Plymouth Barracuda

Plymouth Barracuda at a glance

The Barracuda was Plymouth's answer to the growing demand for compact sporty cars in the 1960s. It became one of the defining American muscle cars, especially in its 1970–1971 'Cuda form. The brand's story is told in the history of Plymouth, and other Plymouth models, including the Plymouth Road Runner, are in the Plymouth catalogue.

First generation (1964–1966)

The first Barracuda went on sale on 1 April 1964 as a fastback two-door hardtop. Much of its body came from the Plymouth Valiant, including the bonnet, headlamp bezels, windscreen, doors, quarter panels and bumpers. The boot and some glass were new. Its huge rear window, developed with PPG, measured 1.34 m² (14.4 sq ft) and was the largest fitted to a standard production car up to that time.

Disc brakes and factory air conditioning arrived in 1965, along with the Formula S package, which added the Commando V8, suspension upgrades, larger wheels and tyres and a tachometer. For 1966 the car received new tail lamps, front sheet metal and an instrument panel, and the Barracuda fish emblem appeared. Plymouth sold 23,443 Barracudas in the short 1964 season, compared with 126,538 Mustangs.

The TorqueFlite automatic was offered, and 1964 was the last year for its push-button control.

Second generation (1967–1969)

For 1967 the Barracuda was redesigned by John E. Herlitz and John Samsen with "Coke-bottle" contours. It was still based on the A-body but rode on a longer 2,743 mm wheelbase, and it was offered as a fastback, a notchback coupé and a convertible. The fastback received a smaller, flush rear window and a steeper roofline.

The 383 was available only with the Formula S package in 1967. For 1969 the 'Cuda trim arrived, based on the Formula S, with the 340, 383 or 440 Super Commando. In 1968 about fifty Super Stock fastbacks were built with the 426 Hemi for drag racing. Assembled by Hurst Performance, they had lightweight Chemcor side glass, fibreglass wings and bonnet, and no rear seats. Each was sold with a "not for public roads" notice.

Third generation (1970–1974)

The 1970 Barracuda moved to Chrysler's new E-body, a shorter and wider version of the B platform, shared with the Dodge Challenger but with no common exterior panels. The Valiant connection was gone, and the fastback was dropped in favour of a hardtop coupé and a convertible. Trims were the base Barracuda, the Gran Coupé and the high-performance 'Cuda, plus a low-priced Coupé from mid-1970 to 1971.

Third-generation engines

Gearboxes were a three-speed manual, a four-speed manual with an optional Hurst shifter and the TorqueFlite automatic. In 1970 most cars were V8 automatics, with 30,223 built, while 9,026 had a V8 and four-speed manual. The switch to net ratings from 1972 explains the much lower figures for the later years.

AAR 'Cuda and racing

The AAR 'Cuda takes its name from Dan Gurney's All American Racers team, which ran factory-backed Barracudas in the 1970 Trans-Am series for Gurney and Swede Savage. They took three pole positions but no wins; the best result was second at Road America. In Europe, Chrysler France raced four Hemi 'Cudas from 1970 to 1973.

Production and the end of the Barracuda

Production ended on 1 April 1974, exactly ten years after it began. The 1973 oil crisis, insurance surcharges on high-performance cars and new emissions rules ended the market for big-engined pony cars. A 1975 redesign with clay models inspired by the Plymouth Superbird was cancelled, and later reports of a revival under the Dodge brand have not led to a production car, although Dodge has filed trademarks for "Barracuda" and "'Cuda".

Dimensions and fuel use

No official fuel-consumption figures exist for the period. As with other American cars of the time, V8 versions use considerably more fuel than the six-cylinder models. There is no all-wheel-drive or hybrid Barracuda; every car is rear-wheel drive.

Rivals: how the Barracuda compares

The Barracuda's main rivals were the Ford Mustang, including the Shelby GT500, the Chevrolet Camaro, the Pontiac Firebird and its own sister, the Dodge Challenger. Its strengths are the wide engine range up to the Hemi, the distinctive E-body styling and its rarity; its weaknesses are the slow sales of the first generation against the Mustang and the high fuel use of the big V8s. According to the old 1cars text, the Barracuda has appeared in the TV series Nash Bridges and films such as Gone in 60 Seconds and Fast & Furious 6.