The Barracuda was a reborn car in 1970, sharing its new platform with the also new Dodge Challenger. Response to the changes was positive and sales increased by half over 1969. The automobile had minor changes in 1971, the most noticeable being its only year with quad headlights. This example left the factory wearing Curious Yellow paint, but it was poorly covered up later with black. And the original non-performance engine and transmission are missing. Located in Hudson, Colorado, this project roller is available here on eBay where the bidding stands at $18,000.
While production rose to 48,867 units in 1970, sales for 1971 would drop to 16,492 units as the muscle car market was starting to wane and the Barracuda’s image was closely connected to that market. The seller’s Plymouth had a basic 318 cubic inch V8 and A904 automatic, which would have been one of 7,696 copies built that year. However, just 8.7% of all Barracuda’s wore Curious Yellow paint (a popular ‘Cuda color), so the number of these autos produced in this color may have been between 1,000 and 1,500 examples.
It appears this Barracuda was intended to be a ‘Cuda clone and that may very well be the direction the next owner will take. For example, someone has already added a gullwing in the back. Except for the drivetrain, we’re told this Barracuda is otherwise complete, though some work on the body is going to be needed. The older black repaint is wearing off and you can see the Curious Yellow paint in all sorts of places. The seller is forthcoming on identifying areas where corrosion lies, including light surface rust on the underside of the ’Cuda hood that was added, both doors, the rocker panels, the rear quarter panels, the trunk lid, and the tail panel. The front fenders are new, also going down the ‘Cuda path with gills.
The passenger compartment is far from a trainwreck, though the bucket seats were previously redone in material that doesn’t match the good rear seat. But one is kind of ripped up, so you can go back to OEM. The door panels are okay, but the seller says they need to be dyed. Plan on new carpeting and a headliner. The seller details the fender tag and provides a photo of it, but it looks too nice to be original given the condition of the rest of the car. So, it’s probably a reproduction.
If you were looking for one of these last-generation Barracuda’s to restore and maybe do a ‘Cuda tribute in the process, this one seems to have better bones than many of these old Plymouths we’ve seen. But since it’s a roller, how high will the bidding go past $18,000?
I don’t get the Flat Black paint craze.I’ve even seen
a newer Challenger done this way(possibly a factory option).
Back in the ’50’s/’60’s guys did it because they had no
money to spend for it.Now I think they spend big bucks for it.
I was doing paint work on bikes as a side hustle for a while. Every other bike I did was satin black. Even thought it was pretty easy money, I never cared for it either. Those bikers sure did though.
angliagt, I agree 100%. Matte finish has to be a bear to touch up, you would have to panel paint it I would think. A matte finish on accents would be ok, just not overall. I see this going over 20k for sure at today’s crazy prices.
Kill the stupid spoiler, add in a nice sedate 318 and some air, make it pretty, and comfortably cruise. That is the grown ups idea of what should be done, but I bet there are more children out there than adults.
Russ,
The cowl tag doesn’t look like a reproduction. If you blow up the picture of the cowl tag it shows enough patina to suggest that it’s original. It looks like the owner sandblasted it, but there are a lot of pits that suggest it’s 50+ years old, but off a pretty decent car. That’s fairly hard to fake and why would anybody do that for a 318/904 car?
I have a 65 Belvedere 383 car that I can trace back to the original owner and the fender tag patina looked like this one after I sandblasted it when the car was restored 20 years ago. The car came from east central Ohio but was never driven in winter when I got it in 1982, so I’ve seen a tag like this and this one looks like an original to me.
There is no doubt that this is the original fender tag as everything matches up. The curious yellow paint as can been seen on the floor, the H51 A/C dash in car and a/c firewall. The part of the tag that strikes me is the V5Y – Citron Gold Molding / Protective Vinyl Insert Body Side on a curious yellow car ? Now that’s odd. You would expect maybe black.
Going back many years ago, Curious Yellow was not a popular color at all. Like this car, people would paint over that color all the time. One year at the Mopar Nationals, way back when, I was there with my Curious Yellow 71 340 Cuda Conv. On the show field that year, out of 4,000 or so cars, there were only 2 cars that color. Mine and a 71 GTX. Popular today for sure, but not always the case.
That header panel immediately made me think 1969 Camaro Pace Car!
When i look at the whole profile of the ’70 barracuda with just 2 headlights, i think ’68 camaro(excluding the tailpanel) that is wider & longer, with curvier glass moldings.