The last generation of the Plymouth Barracuda ran from 1970 to 1974 and is considered highly collectible today. This ’70 Barracuda is noteworthy for two reasons. First, it has been modified from its build date with a different engine and paint color. But second, it was the victim of a flood in September 2022. While it presents well enough, there are tell-tale signs of its mishap, and the car is not in running condition. The seller provides tons of photos and warnings that it will be a full restoration project to be done right. Located in Lutz, Florida, this Mopar is available here on eBay without a reserve where the bidding stands at $18,100.
Chrysler treated the Barracuda to an all-new platform in 1970 (E-body) and shared it with the new Dodge Challenger. This car left the factory with a 318 cubic inch V8, Plum Crazy paint, a black vinyl roof, and a nice trim package. Except for the latter, none of that other stuff exists today. Somewhere in the past 50 years, this Plymouth had its vinyl roof removed and the whole car painted bright yellow. Striping has been added that implies the car is now a ‘Cuda 340 and the seller believes it now has that 275 hp engine under the hood.
More than a year ago, this automobile and a private collection were flooded when Hurricane Ian came ashore in Florida. We assume the seller purchased the car from that collector and has spent a lot of time cleaning it up as it looks good – at first. But if you look closely, there are lots of imperfections, some from the quality of the earlier repaint and perhaps some from the hurricane. Regarding the latter, check out the speedometer as it gives the impression water got inside it. The engine has been drained of water and the spark plug holes filled with oil, but the motor will not spin over. And the automatic transmission could also have been affected, though the gear shifter does move around.
There is rust, but again some of it may have been there before the flood. And the trunk sports some fiberglass patches. If water did permeate the car, there is no telling what kinds of issues the wiring may have now. The title is said to be clean, which implies the car was sold outright after the storm and not as a result of an insurance claim (perhaps there was no flood insurance). It’s a darn shame that this happened, but it is an opportunity to go back to Square One.
Pre-flood pics, engine was full of water & locked up which means interior was also flooded.
Mold wire rot rust of every small bolt nut & washer.
Car needs stripped to bare metal & everything not plastic replaced.
It’s a 100k job in parts + labor.
eBay photos show what looks to be a large hole in the sub frame, is that what I’m seeing?
Seller took it down
Just checked. It’s back on. Knowing if it was fresh or salt water would help in deciding what to do with this car. Get the idea that the cooling system was flushed but not the oil pan or transmission. I saved a $22,000 race motor (’90s costs) by completely draining everything and filling it with racing oil I’d just bought before the storm. It was salt water so I had to move fast on that one.
Almost certainly salt water. The speedometer Pic tells the story. Ian pushed a huge storm surge. To paraphrase my favorite sci-fi MD, “He’s dead Jim.” It’s a shame too. That was a very nice car.
That’s just sad!
I agree . A shame ! A terrible….terrible shame!
Worman or some expert Mopar group needs to put this one back in action.
And why did someone move the radio to the left of the steering column?? And they put a radio delete plate in the place where it’s supposed to go. I wouldn’t take this car if it was given to me.
That’s the controls for an A/C equipped car, not a radio.
Thank you Karl, obviously I’ve never seen an AC equipped Cuda! Appreciate the insight!
No heart! Its basically a clone from a 318. Who cares what anyone does with it. Source the cost of its parts in today’s $$$!
He has been listing a lot of motorcycles from same collection with clean titles. And it was saltwater.
Hurricane Ian , my buddy sent some fotos of a beachfront mansion or condo complex with a couple of MOPAR beauties sitting out side drying out , water got 8-10 foot deep and washed out everything on the first floor . One of va these a SuperBee Yellow 69-70 was tossed up against a coconut tree . All
Of those got flooded with Saltwater fat I’m the gulf . I don’t think you can save these cars long term – rust will spring everywhere inside the next year ir do if it not springing up now . I felt sorry for the owner – nobody expected this storm to go inland and so far south and so slow . Ian was a bad dude for sure !
Magnum XE GT wheels.
Can it be a parts car for something not flooded or is the whole thing really toast?
It will be rebuilt, Cuda’s are not parted out.