The Plymouth Barracuda finally shed its Valiant roots in 1970 with a new E-body platform. The result was a much better-looking car that initially saw sales increase by nearly 50%. The seller is the original owner of this 1970 ‘Cuda 340, which still wears its factory paint. But it’s no longer the machine the New Jersey dealer sold him new, as it soon became a weekend track car that could turn the quarter mile in 11 seconds. Located in Jacksonville, Florida, the seller has decided to let it go to a new owner who can chart its future course. This Mopar is available here on eBay, where the current bid is $35,100 with an unmet reserve.
We’re told the seller bought this ‘Cuda new in the Fall of 1969, one of 1,788 340s built with an automatic transmission. When you factor in the FY1 Lemon Twist paint, it becomes 1 of 247. Though it was a daily driver for a time, he no doubt made some mods to stock to get 13-second-quarter miles at the track. When the car was two years old and had 20,000 miles, it was retired from regular use, and the front clip was transformed into the quad headlight set-up of the 1971 Barracuda (why?). Somewhere in the process, the seller shaved two more seconds off the quarter mile.
While the seller has kept a trail of paperwork since Day 1, most of the images provided are page after page of a build sheet diary. With all of the changes the car would go through, like the addition of a roll bar, most of the car’s original paint has survived, and we assume it has done so in good fashion. To gain speed, the seats and other interior pieces were removed, and a tweaked 340 was installed in place of the factory unit.
This may be a roller as we’re told the engine was rebuilt 20+ years ago, but never reinstalled along with a new racing tranny. Lots of spare goodies will come with the sale, including another 340 short-block. The decision the seller will need to make is whether he/she decides to go back to a classic muscle car, redo it as a drag track car, or shoot for a pro-street cruiser. What are your thoughts on this Plymouth’s future?
5.13s out back will get your attention when you punch it. 😲🏁
I grew up near were this car is from Hackettstown NJ and Succasnna NJ. I lived in Andover NJ until 1996 and was at Island dragway a few times.
Any ideas as to why the build sheet shown in the auction is for a completely different 70 ‘Cuda?
Ok.. this Cuda is worth over $40,000.00 easy. You get the whole stock interior comes with sale. Extra stock 340 and trans. This is the first time I seen a choice of Cudas to make. Like building a model street or race. But in full scale. I would make this into street/race. Put the race motor and trans in go to a 4:10 posi gears. Put back the whole interior and leave the roll bar. The 6cly. Torsion bars i would put back the stocks one. The other ones I seen Mopars go for the sky. That would be too much fun and you could come crashing down on the oil pan. NO THANKS!! Good luck to the next owner and have fun!! 🇺🇸🐻
Not many pictures.
The car shown is a 1971.
It’s just a ‘71 nose. VIN shows it’s a ‘70.
neat piece for sure. plenty of paperwork
An interesting car with a lot of documentation and a great back story, but why are there so few pictures of the car? Not even a picture of the engine bay or the interior with the six point rollbar.
In 1965, my dad imported a new Pontiac GTO (I remember something like 387hp) for his CEO, and hís sons used it for 1/4 mile sprint racing at Killarney race track in Cape Town, doing 13s regularly. it did not have good braking and tyres lasted only a few thousand miles. Engine needed an overhaul at 6 500 miles. But it was attractive and loved for its performance…
Well now, interesting car. What would you do with the car.? Personally I would put it back to stock.
Put the 70 grille and lights back in it. Put the stock parts back in. everything back to original.
Would you race it or street race it or make it a daily driver???
The question begs asking, why swap over to a ’71 grille? Better looking, or was it hit on the beak?