Plymouth redesigned its Barracuda pony car for 1970 and sales increased by 50%. If it had come from the factory with a Hemi engine and TorqueFlite automatic, this coupe would have been 1 of 377. But instead, it was as rare with a 318 V8 and a 4-speed manual, of which 705 coupes were built. This is a project car where most of the heavy lifting has already been done on the body, but the drivetrain is a transplant and needs to be rebuilt. Located in Magnolia, Texas, the bidding here on eBay has reached $26,650 but the reserve and not yet been met.
Besides the rare engine/transmission pairing on the seller’s car when new, it gets more unusual as it was also painted at the factory in Lemon Twist Yellow, one of Chrysler’s Hi-Impact colors. To offset the bright exterior, the Barracuda was also fitted with a black vinyl top (long gone) and a black vinyl interior. At some point, the 318 was ditched and the 426 elephant motor went under the hood. Ironically, that same engine came out of a ’70 Road Runner that the seller owned 25 years earlier!
The engine is said to be mostly complete, and some work has already been done to be functional again. The seller goes into detail regarding the efforts put into the motor and about the only missing stuff mentioned is a set of pistons. So, the buyer will have to finish the motor and tear apart the automatic transmission there now so it will be in top-notch shape, too. The car has its original 8-3/4 rear end (good enough for a 318 but beefy enough for a Hemi?).
A slew of photos are provided of the car at various stages, but they aren’t necessarily uploaded to eBay in chronological order. An entire new floor pan has been welded in place along with the left-hand toe pan, trunk floor, truck extension, wheel housings, roof skin, and a lot more. As a result, this is largely a new car underneath. All the underlying metal and structure were blasted, cleaned, coated with a rust preventative chemical, and then sprayed in two coats of PPG epoxy primer.
Some of the trim that goes on the car has survived, but not necessarily photographed. The seats will have to be redone but the frames are still good. We’re told all the door panels are fine but should be dyed black once again. Everything should be present to refit the interior except for two bottom trim items. All the glass is there and in decent shape except the windshield is MIA. The car sits on “old school” slotted wheels with a good set of tires.
Without knowing what reserve the seller has set, the car’s next owner will benefit from what the seller estimates is $30-40,000 of work that he/she won’t have to do. The fact that a largely complete Hemi engine is present is another expense that the seller won’t have to incur if they were planning to build this as a ‘Cuda Hemi tribute car anyway. Considering what one of these cars is worth as a factory-equipped 426, is this an automobile that could replicate one for far less all-in money?
If that is the original 4-speed, I doubt it will hold up behind a hemi.
4-speed is gone. TorqueFlite automatic now.
If that was mine, I’d go the other way. Pull the useless lump that’s in there now and install a slant 6. Just to PO certain Barracuda aficionados!
Never argue with the gallant 225, that is for sure, but I do weep for the original drive train. 318 4 speed, man, what a great combo. I drove a few 318 3 speeds in my day and always loved them, but longed for the extra gear. This had that rare combo, and only a 1970 option, if I recall correctly. The world already has far too many childish hemi rubber laying machines (esp fake ones). A 318 4 speed would be a great driving car that would be reliable, economical, and responsible. Plus it would handle so much better. Sure, this car is destined to be sold to a rich guy and then to another, and then, still to another. Never really driven, and even if it is, just a little tire shredding, then back in the garage. That is not driving, that is just plain follishness. A 318 can take you on a pleasant weekend get away, all the while making those back road twisties on the way, just that much more enjoy able. A 426 is an ornery beast that no one in their right mind would take any distance. It is not a true car, never was meant to be, Chrysler always strongly suggested them to be for “sanctioned” racing events only.
We drive our Hemicuda everywhere including this years Hot Rod Power Tour! This idea that a Hemi isnt reliable is just plain foolish!
@Hemidavy, I am glad you like yours. My guess is that a high revving, and loud, rough running car would be no fun on the highway…at least after a while. But again, it is your car, enjoy it if it makes you happy.
I think it needs a LS.
Drop the torqueflight, source a dana 60 and either a hemi 4 speed or a 5 speed. Not sure if id stick to original color or not….
The front grille on these looks very similar to the Australian XB falcon sedan that has single headlights, the basic taxi cab type. Not the dual headlight GS and GT. But the Plymouth came first.
The seller has 3 other hot cars listed.
Sell the built Hemi and Torque Flight and rebuild the car as original, with the 318 4-speed. It’d be a ton of fun and a lot easier to finish. The money from the Hemi/AT would pay for a bunch of the remaining work. Win, win, win.