The hottest Plymouth Barracuda you could buy in 1972 was the ‘Cuda 340 with a 4-speed manual transmission. And this car was one of them as just 4,315 rolled off the assembly line. But now it might be 1-of-1 as a modern 392 cubic inch Hemi V8 resides under the hood! With SRT performance, this Plymouth might be better than new while retaining its original flair. Located in Auburn Hills, Michigan, this Mopar restomod is available here on eBay for $87,900 OBO.
Chrysler gave the Barracuda the new E-body platform in 1970, one that it would share with the Dodge Challenger. Sales perked up by 50% as a result, but quickly turned south as the muscle car movement that was hot in the 1960s began to cool off. Just 18,500 Barracudas were assembled in 1972, with about a fourth of them being similar to the seller’s car. It looks as good as it did when it left the dealership, but it’s no longer matching numbers.
As part of what appears to be a thorough restoration, the decision was made to drop the 340 small block and go with a modern approach. That includes a 485 hp (rated) Hemi engine that – if it’s like the one that comes with today’s Dodge Charger Scat Pack – it also turns out 475 ft-lbs. of torque. A considerable jump from the 245 SAE net that the original 340 would have cranked back in the day! We don’t know if the original 4-speed would bolt directly to the 392 Hemi, so perhaps that transmission has been modernized, too.
This ‘Cuda sports beautiful B5 blue paint with possibly only one little chip in the driver’s side front fender. No decals anywhere shouting out how it was built in ’72. The black interior appears to be quite inviting and Dakota digital gauges have replaced the ones from the factory. If you’re looking for a vintage muscle car that combines the best of yesterday with today, could this Barracuda be what you’re looking for? BTW, the seller also throws in a walkaround video with a bit of a description of the work done.
Awesome for some!!!
Now lets put it back to original… My opinion If i wanted a modern Hemi I would go out and by a new challenger…
Agreed, Oldschool. The 340 was still a ton of fun in 72, and no ridiculously expensive computer-driven electronics of questionable origin to deal with. If the 340 was missing, that’s different. If you must go new, go hemi.
I agree whole hartedly 340 should be in the car to ask that price for it 😱
If is done right you may have your cake and eat it too. Old school style and modern power and efficiency. Great looking car as well.
It appears to be a well-done driver resto-mod. I watched the video on YouTube and would have liked to have seen some underside shots. I’ve owned 3 AAR Cuda’s and they like the big block Cuda’s had “torque Boxes” added for the extra power among other modifications . The last stock 340 TA engine I had built dyno sheet shows 363 HP peak, 387 Ft lbs. Torque at 5500 RPM. This Hemi engine swap looks to have more smiles to the miles.
A beautiful presentation. 340/4 speed was a great combination , not sure why you would swap it? Nothing about brakes or suspension. With a 340 you could easily out drive the handling, without upgrades this car would be even more useless into a corner.
I bought a 72 Cuda new, it had a 340 4 speed and was also B5 blue. I was in the Army and took delivery in Germany. Drove it all over Europe had a blast. Would love to find it.
Beautiful Cuda indeed…but I would prefer to have the 340 back in it.
I have yet to see a modern engine out perform an older engine in mpg if you put them gear to gear. Exact ratios to same. And then when the manufacturers make the speedometer read 3 mph faster take those off your totals. What I’m getting at is the 340 is a fun engine and with a performance rebuild you can get close to those same numbers in hp. Put 5 or 6 speed in and keep the 340. I like the car and would love to own any of the classic muscle cars
My F150 runs 13.74 in the 1/4, weighs 5200 with me in it and gets 19+ around town. All with a 212 cubic inch motor, show me anything from the 60’s or 70’s that can do that. No comparison at all. I love the old stuff but technology is way more efficient now. My GTO got 11-12 mpg with a 3.55 gear. No overdrives, no good converters. Face it, Apples and oranges.
Apples to oranges 🤔 turn that double overdrive off and see what it gets ? It won’t be 19 mpg ! Is that what your computer says or is that actual calculations? After I rebuilt my 1979 351M I got 15 on the highway in my F250 with 4.10’s !
Your 212ci won’t last towing 15,000lbs across the country either.
It BETTER turn 13s for what that truck costs. But it’s hard to show off in an all lookalike “colorless” vehicle world today, espec if it has 4 doors. I’ll take an under $4000(back then) ’73 stripper sd-455 formula with 4 speed manual & an ALL blue or brown or red or green interior & count the money i saved. & enjoy the hidden wipers & frameless full door glass styling.
Gasoline today is still dirt cheap, at least if you exclude Calif, adjusted for inflation. & the sd-455 dont need octane booster or even premium gas.
BTW, imagine what would happen to the performance & mpg of your truck if you added an engine driven fan, non overdrive/non lockup trans, & heavy power sapping ’70s a/c compressor & PS pump. & heavy front bumper like on the bird.
It’s not so much the motor in your truck.
ALL BARN FIND CARS ARE 1-of-1
Having owned a ’73 as my first car, I agree with the idea that they should all still be stock.
BUT, if I’m going to own a resto-mod, this would be the one.