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1969 Plymouth Barracuda

With many muscle car options available during the late 1960s, the Barracuda was in the middle of the action offering a wide variety of high-performance options in a uniquely styled package. Its model-specific sheet metal had been revealed in 1967, and the 108-inch wheelbase A-body vehicle could be purchased as a convertible, fastback, or a notchback hardtop coupe. Its design featured 'Coke-bottle' side contours, curved side glass, wider wheel openings, restrained use of chrome trim, and S-curved roof pillars on the hardtop. The fastback had a steeply raked and streamlined roofline, with a smaller flush rear window replacing the previous large wraparound window. The design language introduced in 1967, its second major redesign since its introduction in 1964, would continue through 1969 with annual updates.

Initially, engine options for the Barracuda included the slant-6 225 CID and two- and four-barrel versions of the 273 CID V8. The 383 CID 'B' block-block option offered 280 horsepower and was only available with the Formula S package. This package was offered in two configurations, and both included V8 engines paired with a four-speed manual transmission and heavy-duty clutch or special automatic. It had dual exhaust, heavy-duty suspension, wide wheels wrapped with white or red stripe wide oval tires. The interior received unique instrumentation and sill moldings further distinguished the exterior.

Plymouth replaced the 273 CID V8 with a 318 CID 'LA' engine in 1968, and the 383 Super Commando was upgraded with the cylinder heads and intake manifold from the Road Runner and Super Bee, but with more restive exhaust manifolds designed specifically for the A-body cars. Approximately fifty fastback Barracudas, assembled by Hurst Performance, were given the 426 CID Hemi for Super Stock drag racing. Performance modifications included lightweight Chemcor side glass, lightweight seats, hood scoop, and rear seat delete. Intended to run a quarter mile at a time, these were not for use on public roads.

The 1969 Plymouth Barracuda
Plymouth added the new high-performance option, called the 'Cuda 340' for 1969. It came with either fastback or hardtop styling. The Cuda came with a four-speed manual transmission, sport tires, hood scoops, hood tape stripe, lower black body stripes, black grille, dual exhaust with chrome tips, and heavy-duty suspension and brakes. It rode on E70-14 red stripe 'Wide-Boot' tires and the interior contained a vinyl bench seat. The 'Cuda,' based on the Formula S option, could be powered by the 340, 383, or the new-for-1969 440 Super Commando V8 engine.

The Barracuda came standard with the government-required safety equipment, all-vinyl interior, bucket seats, Pit-Stop gas cap, rally lights, shoulder belts in the front except on the convertible, and aluminized horizontal rear deck panel with Barracuda block lettering. The V8-engine equipped cars came with red or white stripe tires. Fastback body styles came with beltline molding.

1969 Barracudas had new side marker lamps which were now rectangular. The grilles and hoods were also slightly revised.

Plymouth produced 12,757 examples of the hardtop and 17,788 were 2-door Fastbacks. Just 1,442 were convertibles. Pricing began at $2,675 for the six-cylinder hardtop and over $3,000 for the V8-powered convertible.

The Plymouth Mod Top option was reportedly aimed towards the middle-aged female demographic, and 937 Barracudas were built with the floral-pattern top. The Mod Top covered the vinyl roof with a floral pattern and the interior received similarly patterned accents in the seat centers and door panels. Additionally, small Mod Top decals were added to the rear quarter windows.

Engines
The base engine in the Barracuda was the 225 cubic-inch Slant Six. The base Barracuda V8 engine was the '318', with '383' and '340' engines optional.

The inline-6 displacing 225 cubic inches had overhead valves, four main bearings, solid valve lifters, a Carter carburetor, 9.0:1 compression, and delivered 190 horsepower at 4,400 RPM.

The base V8 engine displaced 318 cubic inches and had five main bearings, a cast iron block, overhead valves, 9.0:1 compression, solid valve lifters, a Carter carburetor, and delivered 190 horsepower at 4,400 RPM. Along with the Barracuda, this was the standard V8 powering the Valiant and the Belvedere.

The 383 cubic-inch V8, the standard engine in the Road Runner, had overhead valves, a cast iron block, five main bearings, hydraulic valve lifters, a Carter four-barrel carburetor, and 10.0:1 compression, and delivered 330 horsepower (an increase in the A-body cars over the previous year).

The LA-series 340 cubic-inch V8 small-block engine debuted the previous year, and had overhead valves, a spread-bore four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust with high-flow exhaust manifolds and chrome tips, delivering 275 horsepower at 5000 RPM. It had a 4.04-inch bore, a 3.312-inch stroke, and 10.5:1 compression.

1969 Plymouth Barracuda photo
Convertible
Chassis #: BH27F9B140406
Auction entries : 1
Midyear, the 440 CID V8 with 375 horsepower became available in limited quantities in the Barracuda.

A total of 272 examples of the Barracuda Formula S fastback were built with the 383 CID big block V8 and a 727 console automatic.

1970 and Beyond
The 1970 Plymouth Barracuda received all-new styling, continued to use the 108-inch wheelbase platform, and now wore a shorter, wider version of Chrysler's existing B platform, dubbed the E-body. It completely severed all commonality with the Valiant, dropped the fastback design, and was offered solely as a convertible and coupe body style. Styling changes were minimal for 1971, with updates to the grille, taillights, and trim. It was the only year, however, with four headlights and the only year of the fender 'gills' on the 'Cuda.

The 1972 Barracuda received a new grille housing single headlights and four circular taillights. Changes were minimal through 1974, with updates mostly to the bumper as the Barracuda complied with new federal impact standards. The automotive landscape changed dramatically as the energy crisis escalated during the 1970s. The future, however, would not include the Barracuda as 1974 was its final year of production.


by Daniel Vaughan | Nov 2013

Related Reading : Plymouth Barracuda History

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....
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1969 Plymouth Barracuda Vehicle Profiles

Recent Vehicle Additions

Performance and Specification Comparison

Price Comparison

1969 Barracuda
$3,085-$25,580
1969 Plymouth Barracuda Price Range: $2,675 - $3,085

Compare: Lower | Higher | Similar

Other 1969 Plymouth Models
$2,700 - $3,715
$3,415 - $3,630

Barracuda (Second Generation)

Specification Comparison by Year

Year
Production
Wheelbase
Engine
Prices
45,412
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 225.00 CID., 145.00hp
8 cyl., 273.00 CID., 190.00hp
8 cyl., 317.93 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 383.00 CID., 290.00hp
$2,580 - $2,900
31,987
108.00 in.
6 cyl., 225.00 CID., 145.00hp
8 cyl., 318.00 CID., 230.00hp
8 cyl., 340.00 CID., 275.00hp
8 cyl., 383.00 CID., 335.00hp
8 cyl., 440.00 CID., 375.00hp
$2,675 - $3,085

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