1971 Barracuda  |
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1970 Plymouth Barracuda news, pictures, and information | ||
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 |  |  | Six Cylinder Hardtop Coupe Chassis Num: BS23V0B345337 |
The 1970 Plymouth 440-6 Pack Cuda finished in Plum Crazy paint was offered for sale at the 2006 Worldwide Group Auction held on Hilton Head Island. It was expected to sell between $140,000-$180,000 and offered without reserve. At the conclusion of the auction, the vehicle had been sold for $120,450. The vehicle features black bucket front seats and a four-speed transmission. It has a factory shaker hood, black vinyl top, hockey stick decals and a Dana 60 rear-end.
By Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2006
 |  |  | Six Cylinder Hardtop Coupe Chassis Num: 50211 |
Laguna Seca - Gurney finished: 17th DNF
Lime Rock - Gurney finished 14th DNF
Bryar - Savage finished 18th DNF
Mid Ohio - Did not race
Bridgehampton - Savage finished 22nd DNF
Donnybrooke - Savage finished 5th
Road America - Savage finished 2nd
St. Jovite - Savage finished 29th DNF
Watkins Glen - Savage finished 5th
Kent - Savage finished 18th DNF
Riverside - Savage finished 4th
The second AAR 'Cuda was driven by Swede Savage with the number 42 for three races (Laguna Seca, Lime Rock and Mid Ohio) before being destroyed at St. Jovite by Savage during a practice crash. AAR did not repair the severely damaged car.
In an effort to provide Plymouth with a Trans Am victory, Gurney returned for the season's final two races (Kent and Riverside) where he drove AAR's recently completed third 'Cuda with the number 48. That third car ran only in those 2 races.
 |  |  | Six Cylinder Hardtop Coupe |
By Daniel Vaughan | Jul 2007
 |  |  | Six Cylinder Hardtop Coupe |
For a time, Plymouth enjoyed a racing program that cross-town rival Chevrolet didn't, due to anti-racing edicts GM enacted earlier in the 1960's. As the third and smallest of the Big Three, Plymouth had lost out to Pontiac for third spot in sales, but offered competitive vehicles with good durability and performance such as the Slant Six Valiants, and smart marketing like the Road Runner. Come 1970, Plymouth's stock was going to increase some more.
The optional Barracuda had started out as a fastback model of the Valiant, but within weeks the Mustang came out and created a segment that the Barracuda couldn't play in. A redesign in 1967 leveled the playing field. Then, with the advent of the 1970 'E-body' Barracuda (and Dodge Challenger). Plymouth trumped the industry with the ultimate ponycar. The Performance 'Cuda version had its own Trans-Am version called the AAR, which stood for Dan Gurney's All American Racers. It came with the legendary 'Six Pack', a 3x2-barrel carbed version of the 340, a unique fiberglass 'shaker' hood and strobe stripes, all at a base price of $3,966.
A total of 2,724 AAR 'Cudas were produced within a six-week time frame. Of those, it is not known how many were ordered without radios, but this is one of two existing so equipped, according to the AAR Registry.
 |  | Six Cylinder Convertible Chassis Num: BH27G0B212211 |
| Sold for $70,000 at 2007 Bonhams. | ||
In 2007 Cuda clone was brought to the Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club in Carmel, California where it was auctioned at the Bonhams auction, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia. Bidding reached a high of $70,000 (plus premium and taxes) which was enough to satisfy the reserve and the lot was sold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2008
 |  |  | V8 Cuda Series Hardtop Coupe Chassis Num: BS23V0E110040 |
In 1969 Plymouth divided the model into two categories, the base Barracuda and the performance-oriented 'Cuda. The name 'Cuda' had evolved from the limited production Hemi 'Cuda drag cars. The standard engine in the production Cuda was the 383 cubic-inch Command V8 which offered 335 horsepower. One of the most sought after upgrade was the 440 cubic-inch Six-Barrel engine which upped the power to 390. This option was available for a mere $250 which was significantly less than the $871 option for the Street Hemi option.
This example has the 440 Six-Barrel option and 2-Door Hardtop configurations. There is a four-speed manual gearbox and a Dana 4.1:1 rear axle. Options on this car include AM radio, shaker hood, tachometer, rear window defogger, dual exhausts with chrome tips, dual chrome outside mirrors, sill and deck moldings, 3-speed wipers, sport hood with pins, Rally dash and the Sport Group of 150mph speedometer and sport steering wheel.
The interior is original and the odometer reads just 35,000 miles since new. It has been well cared for over the years and treated to a complete rotisserie restoration near the close of the 1990s. In the trunk is the correct spare tire, jack, handle and trunk mat.
