Having spent a lot of time over the last few years digitally turning four-door cars into two-door cars, and two-door cars into four-door cars, this isn’t mine! This 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Four-Door Sedan is the real deal, built by the late Mr. David Walden of ECS Automotive Concepts and shown at SEMA in 2016. It’s set to cross the auction block this Sunday at Mecum in Kissimmee, Florida, and it can be seen in their fantastic listing here. Thanks to Mitchell G. for the tip!
There may be a reason Plymouth never made a four-door Barracuda, and I’m not a car designer by any means, but I don’t know if this would have been a successful model given that profile. But, if Plymouth did make, let’s, say a Gran Sedan version of their two-door Gran Sport Barracuda, it may have been shown on a brochure of the era, such as this one that I tweaked a wee bit. Or maybe the designers would have gone all out and created a four-door Barracuda convertible such as this one, also from Scotty G’s collection. Hey, I told you I wasn’t a car designer!
This car was created by the late, great Mr. David Walden of ECS Automotive Concepts, a juggernaut of auto restoration parts such as decals, replacement VIN tags, etc. In fact, they’re said to be the largest source in North America for officially licensed label replacements for vehicle restorations. The car was built to be exactly as if it would have been built by Plymouth in 1970 and is said to be quite beautiful in person as far as the details and finishing work go. Our own Russ Dixon showed us this car back in October of 2022 here on Barn Finds.
The gorgeous and perfect interior with room for six and doors for four, appears like new, mainly because it is new. Although it was built in 2016 for the SEMA show in Las Vegas, it was put away shortly after and the Mecum team says the tires didn’t touch the ground again until 2022. Sadly, Mr. Walden passed away far too soon at age 58 in 2019. The back seat looks as perfect as everything else on or in this car does. And look at that legroom! This exact car (did I need to say that since there is only one?) sold at the same Kissimmee auction in the summer of 2023 and only brought $121,000, much lower than the auction estimates.
The engine is a 340-cu.in. OHV V8, which would have normally been factory-rated at 275 horsepower and 340 lb-ft of torque. It’s backed by a three-speed TorqueFlite sending power to the rear wheels, and it would be both very cool and very shocking to see a cloud of tire smoke behind this one-of-one Barracuda four-door sedan. Here’s a fun photo, the window sticker! How much will this four-door Barracuda sedan sell for this time? $200,000? More?
If the roof was a tad bit lower it’d be perfect
Totally agree. The roof almost looks like AI – flows smoothly and looks like Mopar lines, but just the wrong proportions.
The first thing I noticed about this car back in the day was its’ fivehead. My first instinct was they should’ve used the Satellite’s windshield too, but I like Scotty’s idea of a 4-door hardtop with a lower roof the same as a Barracoupe’s.
I hadn’t noticed how strange that the windshield looks until some others pointed it out. I agree that a larger windshield or a lower roof line would look infinitely better.
It’s giving off that AMC Ambassador vibe, and personally I’d rather have the Ambassador!
If someone can’t live without it and can afford it, then why not?
$200k? Really? Someone destroyed a perfectly good coupe to make this monstrosity? Thanks, but no thanks.
Rusty, you took the words right out of my mouth!
This was made from a 4 door Satellite, hence the roofline. Check this out:
4doorcuda.com
Thanks!
I just looked at an image of a ’72 Satellite, you can really see the origins of this car. So it looks like a ‘Cuda front end, back end and maybe rear window, but sandwiched in between is grandpa’s Satellite. MM O.K. cool, but not 200K cool IMHO.
I was wondering how they did the doors, and fair enough on borrowing them from another car (another Chrysler, no less). But you have to wonder how it would’ve looked had they modified the doors to better suit the Barracuda, or used the roof of the Satellite to better suite the doors, or… something. Easier said than done, I know, but you’re already sinking buckets of time & money into a one-off project, why not finish the job?
It definitely would have a more sloped look to the rear.
Like the late model Charger and the late 60’s 4 door Impalas, the rear doors had a significant slope to make the roofline more sleek and if you didn’t watch out when getting in, you would hit your head when entering.
Was expecting a 318. Nice 340 surprise 🏁
The next owner should go “Full Monty” with a shaker hood, front bucket seats and floor console/shifter.
A crew cab ‘Cuda? Count me in.
Good looking Mopar
Ugly, waste of time and money in my opinion…
Looks like one of those AI videos on utoob.
I absolutely hate 4-doors, but this one just caught my eye. It just looked different and it is, but I still hate 4-doors. In the article it said several times 4-door convertible, of course it’s not! That would be too cool.
Absolutely agree about this abomination Joe. I’m still cleaning barf off myself looking at the Porsche Panorama. I’ve seen a few corvettes butchered into stretches, hatchback wagons 4 doors etc also. Maybe the designers are getting back at the manufacturer
for not hiring them. Let’s put the crack pipe down.
