April 1 was an important date in the history of the Plymouth Barracuda. On that date in 1964, the first one rolled off the assembly line while the last one was built on April 1 10 years later. In between, 379,370 Barracudas would find their way into the hands of eager buyers. The ‘Cuda was considered the powerhouse edition during the car’s second generation, which usually meant at least a 340 V8 was under the hood. But did you know that from 1972-74 you could get a ‘Cuda with a 318 V8? At least two sources quote them being built, including 351 in 1973 with a 3-speed floor-shifted manual. That’s what appears to be in the seller’s possession, but it’s pretty rusty and forlorn. It’s available here on craigslist in Catskill, New York for $4,300 OBO. Thanks, Mike P, for the tip!
The muscle car craze of the late 1960s saw a sharp decline in the 1970s. Insurance rates skyrocketed, cars were detuned for lower emissions output, and the price of gas took off in 1973. That may have led Plymouth to produce a car with ‘Cuda graphics that had an engine that would be friendly on all these points. Besides 351 3-speed units, the 1973 ‘Cuda saw 539 copies with a 4-speed and another 1,832 with a TorqueFlite, all paired with a 318 cubic inch powerplant that was rated at 150 hp SAE net.
This edition of the car is rough by all accounts and you’ll find no shortage of rust anywhere. It carries some pretty tired orange paint which doesn’t look like a factory color and it may have even been lime green at one time. It also has a peeling white vinyl top that matches the interior (which carries ‘Cuda emblems on the door panels). The seller says the car is complete, although we don’t see the rear seat bottom in the photos. Nor do we see the engine compartment, which is said to not contain the original 318 (but we’re told it’s not locked up). The cowl tag has rusted away, so that won’t enable you to validate the bar, nor is a build sheet likely to be found inside the ‘Cuda.
The odometer reading on this car is 86,000, but that likely doesn’t really matter at this stage. The seller admits that this is either a major league project for someone or a rough parts car. But you’re going to have to carefully study what’s there to see if something viable can be moved over to your existing Barracuda project.
Probably a parts car at best though looking at how rough this car is makes you wonder if it even qualifies as a parts car. I’m sure someone with snap this up though. I mean, it’s a Mopar and that usually means it’s worth money no matter how bad it is.
Looks to me as if it would fall apart into a heap of dust and rust if you so much as touched it. I’d be amazed if you could get it onto a trailer in one piece. And ’73 isn’t my favorite year for these.
Is this worth fixing? Yes, as in “many alley cats need fixing…”
The back seat is there in image 9. I’ve seen Graveyard Carz restore worse examples than this. If only 351 were built, this car will get restored.
Its a shame to be in that shape. I had a green 73 with white interior, 318 auto. I loved that car. I was in the Navy in Charleston SC. I went to sea in 1982 and when I returned 3 weeks later it was gone. I reported it stolen but it was never found. I have wanted another since but cannot afford one now being a disabled vet on a fixed income. Maybe one day..
Yeah, some people really stink. Hopefully karma has played its part on the guy and you are doing great.
no
I dont see anywhere that this car was lime green and there looks to be some red/orange spots on the floor pan. but if it was lime green it would have had to be a repaint ; the closest green would have been F1 Mist Green , which looks like the color of a glow in the dark toy. Of course the fender tag has “rusted away” and the build sheet is likely gone. , that would have made it easier to figure out whether this car is a real 318 Cuda , or a 318 Cuda clone. A lot can happen to a car in 48 years !
318/3 speed is a nice car but this one is pretty much dead. Strip what is left and crush to make the world a better place.
I’m a mopar man,and say sorry I’ll pass,rare or not,parts car at best, too much rot and deterioration here,its a shame it was let rot away like this!
Worth Fixing? I was thinking more along the lines of restomodding, specifically a custom chassis and a Hellcrate Redeye engine installation. Obviously, media blasting would have to be performed to see what can be dealt with.
Smell that? That’s a bog (as we call filler in Australia) load of bondo. Doubt there’s a single panel without it. Although it’s plated, with no title mentioned it’s probably not worth the effort even as a donar. Hard pass
Its been awhile for me to comment, lots of new names. Sadly there isn’t much to save, you’d be better off buying a new body shell and starting from scratch.I say take what can be used and scrap the rest. Even Grave Yard Cars would be replacing almost every panel to bring it back, which begs the question is it still the same car at that point. I would not want to take this car on.
Seems to me if it was a ‘cuda, it would have the nameplate or holes on the taillight panel and probably should have the exhaust cut outs in the rear valence. My 74 did.
This is just a Barracuda. Only 340/360 engined cars carried the ‘cuda moniker. Mike is correct.
Restore? Check yeah! New floorboards,a ton of bondo ( forget the vinyl top), throw in a 340 (I got two in my garage alone), New tank sending unit and check tank, and if you’re bold enough,rebuild the front end, and a econo paint job, and you’re cruzing in a Barracuda for under 16k. It’s not concourse, but it’s rolling!