While the Plymouth Barracuda debuted 17 days ahead of the Ford Mustang, it was the latter that dominated the “pony car” market it was named for. The Barracuda was barely a sales factor through the end of the 1960s, but a handsome redesign in 1970 created a car that is in big demand today. Located in Barrington, Illinois, the seller has a rare convertible that looks great, but it’s not the ‘Cuda performance edition. This driver-quality beauty is available here on eBay, where the current bid is $40,723 with an unmet reserve.
While the new E-body Barracuda would enjoy a sales increase of 50% from 1969 to 1970, the Barracuda was still well behind the Mustang and Chevrolet’s Camaro. The market had become saturated after five years, and demand for “muscle cars” had also peaked. Yet the Barracuda and the companion Dodge Challenger were arguably the best looking of the bunch and likely the baddest with the optional 426 Hemi firebreather. Of the 48,867 Barracudas built in 1970, just 1,387 were “regular” convertibles (not ‘Cuda) and – of those – only 863 were fitted with a 318 cubic inch V8 with an automatic transmission.
The seller has owned this Mopar for nearly 15 years and has kept it in temperature-controlled storage. While the machine is numbers-matching, the seller upgraded from a 2-barrel to a 4-barrel carburetor, which required an intake manifold change. Dual exhaust is also onboard, so it should be a peppy pony. Since the gas tank has been replaced, we suspect that the 66,000-mile car was idle for extended periods.
Rallye Red is the original paint color, but it was redone some years ago. The floor pan was replaced and painted the same color as the sheet metal, so rust may have been an issue at some point. The power black canvas top is said to be good, and the black interior is quite tidy. The wheels are aftermarket, and the rubber donuts are fresh. The seller speculates this Plymouth would be great for a Hemi restomod, and I hope no one ruins the original nature of this automobile by going in that direction.
It’s a nice looking car, the dual exhaust and 4bbl conversion make sense on a car with a performance persona. The trunk pan was replaced, not the floor pan, one suggests significant rust, the other is more or less standard fare for Mopars of that vintage. It isn’t inexpensive, there is no reason it wouldn’t should be.
Steve R
Well for now 50 grand I would exspect the side markers to be good…..but might bend on the factory 340 exhaust manifolds it’s running…..
Very nice-looking car and for a change, the aftermarket wheels look great too! I’d like this car more if the price wasn’t so high, yet there are those who disagree because it’s already bid past $40k and likely to go higher.
The wheels/rims look to be factory rally rims that have been chromed and not using the brushed aluminum trim rings.
Give me Nash Bridges yellow Cuda convertible . I’d love to cruise the Streets of San Francisco in that beauty. But I’ve got NO chance of either 😕 😒.
A couple years ago, a ’71 Barracuda 318 Convertible, sold for over $200,000.00 through Mecum auction. That might just be on the present owners’ mind!
A couple years ago the highest selling car was a vw 13 window van that went for a cool 1/4 million
Those front parking lights are to die for! What a car!
I believe the wheels are not aftermarket just the factory rally rims have been chromed and not using the brushed aluminum trim rings. Sharp Fish!!!
I believe my friend had a 71 Cuda hemi convertible. It may have been a hard top white vinyl top (i only seen one pic of it) Lime green. He sold it for $50k while he was building his house. The guy that bought it lived in Ohio. He stated tasking it to car shows and made the front cover of Popular Hot Rod .
Sold on 11/13/2025 for a high bid of $56,100, there were 16 bidders with 56 bids.
Steve R