I think it looks cool although I expected to see the traditional high back buckets with a floor shift console inside. Personally, I would have painted it Plum Crazy.
It’s not my thing and you can discuss the proportions, but the one thing you can’t argue with is the quality of the work. The builder put a lot of time and effort into this car and it shows.
Steve R
I agree with Steve R, if this thing was built for SEMA, then you can pretty much bet that the quality is top notch. It isn’t something that would make me clear out some room in the garage for but like someone else said, If someone can’t live without it and has the money, then why not?
Aren’t these cars unibodies? I would be interested in seeing how they achieved the stretch before commenting on the quality of the build.
Frog, that is addressed in a link from one of the comments when this car was featured in 2022. It featured an in-depth article about this cars build and how a Coronet 4dr skeleton was used. It’s easy to find if you want to read it for yourself. There are also numerous article easily found with a Google search.
Steve R
Saw this one back in 2017 in Las Vegas, ‘Mopars at the Strip’. Unique…kinda cool I guess, but, would one really want to drive it around much?? I mean, it’s not like you can contact your local classic car wrecking yard and say “hey I need some parts for my 70 Cuda 4 door…”
This actually in my opinion is a very cool and awesome looking Cuda. I would love to own this car. Though yeah, the 2 doors are the natural .
Fascinating car. I’ve seen a few 1970 Plymouth Cuda, but I’ve never seen a 4 door Cuda.
Yeah, you may not like it or understand why, but one thing anyone that calls themselves a car guy/gal should be able to respect is the effort and craftsmanship that went into creating this four door. To pull this off in a way that mimics what may have left a factory floor takes some serious time, money and most of all, talent. That I can appreciate, and most definitely I respect.
Mopars sedans in the 60s and 70s had a stodgy enough appearance to them as it was. This just carries over the look.
That seems a bit extreme!
Others than the door opening beige taller than the header this perfect.
Translation: Other than the side windows being higher than the header this is perfect.
Butt ugly. I love Cudas but who would want this???
A question that can now be un-asked.
Imagine the airport lot for Budget rent-a-car clotted with 4-door Barracudas in the early ’70s. Trunks were still tiny. Joe Mannix still woulda wrecked his.
All’s I can say is “Eeeeew” that’s extra fugley.
Bucking flasphemy.
It’s been roofied………..ok..i’m going….
Glad Plymouth didn’t apply this concept.
I hadn’t noticed how strange that the windshield looks until some others pointed it out. I agree that a larger windshield or a lower roof line would look infinitely better.
Total waste of a nice Cuda, but I would love to have one-third of the mechanical skills of the builder. Well done as Steve R said. This was no easy task. This car has been for sale several other times at Mecum in the past.
Regardless of what it cost to build, I’m guessing it will sell for pretty much the same price as it did last time. Or less.
It is an interesting thought experiment, but really, who wants/needs a 4 door Barracuda? Its definitely not a ‘Cuda, which hurts it value and the 4 door look hurts it more.
Its wonderfully crafted in a weird way but hard to imagine plonking down 6 figures.
I’d rather that they made a 2 door barracuda station wagon or pickup instead.
& i’d rather Dodge never made any 4 doors using the Charger name.
Saw this at Mecum Indianapolis in 2024. Don’t remember what it sold for ( if it did). Interesting car. Has a window sticker from Chrysler.
Already better, just the beginning. Sincerely, all the best to you John.
I’d rather have a ’78 import 2 door Challenger. Or even if some1 made a 2 door ’71 Plymouth Cricket
Why mess with the gr8 lookin American classics? Why not instead make a proper-for-the-name 2 door hardtop charger out of a 2006-2023 4 door? That would be 1 less 4 door on the road, instead of 1 more. arrgh
A 2 door Charger is just around the corner. Of course, that means that the 2 door Challenger is history.
Sorry, just not enough 2 door buyers to justify 2 separate models.
BTW: I loved my 4 door Charger and would buy another one if the situation called for it. Most reliable car I ever owned.
Yes, a $70k 5000 lb plus electric charger that only the rich can afford with fake audio exhaust system – looks like it could be a next gen Camaro. & later there will of course be a lookalike 4 door charger whose sales might kill the 2 door – like the 2 door bronco will probably soon be dead.
There have been many recalls on the modern hemi ICE, & Chrysler is usually at the bottom of the reliability list.
There will later be an ICE Charger – no v8, but rather a turbo straight 6! – who here wants that?
The Mecum website shows that this Sold, but unlike all of the other Sold items, does not list the Sold price.
Strange, the buyer must not have wanted it to be revealed.
I knew that this looked familiar.
This is the 2nd time it has been featured here at BF.
The first time, Russ wrote it up on 10/22/22.
https://barnfinds.com/1-of-0-1970-plymouth-barracuda/