context, the core question of this 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish Review is: with its modern configuration, does 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish truly satisfy drivers who love to be behind the wheel, or is it more suitable for collectors who want to display and hold it as an art asset?

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2026 Plymouth Sick Fish Design: Muscle Car Or Rolling Artwork?

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For people who love Plymouth Cuda, just seeing the silhouette is enough to recognize it. But 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish does not stop at “keeping the shape”. It pushes every detail to a level of sophistication very different from an original Cuda.

Exterior: Where Proportions, Stance And Surfaces Tell A Story

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The first thing you notice when looking at 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is that the body proportions have been reworked very carefully. On earlier Sick Fish builds, the Cuda body was stretched, lowered and the roofline and tail were reshaped to create a smoother, more flowing look than the original car. On 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish, that spirit is pushed even further:

  • The front end is low and extended, with a slim grille and tight front bumper that make the car look like it is slicing through the air rather than crashing into it
  • The sides are smoothed, with body lines softened but sharpened in the right places, like intentional strokes on a painting instead of random press lines
  • The rear end is finished with a clean cut, slim tail lights and a bumper that flows with the body rather than looking like a separate add on.

On top of this design, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish typically wears large diameter wheels, wide tires and carefully calculated wheel gaps so that the car looks hunkered down over the road without being so low that it becomes impractical. Sick Fish builds such as Joe Rogan’s car have used 22 inch wheels combined with a modern Fast Track chassis. 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish can be seen as a continuation of that pro touring stance philosophy. That is why many people, when they first see 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish, feel like they are looking at a design studio concept rendering rather than a real world road going car.

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Interior: Between Driver’s Cockpit And Mini Gallery

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If the exterior is the “public exhibition” to the outside world, then the interior of 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is where the owner decides whether the car is a toy or a living piece of art they share space with every day.

Drawing inspiration from existing Sick Fish builds, the interior is often: Minimalistic in the number of elements, emphasizing flat surfaces and clean cuts as main themes. Fitted with modern sport seats (Recaro or similar bucket seats) that hold the driver securely and make the car feel ready to hit the track at any moment. Trimmed in a thoughtful mix of leather, Alcantara, aluminum and carbon fiber, used in moderation so it does not look overdone but never feels outdated.

In a 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish, the traditional analog gauge cluster can easily be replaced by a compact modern digital display arranged in a classic inspired layout. If there is a center screen, it is either hidden or integrated so well into the dash that it does not break the vintage feel that collectors want to preserve. Here 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish forces the owner to choose: do you want a driving space that feels “for you only”, focused and free of distractions, or do you want a cabin full of tech and screens? With Sick Fish, the answer clearly leans toward the first option.

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The Heart And Chassis Of 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish: Built To Drive Or Just To Display?

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With a restomod like 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish, a very practical question always comes up: is this car truly built with driving in mind, or is it just something to sit in a garage, to be wiped down, photographed and only fired up occasionally to listen to the exhaust note?

A Modern V8 Inside A Classic Cuda BodyOn Joe Rogan’s Sick Fish Cuda 2.0, the Mercury Marine SB4 7.0 liter naturally aspirated V8 with about 750 horsepower is the heart of the car. It combines modern cylinder head design, a custom exhaust system and a high rev limit. When people talk about 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish, you can imagine the same philosophy: The shell and overall body shape stay true to the Cuda heritage. But under the hood sits a modern V8 with serious power, crisp response and none of the crude behavior of an old carbureted big block.

The important point is how that V8 is tuned so it not only delivers power at high rpm, but also: Provides strong torque right from low revs. Responds linearly to throttle input. Feels wild enough to be exciting but still controllable on public roads. 

This is the big difference between a “drag queen” that only wants to go straight and a build like 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish, a car designed so you can enjoy every throttle blip and every corner, not just raw horsepower.

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Chassis, Suspension And Brakes: From Show Car To Driver’s Car

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Previous Sick Fish builds have already gone very far in replacing the original chassis with a modern frame, featuring independent suspension, adjustable coilovers and high performance brakes. On 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish, that philosophy becomes even clearer: A newly designed chassis increases torsional rigidity and provides a solid foundation for the suspension to work precisely. Front and rear coilover systems allow ride height and stiffness adjustments so you can tune the car for street use, highway cruising or track days. Large diameter brake rotors and multi piston calipers give 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish the stopping power it needs after strong acceleration runs.

If an original Cuda demands that you wrestle the steering wheel and be cautious entering corners, then 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish, with its modern chassis and suspension, targets a much more precise driving experience: steering weight that feels just right, clear feedback and a body that leans less when you change lanes or exit a curve.

