When the Plymouth Barracuda was redesigned in 1970, the ‘Cuda version stood for performance. The ‘Cuda engine choices were a 340, 383, 440, and the 426 Hemi. But the focus changed in 1972 as rising insurance premiums had buried the big-block engines and a ‘Cuda then came with a 318 cubic inch V8 as standard fare. That’s how this one-owner ’73 ‘Cuda left the factory, but that basic motor has since been replaced by a 340 small-block (275 hp) from ‘69. Located in Springfield, Oregon, this Mopar presents well enough but has been idle for a time and isn’t quite roadworthy – yet. Available here on eBay, the current bid is $17,600 with the seller’s reserve unmet.
Barracuda sales increased by 50% in 1970 when the all-new E-body was introduced. Shared with the all-new Challenger, this platform would serve the pony car market for five years before Chrysler withdrew from that market space. Barracuda production in 1973 had dropped to under 19,300 units of which 9,300 had ‘Cuda badging. A further dive shows that just 1,900+ ‘Cudas were assembled in 1973 with both the 318 and an automatic transmission.
Cosmetically, this single-family Barracuda is mostly original. The sheet metal has been untouched and most of the black paint is the finish the car left the factory with. The interior is also original and is as nice as you’re likely to find without having been redone. The odometer reads less than 50,000 miles which could be legit, but why replace that engine that soon unless more power was the objective? Though the motor was changed out, the transmission was not.
The tires on this car are old and likely should be changed (the original spare is still in the trunk). And the brakes are a bit erratic. Plymouth once had factory air conditioning, but some of that hardware is missing. For an unrestored automobile, this should be a capable weekender once you get the mechanical details sorted out from being off the road.
A 3.55 or 3.91 gear would blend in nicely w the Torq-flite and the 340s hi-winding preference.
Springfield, Oregon. Must be another Mark Worman vehicle from Graveyard Cars.
Clean and straight. Solid looking car with the engine swap done. Not a ’70 or ’71 but a great, short lived car.
I’ve always liked the Barracuda over the Challenger. It had a more menacing look and stance IMO.
It is one of Worman’s cars, and no matter what you have heard or think about him, he is not only maybe one of the most knowledgeable people on the planet when it comes to Mopar’s, but he is also a straight shooter. You won’t get any typical salesman BS when shopping a car from him. He knows what the car is and isn’t, and he we tell you the truth. I like Cuda’s and Challengers, but I’m not a big Mopar guy. Nonetheless, this looks like a decent car to me.
Funny that he likes to play the B.S. typical ’70’s salesguy on TV.
You do know that a lot of the show is satire right?
Of course I do. Been watching it for years and enjoy most of it. Being a Mopar fan, how can you not?
Although they have cut back on the schtick, they need to do a lot more.
My point is that, although he is a straight shooter and knows his stuff, he feels like he has to play the exact opposite when in front of a camera.
At least they haven’t worked a weird love triangle into the story yet.
Give it long enough, and every “reality TV” producer wants one.
When you buy a Springfield OR car, it isn’t through GYC because they aren’t a dealership. It is through a separate dealership that handles all the aspects of the sale. But Mark is involved and you will have a good experience with him. I am speaking from personal experience.
This is a nice car, but the seller knows its worth and you will need to pay a fair, but higher end price for this.
The earlier episodes of GYC are so cringeworthy that they have now been repackaged without a lot of that terrible footage. I mean what an A hole Mark was. There is still some though as it can’t all be edited out and I have to believe that it was scripted as no one would stay with a job that was so demeaning. Especially with some of the skills those guys have. I just skip those parts. They do turn out some beautiful cars.
I couldn’t agree more. Cringeworthy is dead on.
They should have at least painted the engine Mopar corporate blue ; it sticks out with the early paint color on a 72 car
Keep the Cragars with the 40+ year old bias ply tires on them and mount them for shows.
These are what my ’73 wore, back in the day. Standard size in the front. Wides with airshocks in the back.
i hate seeing his listing here !!!!
Well, none of them sell anyway.
oR i hATE sEEING hIS LiStINGS hERE !
Why in the world would you hate to see his listings here? Last time I looked, this is a site for people that have cars for sale, and he is someone that has cars for sale. Seems like a perfect fit to me.
Guess this site needs to change the name to Cars For Sale instead of Barn Finds then and there are more reasons than that.
Ever seen a car on here that isn’t for sale?
For you that enjoy the decode process, here is the deciphered tag. Double TX9 is a pretty unusual combination. This car is going to bring a lot more than $25K. I really like the old school tires and rims and would preserve them, but also have the staggered factory setup like the AAR had.
BS23:
Plymouth Barracuda
Special, ‘Cuda
2 Door Hardtop
C3B: 225 105HP(net) 1-1BBL 6 CYL
1973
Dodge Main, Hamtramck, MI, USA
530259: Sequence number
E44: 318 cid 2 barrel V8 230hp
D34: Light Duty Automatic Transmission
TX9: Black Diamond (Dodge) Exterior Color
A6X9: Trim – Basic, Vinyl Bucket Seats, Black
000: Full Door Panels
612: Build Date: June 12
235638: Order number
TX9: Black Diamond (Dodge) Top Color
U: USA Specifications
B41: Front Disc Brakes w/Standard 10in RR Drum
C16: Console w/Woodgrain Panel
C56: Bucket Seats
G35: Delete Standard Outside Mirror
H51: Air Conditioning with Heater
J54: Sport Hood
M21: Roof drip rail moldings
M25: Wide sill moldings
M91: Luggage Rack
M88: Decklid Moldings Treatment
R11: Radio Solid State AM (2 Watts)
26: 26in Radiator
EN2: End of Sales Codes
So which engine did it come with originally, the 225 or the 318 ?
I always thought it was kind of weird that the 1973-74 ‘Cuda came with the same 318-2v engine as the base Barracuda. It was even possible to order the scooped ‘sport’ hood and 340/360 engine separately on the Barracuda, so I don’t see much of the point of the ‘Cuda model since it had effectively just become a trim package.
I guess maybe it was another one of the insurance subterfuge things where a base Barracuda would be cheaper to insure than an identical ‘high-performance’ ‘Cuda. Personally, though, if someone wanted the performance, it’d be a whole lot easier and cheaper just to get a Duster.
So which engine did it come with originally, the 225 or the 318 ?
I’m going to guess that Chrysler just kept the same order sequence of the 225 /6 for 1973/74, but it wasn’t technically possible to get a Barracuda that way.
IOW, although it might have said the base engine was the 225 engine according to the order form, they were all automatically upgraded to a 318-2v, so no six-cylinder E-bodies came from the factory with the six in 1973/74.
It’s just a slight production difference that was changed at some point by, say, marketing.
I had a 73 Cuda, green with white stripes, white interior 318. I came home from the middle east in 1980 and this was at a car lot for $1200. No rust, just a beautiful car. Took it to my next duty station. While out to sea it was taken, long story short never seen it again.
It seems close to roadworthy. . .why not finish the job before putting it up for auction? Are the final steps prohibitively costly, given that $17,600 doesn’t meet the reserve?
I grew up in Eugene Springfield area, if you’re interested in a Mopar you go to Worman.
Not what you see on TV show. It’s a business and we’ll run. They know their stuff and tell you straight up everything you should know about any particular car.
Very cool tailights.
Looks like it is G3B, which would be a 318. The C and G look very similar on the fender tags but on the door decal you can see it pretty clearly.