In 2007 this Road Runner Superbird was brought to the Quail Lodge Resort & Golf Club in Carmel, California where it was auctioned at the Bonhams auction, An Important Sale of Collectors' Motorcars and Automobilia. It was estimated to sell for $95,000 - $125,000 but failed to find a buyer willing to satisfy the cars reserve. The lot was left unsold.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2008
 |  |  | V8 Cuda Series Hardtop Coupe Chassis Num: BS23R0B236224 Engine Num: MN426 F |
| Sold for $330,000 at 2006 RM Auctions. Sold for $150,000 at 2009 Gooding & Company. | |||
In 1970, Motor Trend tested a 426 Hemi 'Cuda and accelerated from zero to sixty in just 5.8 seconds with the quarter-mile achieved in 14 seconds at 102 mph.
This 1970 'Cuda is one of just 13 fitted with a highly desirable combination of options. It is one of 284 hardtops fitted with the four-speed transmission, and it has a 426 cid overhead-valve Hemi V-8. The engine has two 4-barrel Carter carburetors and produces 425 horsepower at 5000 RPM. Inside the car are Rallye instrument luster group that includes tachometer, electric clock, 150 mph speedometer, and wood-grain panel. In the front is a functional shaker hood with hood pins, power front disc brakes, dual-exhaust system with chrome tips and 15 x 7 Rally wheels. Other options include the Track Pak with a 3.54:1 differential ratio featuring a live 9.75-inch Dana 60 rear axle. There is a Hemi suspension and front sway bar.
This car has been restored since new and is a numbers-matching car by the Chrysler Registry. There is a Hurst pistol-grip shifter and a 4-speed transmission.
In 2009, this Plymouth Hemi 'Cuda was offered for sale at the Gooding & Company auction held in Scottsdale, Arizona where it was estimated to sell for $175,000 - $225,000. The lot was sold for the sum of $150,000 including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Apr 2009
 |  | V8 Cuda Series Hardtop Coupe Chassis Num: BS23J0B292416 |
| Sold for $57,750 at 2009 RM Auctions. | ||
This example has been given a rotisserie restoration to original specifications. It was built on April 2, 1970 at Chrysler's Hamtramck Assembly Plant. It left the factory with a close-ratio four-speed manual transmission with a Hurst 'Pistol Grip' shifter and an 8 ¾-inch Sure Grip rear end with a 3.55:1 ring and pinion.
In 2009, this Plymouth 'Cuda AAR was offered for sale at the Sports & Classics of Monterey auction in Monterey, California presented by RM Auctions. The car was estimated to sell for $60,000-$80,000. The lot was sold for the sum of $57,750 including buyer's premium.
By Daniel Vaughan | Dec 2009
 |  |  | V8 Cuda Series Hardtop Coupe |
By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2010
 |  |  | V8 Cuda Series Hardtop Coupe Chassis Num: BS23J0B294123 |
| Sold for $61,600 at 2012 Barrett-Jackson. | |||
By Daniel Vaughan | Feb 2012
 |  |  | V8 Convertible |
With performance being a high priority in 1970, the added weight of a convertible top meant that few people chose to order their muscle machines as convertibles. It is believed that about 155 1970 'Cuda 340 convertibles were produced. With the wide variety of options, each one can be unique in its build.
In the case of this gleaming B5 Bright Blue Metallic beauty, the original owner chose to check the box for the N96 'Shaker' fresh air package. Offering a unique air cleaner setup that protrudes directly through the hood, it indeed shakes when the accelerator pedal is depressed, and forces cold air directly into the carburetor. Due to production and safety issues that forced Plymouth to halt production on this particular option, this is the only known 1970 340 'Cuda convertible factory equipped with this option.
The first series of the Barracuda was produced from 1964 through 1969, distinguished by its A-body construction. From 1970 through 1974 the second series was produced using an E-body construction.
In 1964, Plymouth offered the Barracuda as an option of the Valiant model line, meaning it wore both the Valiant and Barracuda emblems. The base offering was a 225 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine that produced with 180 horsepower. An optional Commando 273 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine was available with a four-barrel carburetor, high-compression heads and revised cams. The vehicle was outfitted with a live rear axle and semi-elliptic springs. Unfortunately, the Barracuda was introduced at the same time, separated by only two weeks, as the Ford Mustang. The Mustang proved to be the more popular car outselling the Valiant Barracuda by a ratio of 8 to 1.
The interior was given a floor-shifter, vinyl semi-bucket seats, and rear seating. The rear seats folded down allowing ample space for cargo.
