The Plymouth Barracuda was all-new in 1970 and the public responded with a 50% increase in sales. The Gran Coupe would be the “luxury” edition, which represented 15% of all deliveries that year. This restored edition differs from stock in a major way: it has a 440 V8 and ‘Cuda 440 script on the hood. But the Gran Coupe was limited to a 383 engine, which is how this car left the factory. But it did come with the 4-speed with Pistol Grip shifter that’s present. Located in Las Cruces, New Mexico, this beauty is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $30,900, but not the reserve.
1970 was a big year for the Barracuda. It got an all-new E-body platform which finally distanced it from the compact Valiant. That would carry the nameplate for an additional five years before Plymouth pulled back from the pony car market, which had been in a sales decline for most of the decade. Plymouth would build 48,867 Barracuda’s that year, a record that would not be broken. 7,320 were the upscale Gran Coupe hardtop of which just 341 were equipped with a 383/4-speed. This car would have been one of them. Perhaps during its restoration, it gained a 440 V8 with some performance tweaks, something that wasn’t on the options list.
The 440 under the hood of this car now is said to have 28,000 miles on it, which we assume that’s what has been added to the car when it was restored. Non-stock modifications to the motor include a Comp camshaft, ceramic headers, Performer RPM intake manifold, and an Edelbrock 750 carburetor. We’re told it starts, runs, shifts, and stops exactly as it should. With the extra weight up front, power steering and front disc brakes are probably welcomed by the driver.
The body looks good and the Lemon Twist paint vibrant. The only rust the seller is aware of is under the battery tray (from a leaker at one point?) and the hood hinges, which should be fixable and repainted without changing the car’s appearance. The car has lived in New Mexico all its life which always helps when it comes to cancer and corrosion. The interior looks sharp with a new dash pad and carpeting. It also has a new Gran Coupe headliner which – because of its built-in features – cost more than $2,000.
Overall mileage for the car is unknown as the seller only lists the engine’s mileage. According to Hagerty, one of these ’70 Barracudas can top $50,000 and real ‘Cudas will go higher. Given that this Gran Coupe is something of a clone, it’s hard to say how high serious collectors will want to go to acquire the car, as nice as it is.
Is that a different hood than stock?
I thought that Gran Coupes had hoods
without scoops on them.
If you GOOGLE it they have all different hoods on them. It says the engine has been swapped, maybe they did the hood at the same time….No Biggie, No Longer Original.
For 70-71 Other Barracuda options included decal sets, hood modifications, and some unusual “high impact” colors such as “Lime Light”, “Bahama Yellow”, “Tor Red”, “Lemon Twist”, “Curious Yellow”, “Vitamin C”, “In-Violet”, “Sassy Grass” and “Moulin Rouge”.
You’re correct about the hood — that’s a “Cuda only” thing — but this car has been at least partially “restored” by someone that couldn’t decide what he wanted to end up with.
If he wanted to turn his Gran Coupe into a ‘Cuda 440 tribute car that’s fine. Adding the 440 and the ‘Cuda 440 hood is a good start to that end. But then he went and painted the rear fascia Lemon Twist, which isn’t correct for a ‘Cuda OR a Gran Coupe. The taillamp panel should be Satin Black if he’s going for the ‘Cuda tribute look, or Argent Silver (matching the existing taillamp surrounds) if he’s wanting to retain the Gran Coupe look., but the body color panel is only correct for base model Barracudas.
Personally, I think that he’d have had something far more unique and interesting if he’d have restored it to its original Gran Coupe appearance. Since “numbers matching” apparently isn’t an option for this car I have no objection to throwing the hopped up 440 under the hood, but the mismatching visual cues are a mess, in my opinion. The owner should have committed to doing either a ‘Cuda tribute or a Gran Coupe restoration, then done it right.
All great points that really tell the tale about this car and other ones restored in similar fashion. It’s clear the prev owner had only a vague idea about what he/she was trying to accomplish. It’s “half baked” on several fronts as you mentioned. The buyer for this type of car will be one who’s inline with the builder and will be satisfied in blissful ignorance. And good for them!
I had a 70 Gran Coupe 383 4 speed, In Violet with the factory rear spoiler. Shouldn’t have sold that one.
Cool car, i would have cleaned the interior.
I could be mistaken, but I think leather seats would have been standard in a Gran Coupe with houndstooth cloth & vinyl as an option. Also, shouldn’t there be a console?
The neighbor friend that a bummed a ride with to school every day drove a new car every 6 moths. His dad had a Plymouth dealership and we took the 1970 383 Gran coupe convertible for some hard drives. It was orange with a white interior and top. It had a factory brass engraved plaque on the dash stating it was a factory blueprinted motor . He said the dealers each got one.
I doubt the brass, engraved plaque was “factory” by any means, lol…cool story though. Sounds like the son got the gift of “car salesman b.s.” from his dad!
Needs a Shaker hood.
I don’t think the Tuff Wheel was available in ’70. Just an observation, not a criticism.
Always loved the irony that Plymouth offered a Gran Coupe convertible.
The rust looks serious around the hood hinges. Enough so to worry. The lack of at least lap belts makes me think the floor pans a toast as well. Tread lightly
Regardless of wheither what is correct or not, this car just has the right stance and attitude to enjoy as a driver.
I like it!
Same here jerry. Whether it has the incorrect ash try liner is meaningless.
“Half baked”? “blissfull ignorance”? I think not.
Damn fine car. Just as it is. To be enjoyed. Period.
I dont know if anyone noticed, but there is some noticeable rot in the pics by the hood hinge that’s been sprayed over, so its not like it happened after the paint job. Makes you wonder what other issues this car may have that’s just been covered over. Odd how the guy has both Gran Coupe and Cuda emblems on the car