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
There were only 374 barracuda convertibles sold in 1971 and only 12 were hemis. These have sold for over $3 million at auction.
I hope the buyer does not modify this Barracuda and keeps it as is. For the current bid price I’m guessing it will not be modified. Current bid is $74,500.
Was at a car show over the weekend and about 1/3 of the ‘Cudas and Challenger R/T cars were base model Barracudas and Challengers. You can tell by looking at the VIN.
There was one Hemi ‘Cuda convertible 4 speed there, dressed up with all the options, B-5 blue metallic and white top and billboards. Even had the cassette deck with microphone. Looked like it stepped off a Barrette-Jackson auction!
Then I look at the VIN. Started life as a base Bareacuda 318 convertible as denoted by the “BH” as the first two digits of the VIN and the 5th digit was a “G” for 318ci engine. Was a hugely beautiful car but a little bit of a let down after I saw the VIN.
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.
It’s on Ebay with a BIN of 124, 995.00……..So it;s not likely 90 grand would even be considered by this seller. Where do these people comeup with these prices for something as mundane as this 318?
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.
AGREE with you 100% !!
AGREE with you 100%
For the entertainment value
Great color. Hemi Orange was the color for Dodge. Plymouth for some reason, I assume just to be different called it Tor Red. Love the color but I think it might be too much orange. A white interior would look great. Way too much money for this car
Every color in the High Impact paint palette, and most if not all of the more “common” colors as well, had different names depending on whether they were applied to a Plymouth, Dodge, Chrysler, or Imperial (which MAY have shared color names with Chrysler).
GM was doing that at all five of their divisions, too. Their equivalent to Tor-Red/Hemi Orange was Hugger Orange at Chevrolet, but Carousel Red at Pontiac.
Phil, my gripe with the High Impact colors is that there was not a shade of blue!
For Dodge they had Super Blue and Plymouth the same shade was called Basin Street Blue. This shade of blue is more commonly called “Petty Blue”. I don’t know why they didn’t use this blue on their color palette of High Impaact Colors?
Love the color. Plymouth called it Tor Red. Even though it was the same color as the Dodge version of Hemi Orange. White interior I think would look great, too much orange. Never thought i would say that. Price is way high.
NOM is a major price deduction.
A nice future toy…
Anyone interested in an absolute bargain in the Mopar family?
I have.. “Jon Voight” car from Seinfeld that is a 1989 Chrysler LeBaron convertible that was owned George Costanza then me.
I think its worth at least $99,999. 😎😂😉🤪
LOL !!
I liked the 71 grills on both the Plymouths and Dodges. Color, so so. Interior is ghastly! Maybe if it was a four speed, but still worth only a quater of the ask. Full upscale dash but a standard hood? Is this a put together car? Dont get me wrong, I actually like the standard hood, easier to see out of, but the combo feels odd. I also feel the 318 was the very best engine choice in these cars, for so many reasons.
It may be strange to see on a relatively sporty looking car like this, but the standard hood is correct on this car, as that was the only hood available on a BM27 (base Barracuda convertible — or on a regular hardtop or Gran Coupe model, as well)
Seems a fair bid already.
They need to make a vaccine for Barrett-Jacksonitis. That ask is ridonkulous! GLWTS. They’re gonna need every bit of it.
This is exactly the kind of car that the TV auctions love to list. They are probably contacting the seller now, pitching their advantages, which can be a real thing for a car like this. The auction can put this car in front of serious buyers.
It’s a photogenic, convertible muscle car that looks to be in good shape with low miles, documentation, etc.
The auctioneer can easily elevate this car to “collector/investment status” with some careful copy editing. They’d likely feature it in advance of the show. Then the rich guys with bidder lanyards at the auction can compete with each other for it. It’s all a game.
But you are right. A car like this that checks all of their boxes are actually few and far between. Couch potatoes see the selling prices and think that their own half beaten POS is also worth similar money.
$124k for a 318-2v Barracuda? I get the provenance, but the price is way out of whack.
Small block…and wants $124K? She’s out of touch with reality….
This seems like a car that will get what a buyer is willing to pay. Clearly, some buyers are willing to spend big bucks on it with the current bid at 75k. I personally think that is bat sh*t crazy, but it’s not my money.
To be fair, it is a very nice basic and rare Barracuda. However, it seems some people are falling for the trap that rare = valuable. In this hobby, it certainly does not, and even sometimes, rare works against value.
TOO MANY people watching the super rich nominds at Mecum and Barret Jackson, where money is not an issue. The price fluculations from auction to auction is amazing and it’s driving the average guy who wants a nice driver out of the market.
Titles not used in the 1970’s?? Really??? This is the first I’ve ever heard of that. No title? Run–don’t walk–away from this deal.
Totally agree with you ! OF COURSE Titles were used in the 70’s !!
I don’t know about Georgia, but New York didn’t issue titles for vehicles until 1974.
Titles came with new car purchase in Alabama but were not required on used cars till 1975. I assume Ga was the same…..Alabama began requiring titles for motor vehicles on July 1, 1975, with the passage of the Alabama Uniform Certificate of Title and Antitheft
In New York, Maine, and Connecticut you do not need a title for this vehicle. There may be other states that I do not know of. There are many weird paper work things in the vehicle world. In some states you do not get the title of a vehicle if it has a loan on it, in others you do. In Kentucky most trailers do not require a license plate. When I was really heavy in drag racing around the country it would cause some strange reactions from the law when stopped. The bordering states law would normally just tap on the truck fender and wave me to go on when they saw the KY plates on the tow vehicle. I have had troopers calling people in the middle of the night before they all had computers in their vehicles to verify that no plates were needed. In some states you can literally go to jail for not having a front license plate. Twenty states do not require a front license plate.
This car and all the history and folk lore that goes with it makes me wonder why? I would even participate in all this non-sense!
The current 75K bid is already over the Hagerty valuation of a #1 Concours condition.
Hagerty typically overvalues their estimates, so this seller’s ask is way out of line.
124k for a 318 convert. pass it on hard. no thanks
Its a nice looking car, but way over priced!! But then I’m old & I guess cheap. Back in its the 318 engine was common family car engine. Not like a high performance engine. Best thing this car has going for it is that its a convertible. Bur still looks like a common family car….not a real muscle car. Are sellers pipe dreaming now -a-days with prices they hoping to get…..or just on good drugs???
Nice car. Next time we see that Vin it will be a hemi cuda tribute/restomod.
This looks sharp. Up to $94,500 as of now. Mopar guys–there are many, will pay big bucks for a nice car that`s somewhat different. Even if it`s only a 318 engine.
Sold for $100k, (with a buck in change). When a new Dodge Ram Tungsten tops $95 (and depreciates to $50k in a year) having an appreciating classic for this money that’s more fun to drive… seems like a no-brainer.