No all-new car may have fallen from grace as quickly as the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda. Treated to a new platform and styling in 1970, the Barracuda’s sales jumped by 50% over 1969. Yet, for the 1971 model year, the hot car found 2/3 fewer buyers. And that was while the big-block engines were still available, including the 426 Hemi. The seller’s ’71 Barracuda is a “regular” convertible, not a Gran Coupe or ‘Cuda, and is one of just over 1,000 produced that year. This example professes to be completely original, with just 28,000 miles, and can be found in Marietta, Georgia. Available here on eBay, the current bid is $42,988.88, the reserve is unmet, and the Buy It Now price is a lofty $124,995 (with a 318 V8?).
The new Dodge Challenger, using the same platform as the Barracuda, had a similar year-over-year fate, though the drop in sales wasn’t quite as dramatic. Perhaps both cars were more aligned with the muscle car movement than the Ford Mustang or Chevy Camaro, as that genre was getting hit hard by rising insurance premiums. Out of 16,500 Barracudas to roll off the assembly line in 1971, no more than six percent were built like this one. BTW, the 1971 model year was the only one to use quad headlights.
We don’t believe this is a one-owner car, but it has all the important documents like one. We’re told the sheet metal is original, but the Hemi Orange paint has probably been redone. It’s also numbers-matching, including the 318 cubic inch V8 and floor-shifted TorqueFlite automatic transmission. The rarity of the car increases if you factor in the paint, black top, and Hemi Orange/black interior (I don’t recall ever seeing one like this). This Barracuda has the Rally dash cluster and the horn that blows by squeezing the steering wheel.
The seller says the Mopar runs and drives great, and has a new battery and freshly changed oil. So, it seems to be the definition of “turnkey.” The seller probably has a bold reserve, but the BIN figure sounds like it’s in R/T territory with a 383 V8 or bigger. Don’t count on a title as the machine comes with a current Georgia registration and bill of sale (titles weren’t used in those days, I think). Is this a six-figure automobile?
I think if it was a true Hemi Cuda maybe and although it is a nice looking Cuda it is just a Cuda with a 318. Hope this does not step on toes, Because I would love this Cuda in front of my house
Someone will buy it with the idea of yanking the 318 for 440, add the billboard side graphics for such, and try to get $90K+ out of it.
That price is ridiculous. Maybe if it were a hemi, but a 318??? Dream on.
I kind of wonder why cars so ridiculously overpriced even are given the attention of a write-up on BF.