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Driving Feel: In The City, On The Open Road And On The Track

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 In reality, an owner of 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish rarely uses the car as a daily driver. That does not mean the car is not engineered to be used in real life conditions.

In the city, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is the kind of car that makes everyone turn their heads. But under the driver’s perspective, the important things are acceptable ride quality at low speed, smooth enough shifting and manageable visibility and turning radius. You do not want every garage exit to feel like a stress test for your nerves.

On the open road, the car shows the benefits of a good chassis: stability at high speeds, no “floating” on wavy pavement and suspension that absorbs small imperfections well enough that you can travel long distances without getting worn out.

On a track or a beautiful mountain pass, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is where true drivers smile. The V8 responds instantly, the chassis feels planted and the brakes are strong, letting you guide the car as if you are drawing one continuous line through each corner.

 This is where the question “is 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish a car for drivers or for art collectors” becomes interesting. If it were only meant for display, no one would need this level of engineering in the way it drives.

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2026 Plymouth Sick Fish: A Plymouth For Drivers Or For Art Collectors?

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To answer the core question of this 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish Review, we can try putting ourselves into two roles: a driver who loves the act of driving and a collector who sees cars as works of art. 

From A Driver’s Perspective

For a driver, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is attractive on three levels:

  • Emotional level: There is the feeling of walking up to a Cuda shape that you already know by heart, but now refined to modern standards. There is the feeling of turning the key or pressing the start button, hearing the V8 fire up with a crisp, controlled rumble that is assertive without being obnoxiously loud just to annoy the neighbors.
  • Technical level: They know that under the classic body, there is a modern chassis, and that the suspension, brakes, wheels and tires were chosen so the car truly drives well, not just to look good in photos. They know 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is not just powerful in a straight line, but can also corner, brake hard and change lanes in a controlled way.
  • Ownership level: A driver imagines those weekend mornings when they open the garage, pull 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish out, go for a loop on an empty road, listen to the engine, feel the steering, then tuck the car back in as a personal ritual.

From this perspective, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is not a toy to look at. It is a machine to drive and experience.

From An Art Collector’s Perspective

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For a collector, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is interpreted through a different lens: They look at the story behind the name, from the classic Plymouth Cuda through the hands of Chip Foose and Rad Rides by Troy and into modern Sick Fish restomods. They look at the quality of execution: body panel gaps, paint layers, and the way metal, leather, plastic and carbon pieces meet and align. They look at rarity: not everyone who wants one can own a properly executed Sick Fish, let alone a fully realized 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish.

For them, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is: A financial and cultural asset. A piece that can be displayed in a garage, showroom or a curated collection alongside other classic muscle cars, artwork and sculptures.

Unlike a painting on the wall, this artwork can be started and driven, which is something no other art form offers in quite the same way.

The Reality Of Ownership: Joys And Pains Of 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish

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Whether you are a driver or a collector, owning 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish always has two sides: 

  • The joys: Seeing a car that looks like nothing else every time you open the garage. Feeling proud when you tell its story to friends, guests or business partners. Driving a restomod that is finished to a level where it is very hard to find real flaws.
  • The pains: The cost of maintenance, detailing and keeping the car in “show car” condition is not cheap. The stress every time you have to park in public, worried about scratches, dings and bad weather. The time and effort spent to keep 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish worthy of its status.

This is where the question of protecting the car comes into focus, especially protecting the parts that age quickly, such as paint, chrome, glass and interior materials. That will be discussed more carefully in the next .

Where Does 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish Stand Between Driver’s Car And Artwork?

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As we close this 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish Review, the question “Is Plymouth Sick Fish Cuda a Plymouth for drivers or for art collectors?” no longer feels like an “either this or that” choice. After going through its design, dynamics, chassis, interior and the story of protecting it, one thing becomes clear: 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is actually the bridge between those two worlds. 

  • For drivers, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is a way to have an American muscle car with Cuda heritage but with driving performance and feel that meet modern standards. It is not just a conversation piece. It is a car to drive, to feel and to remember in every sound and every throttle input.
  • For collectors, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is an asset with a story, design depth, rarity and execution quality that deserve a place next to other artworks in a collection, from cars to paintings to sculptures.

So the final answer might be: 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is both a Plymouth for drivers and a piece for art collectors, as long as you know what you want from it and are ready to care for it at the level it deserves, from technical maintenance to protecting every inch of paint with a quality Plymouth Sick Fish car cover.

If you just want a car to commute, run errands and park outside without much thought, 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is probably not for you. But if you are looking for a car that makes your heart beat a little faster every time you open the garage, then it is very possible that 2026 Plymouth Sick Fish is the answer you have been waiting for for many years.