The Plymouth Barracuda got a complete overhaul for 1970 and the result was a design that would deliver a 50% increase in sales over the prior year. Its Gran Coupe was introduced as the premium model for those who wanted the most in creature comforts. But you could also get one with some muscle under the hood, like this convertible with a 383 cubic inch V8. With a TorqueFlite automatic transmission, only 66 examples were built that year. This Vitamin C-colored beauty has been placed with a dealer in Pompano Beach, Florida, and is available here on eBay. The current bid is $43,000, but there’s a reserve to be met which is somewhere north of that offer.
Beginning in 1970, the Barracuda pony car shed its original roots with the stodgy compact Valiant. It now had a platform (E-body) that was developed specifically for the Barracuda and Dodge’s new Challenger. Fewer than 8,000 of the new Barracudas would be the luxury version, the Gran Coupe, while the performance-minded ‘Cuda would double that number. And the Gran Coupe wasn’t solely a hardtop as the name implies with convertibles also available. Exactly 566 of them. While most of those had the 318 V8, a few dozen were equipped otherwise. It’s interesting as this car is the best of both worlds.
As a dealer is involved in the sale of this car, not much in the way of history is provided. It was in the care of a collector for the past 30 years, so it was more than likely babied during that time. The bright orange paint has been reapplied at one point. The interior looks like it’s been hardly used, so at 65,000 well-cared-for miles it could be original, but it could have been restored, as well. The fender tag and build sheet confirm this car is as it appears to be.
The 383 V8 has the correct date code, but that does not tell us if it’s the motor that came with the car when it left Plymouth’s domicile in 1970. The car is loaded with accessories as you would expect for a “grand coupe”, such as power windows, bucket seats, power top, air conditioning, and Rally Pac gauges. A premium Kenwood sound system has been added to the Barracuda. If you’re the winning bidder, expect the dealer to add $599 to the bill for their behind-the-scenes work, such as title and registration prep.
Pretty car for sure. I have never cared for an E body with a big block. I drove a few when they were new and they just seemed too poorly balanced for my tastes. The best engine/trans for these was the rarely ordered 318 4 speed.
Flame suit on, but this car should’ve been a coupe only alongside the A-body convertibles. I’m sure Ma Mopar lost money on the E convertibles, sold fewer than the ’67-9 Dart and Barracuda ragtops, and the latter would’ve been replaced by a Scamp ragtop for ’71 anyway.
It would’ve been interesting to see the lowly Dart-Valiant share the “Last Convertible” action with the Eldo in ’75. What might have been…
Everyone is entitled to their opinions, but having had a ’70 Barracuda convertible at one time, in my opinion the E-body convertible was superior in every way that I can think of to the A-body convertibles. I would submit that they would most likely have sold far fewer A-body convertibles in 1970 and ’71, had they done as you suggest, than they did E-body convertibles in those years.
Chrysler’s convertible marketing game wasn’t very strong in that era, particularly in the lower end of the market, and even the introduction of the superior E-body platform didn’t stem that tide, unfortunately.
340 was only way to go for balance and power. An easy engine to open up. Way underrated hp wise.
A 340 with the four speed was just right on the Cudas and Challengers, the big blocks are nose heavy. The AAR’s and T/A’s were the perfect pony car, plenty of power and agile. I rode in a buddies 70 Hemicuda four speed hardtop a few years ago, badass for sure but I think the 340’s are well rounded.
I’ve owned 69 Chargers for > 30 yrs and have attended many car shows. I’ve only seen one Gran Coupe (hdtp) and it too had power windows. This one also has cruise. This is a RARE luxury convertible with 335bhp and 425 ft lbs torque. This should push WAY past $75,000, probably over $100,000 IMO.
I wouldn’t be surprised in the least bit it goes over that 100K figure.
Misnomer here! Shouldn’t this be a Gran Convertible?
Gran Coupe is to Plymouth as SE is to its sister Challenger. Basically a “luxury” pkg. that was avail. on hdtp or conv.
It’s still a misnomer.