By 1967, Plymouth redesigned the Barracuda and added a coupe and convertible to the model line-up. To accommodate larger engines, the engine bay was enlarged. There were multiple engine offerings that ranged in configuration and horsepower ratings. The 225 cubic-inch six-cylinder was the base engine while the 383 cubic-inch 8-cylinder was the top-of-the-line producing 280 horsepower. That was impressive, especially considering the horsepower to weight ratio. Many chose the 340 cubic-inch eight-cylinder because the 383 and Hemi were reported to make the Barracuda nose-heavy while the 340 offered optimal handling.
In 1968 Plymouth offered a Super Stock 426 Hemi package. The lightweight body and race-tuned Hemi were perfect for the drag racing circuit. Glass was replaced with lexan, non-essential items were removed, and lightweight seats with aluminum brackets replaced the factory bench, and were given a sticker that indicated the car was not to be driven on public highways but for supervised acceleration trials. The result was a car that could run the quarter mile in the ten-second range.
For 1969 a limited number of 440 Barracudas were produced, giving the vehicle a zero-to-sixty time of around 5.6 seconds.
In 1970 the Barracuda were restyled but shared similarities to the 1967 through 1969 models. The Barracuda was available in convertible and hardtop configuration; the fastback was no longer offered. Sales were strong in 1970 but declined in the years that followed. The muscle car era was coming to a close due to the rising government safety and emission regulations and insurance premiums. Manufacturers were forced to detune their engines. The market segment was slowly shifting from muscle-cars to luxury automobiles. 1974 was the final year Plymouth offered the Barracuda.
By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2010
For more information and related vehicles, click hereIn 1964, Plymouth offered the Barracuda as an option of the Valiant model line, meaning it wore both the Valiant and Barracuda emblems. The base offering was a 225 cubic-inch six-cylinder engine that produced with 180 horsepower. An optional Commando 273 cubic-inch eight-cylinder engine was available with a four-barrel carburetor, high-compression heads and revised cams. The vehicle was outfitted with a live rear axle and semi-elliptic springs. Unfortunately, the Barracuda was introduced at the same time, separated by only two weeks, as the Ford Mustang. The Mustang proved to be the more popular car outselling the Valiant Barracuda by a ratio of 8 to 1.
The interior was given a floor-shifter, vinyl semi-bucket seats, and rear seating. The rear seats folded down allowing ample space for cargo.
By 1967, Plymouth redesigned the Barracuda and added a coupe and convertible to the model line-up. To accommodate larger engines, the engine bay was enlarged. There were multiple engine offerings that ranged in configuration and horsepower ratings. The 225 cubic-inch six-cylinder was the base engine while the 383 cubic-inch 8-cylinder was the top-of-the-line producing 280 horsepower. That was impressive, especially considering the horsepower to weight ratio. Many chose the 340 cubic-inch eight-cylinder because the 383 and Hemi were reported to make the Barracuda nose-heavy while the 340 offered optimal handling.
In 1968 Plymouth offered a Super Stock 426 Hemi package. The lightweight body and race-tuned Hemi were perfect for the drag racing circuit. Glass was replaced with lexan, non-essential items were removed, and lightweight seats with aluminum brackets replaced the factory bench, and were given a sticker that indicated the car was not to be driven on public highways but for supervised acceleration trials. The result was a car that could run the quarter mile in the ten-second range.
For 1969 a limited number of 440 Barracudas were produced, giving the vehicle a zero-to-sixty time of around 5.6 seconds.
In 1970 the Barracuda were restyled but shared similarities to the 1967 through 1969 models. The Barracuda was available in convertible and hardtop configuration; the fastback was no longer offered. Sales were strong in 1970 but declined in the years that followed. The muscle car era was coming to a close due to the rising government safety and emission regulations and insurance premiums. Manufacturers were forced to detune their engines. The market segment was slowly shifting from muscle-cars to luxury automobiles. 1974 was the final year Plymouth offered the Barracuda.
By Daniel Vaughan | Aug 2010
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| RICHARD PETTY DEDICATES MUSCLE CARS FOREVER STAMPS | |
 | Raw power gets a stamp of its own today as seven-time NASCAR National Champion Richard Petty helps dedicate the America on the Move: Muscle Cars Forever stamps. Petty, his son Kyle and Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe will dedicate the limited-edition stamps at the Daytona International Speedway where 'The King' won a record seven Daytona 500 Championships. Typically equipped with big, powerful engines, these high-performance vehicles began roaring across America in the 1960s. The limite...[Read more...] |
| 1967 Can-Am Road America: The Beginning of the 'Bruce and Denny Show' | |
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| BMW North America Chairman to Drive One of Three BMW-Owned Cars in Rolex Monterey Motorsports Reunion | |
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 1970
Plymouth
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| Plymouth Valiant |
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| Ford Mustang ($2,720-$3,715) |
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Average Auction Sale: $105,303 |
| Plymouth: 1960-1970 |
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| 1971 Barracuda |
