Choose of the Day: 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda

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The Plymouth Barracuda, to be sincere, didn’t correctly compete with the Ford Mustang till 1970 when the E-body platform was launched. Earlier than then, the Barracuda was a pleasant, sporty compact automobile that did not seize on the charms gleaned from the Mustang. Our Choose of the Day, a 1970 Plymouth ‘Cuda, exhibits how Plymouth caught up and made its presence identified with a vengeance. It’s on the market on ClassicCars.com by a personal vendor in Omaha. (Click on the hyperlink to view the itemizing)

The Barracuda was launched on April 1,, 1964, a number of weeks earlier than the Mustang, however there’s a motive why we name them pony automobiles: the Mustang was a advertising tour de power, whereas the Barracuda was merely a fastback model of the Valiant. The Barracuda’s 1967 redesign sought to make the Barracuda compete toe-to-toe with the Mustang, full with a fastback, coupe, and convertible. Nonetheless, the proportions that made pony automobiles what they had been, particularly the lengthy hood/brief deck design, weren’t exploited by Plymouth. That may change after 1969.

The 1970 Barracuda was obtainable as three fashions: base hardtop, performance-oriented ‘Cuda, and splendid Gran Coupe. All three had been obtainable as hardtops and convertibles, plus the bottom automobile was obtainable as a decontented coupe that lacked rear roll-down home windows. Following the “Fuselage” design theme that began with Chrysler Company’s full-size automobiles, the Barracuda appeared like Plymouth took a look on the 1967 Camaro and ran with it, exaggerating some proportions to make it its personal. And, like different pony automobiles, Plymouth created an choice listing a mile lengthy, giving shoppers the chance to tailor-make a novel Barracuda.

As a result of the usage of the entrance subframe from the mid-size B-body, the brand new E-body Barracuda was capable of deal with each engine in Chrysler’s lineup, from the “Slant Six” to the 426 Hemi and 440. The non-performance fashions had been obtainable with all engines as much as a 383, however the ‘Cuda began there and continued with the 340, 440 four-barrel, 440 six-barrel, and Hemi. Midyear, a Trans-Am model of the ‘Cuda referred to as the AAR’Cuda was launched, including six-barrel carburetion to the 340.

This 1970 ‘Cuda  is a superb instance of Plymouth’s inaugural E-body. For one factor, it’s painted in “FC7” In Violet, a well-liked shade higher often called Plum Loopy over at Dodge. It’s powered by the 440 Tremendous Commando (“U-code”) which was rated at 375 horsepower and was shared with Speedy Transit System stablemate, the GTX. What’s attention-grabbing about this engine is that it’s rarer than the 390-horse 440 six-barrel. One other little bit of trivia is that the 440 four-barrel was the highest-horsepower engine to be obtainable with air con, which this automobile has. Different options embody 727 computerized transmission, white inside with black elements, Rallye instrument cluster, three-speed wipers, and Gentle Bundle (fender-mounted flip indicators, lights for the trunk, glove field, ashtray, and ignition change time delay). Apparently, this ‘Cuda was initially geared up with a white vinyl high and matching facet safety molding, however they had been left off in the course of the rotisserie restoration; “Hockey Stick” stripes have been added within the molding’s place.

“Automobile is laser straight! Paint is in good situation with no chips or blemishes. Chrome and trim are all close to good!” says the vendor. For $129,000, it higher be, proper?  

To view this itemizing on ClassicCars.com, see Choose of the Day.

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