When it comes to creating a custom build, the only limitations are the builder’s imagination and their budget. Possessing an abundance of both can often result in something genuinely special emerging from their workshop. Take this 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible as a prime example of that philosophy. It features stunning paint and seemingly perfect panels. However, not all is as it seems, because lurking beneath the surface is a large dose of Dodge Viper, including a V10 engine promising exhilarating performance. I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Rocco B. for spotting the Barracuda listed here on eBay in Mundelein, Illinois. The seller set their price at $114,900 with the option to make an offer.
Plymouth introduced its E-Body Barracuda range in 1970, and the car’s styling received widespread acclaim. It looked bold and purposeful, and even the humblest examples seemed to mean business. This first-year Convertible makes a bold visual statement, with its panels cloaked in Top Banana, one of the company’s most striking high-impact paint colors. Criticizing its presentation is seemingly impossible. The paint shines like a new penny, the panels are laser-straight, and the underside shots confirm the car’s rust-free status. The Black power top fits tightly, and the glass is clear. The wheels and rear-quarter decals confirm that this Plymouth is genuinely special, an impression reinforced when the driver presses the button to deploy the custom power hood.
We’ve reached the point where the builder let their imagination off the leash during this build. This Barracuda would have been a sterling performer off the showroom floor, with the VIN confirming that the first owner ordered it with a 383ci V8 under the hood. It would have placed 335hp and 425 ft/lbs of torque at the driver’s disposal, with both figures very respectable. However, this custom build has rendered those figures irrelevant because the creator scrapped every genuine Plymouth mechanical component. Instead, the engine bay now houses an 8.0-liter V10, which began life in a 1999 Dodge Viper. It is unclear whether it received any upgrades before being bolted into place, but it would have generated 450hp and 490 ft/lbs of torque whilst under the Dodge’s hood. The power feeds to a Viper rear end via a one-of-a-kind four-speed automatic transmission with a lock-up converter. In search of a “total” package, the builder grafted in the frame rails and four-wheel independent suspension from the Viper into the custom-built floors, adding enormous Baer brakes that stop the Plymouth on a dime. This Barracuda is a turnkey proposition, a fact confirmed in this YouTube video. The V10 kicks into life with a twist of the key, settling immediately to sound smooth and powerful. The video is worth watching because it shows the power hood in action. That feature is seriously cool and is guaranteed to draw crowds should the buyer land at a Cars & Coffee behind the wheel of this classic.
Surely you didn’t think the Barracuda’s interior would escape the builder’s attention. There are plenty of Dodge Viper features, from the dash to the console, and the leather-clad bucket seats. The presentation is extremely tidy, with only minor leather stretching and no significant cosmetic issues. The buyer receives a typical assortment of modern features, such as power windows and a leather-wrapped tilt wheel, along with a stereo that delivers music you can feel.
Custom builds are almost as old as the automotive industry itself. Traditional Hot Rods probably represent the moment when builders elected to combine bodies and mechanical components from different makes and models in search of high performance. This 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Convertible reflects that philosophy, because the Viper V10 under its hood should pin occupants in their seats if the driver puts the pedal to the metal. Placing a value on a vehicle of this type is almost impossible. When you scroll through the listing images and appreciate the engineering involved in this build, it becomes apparent that recreating this Barracuda for the BIN figure would be virtually impossible. Are those thoughts enough to tempt you to pursue this Plymouth further?
I like Yellow cars,but that’s A LOT of Yellow.
Wow lots of work and thought went into this, the hood opens at a push of a button. They made the shifter to look like a manual. You need to luv yellow to grab this beauty.
Ugly. That dashboard in that body is just weird looking. Definitely for a specific buyer only. Just too personalized with all the yellow and tacky wheels.