When the Barracuda was redesigned in 1970, they added an upscale version of the car called the Gran Coupe. It was targeted at buyers looking for more charm and trim in their pony car, whereas the ‘Cuda was for those who wanted muscle in their rides. This ’71 Barracuda is a Gran Coupe, one of a little more than 1,000 built with a 318 V8 and TorqueFlite automatic. It’s had the same owner for more than 30 years and doesn’t run, so it gets moved around the shop under dollies. Located in Las Vegas, Nevada, the next owner can roll the dice and bring the car back to like-new condition. It’s available here on eBay where the bidding has risen to $25,700 but there is still a reserve to be met.
After seeing a 50% increase in Barracuda sales in 1970 vs. 1969, demand plummeted in just one year. You can chalk it up to the insurance industry going after performance cars and the federal government implementing plans to lower pollution by detuning engines to run on unleaded gas. Instead of 48,867 Barracudas built in 1970, just 16,492 left the assembly line in 1971. Only eight percent of the cars that year were the fancier Gran Coupe, like the seller’s car. It has an impressive list of options and was finished in Formal Black from the factory, so the number of Plymouths built exactly like this one might be low.
Since the seller has owned this car since the late 1980s, it’s fair to call it a project that someone else can finish. Though it has not been started in ages, the car left Plymouth with a 318 motor, but a different one is there now, and the black paint has been redone at least once. But both it and the body need some work. Rust is present in the rear quarter panels and there is evidence of some older Bondo beginning to crack.
The list of options that this car came with is extensive, making for one crowded cowl tag. Some of these goodies included power windows, AM/FM stereo with cassette player, hood/fender-mounted turn signals, leather interior with bucket seats, air conditioning, power steering and brakes, consoles on both the floor and roof and a bunch more. The seats must have been redone as the back seat looks too bland, but since the front seats are wearing fuzzy covers, we don’t know their condition. All the extra parts the seller has accumulated will go along with the car. That means an extra grille, right front fender, Rallye wheels, spare carpeting, and assorted trim pieces, and miscellaneous items.
Pulled from the auction. Worman probably bought it.
Why? Busy restoration shops don’t do cars on “spec”, they make way more money charging customers by the hour.
Steve R
I read somewhere that he’s so busy that if you got him to restore it it would be two years from the time you dropped it off to the time work actually began. There’s no money in playing the GMG game.
Dave, you are right.
I have a couple of friends with shops, one does restorations another fabrication. They have more work that they can handle. Neither like to do complete cars, preferring to do work limited in scope since they don’t have to wait on vendors to supply components. They will buy cars and parts, but they typically find them, not the other way around. Sellers that they deal with want hassle free sales and don’t want to deal with the public which rules out advertising. Shops know this and hardly ever pay market value, they don’t have to. A car like this wouldn’t peak their interest.
Steve R