Plymouth’s Barracuda was an all-new car in 1970, finally shedding its heritage with the Valiant compact. The machines used an E-Body platform that was reserved for just the Barracuda and Dodge’s new Challenger, though the two autos would share no sheet metal. The change was popular at first, with sales increasing 50% the first year, but interest fell off after that as the pony car market had become saturated. This ’72 edition is a ‘Cuda 340 which was the hottest version you could buy by then (the muscle car craze had also faded). It sports some new hardware and a color change about 30 years ago. Located in Newbury Park, California, this Mopar is available here on eBay where the bidding holds at $16,700.

After 1971, all the big-block V8s were gone from the Barracuda inventory. So, no more 383, 440, or 426 Hemi. Instead, the small-block 340 was now the “top dog” and its horsepower had been reduced from 275 to 240 by lowering the compression ratio (tightening emissions controls were underway, too). Just 18,490 Barracudas were built in 1972 of which 6,354 were the ‘Cuda 340. And, of those, 2,039 had an automatic transmission. The likely survival rate of these cars after 50 years makes finding a nice one harder to do.

The engine in this ‘Cuda is original, but the automatic transmission is not. It’s brand new, but the seller has saved the original automatic should you want to restore its numbers-matching status. The aluminum radiator is fresh along with the gas tank, fuel pump, carburetor, and some other odds and ends. Thus, we’re told the ‘Cuda performs well. This isn’t the first time the Plymouth has been listed on eBay. Another fake or deadbeat buyer has caused the seller to relist it.

When the car was new, it wore B5 blue paint, but someone preferred red instead and the whole deal was repainted in the 1990s. It’s probably time for a new finish anyway, so why not go back to Day 1? The interior presents well enough (except maybe for a stain on one of the seats), so this car doesn’t come across as some major bank account breaker to restore. The odometer reads 17,000 miles, but it has likely rolled over.