Plymouth’s pony car, the Barracuda, arrived on the scene about the same time as the Ford Mustang, but it didn’t generate the kind of interest its competitor did. So, in 1970, the company decided to separate the Barracuda from its Valiant roots and give it a new platform, the E-body (which would be shared with the new Dodge Challenger). This set-up would run for five years before Chrysler decided to get out of that market segment. This ’72 Barracuda is a ‘Cuda but without the 340 V8 and 4-speed, it left the factory with. It’s said to be painted Petty Blue which involved a special paint code. The car needs a full restoration and awaits in Malone, New York for someone with the wherewithal to place the winning bid. Here on eBay, activity currently stands at $13,800 with an unmet reserve.

Much of the early marketing tied to the revitalized Barracuda was about performance, so when the muscle car market retracted after 1970, demand for the car fell off. And dramatically with the Plymouth product which saw 50,000 assemblies in 1970 and yet only a third of that the very next year. The Dodge Challenger experienced a similar fate, so Chrysler concluded the pony car market was dead and pulled out after an abbreviated 1974 model year.

Petty Blue, which has been long associated with NASCAR’s Richard Petty before and after he retired, was not a standard Plymouth color. It had to be special-ordered (code 999) but was re-coded in 1972 to EB3 which was known as Petty Blue, Street Satin Blue, Corporation Blue, or Blue Streak. I’m surprised it was ever offered as the pigment elements of Petty Blue are as closely a guarded secret as the recipe for Coca-Cola. Unfortunately, the seller’s car is missing its cowl tag or a build sheet to substantiate if it left the factory as you see it.

For 1972, just 1,700 ‘Cudas were built with the 340 cubic inch engine and a 4-speed tranny. Add to that the rarity of the color and – if true – you may have yourself a car that once was rare. But the drivetrain is gone, yet the clutch pedal remains. A non-running 318 and TorqueFlite automatic are there now.

We’re told the seller planned to drop in a Viper engine that he has and is selling separately, but lack of interest or time to complete the car just isn’t there. The body and interior are going to need work, and the seller is throwing in some parts to help with the project. They include new rear quarter panels, floor pans, a trunk pan, and a shaker hood. The partial VIN provided does jive with a car that was originally a 340 ‘Cuda, so at least no forlorn clone or tribute car is here to work with.