A common issue being a purist is that what people do with their cars is their own business. The result is that people will do things to their cars that seemingly ruin them. Or they will want to clone a car into something more interesting. Our Pick of the Day is a car that tends to suffer from both fates, so it’s refreshing to see this relatively untouched example. This 1970 Plymouth Barracuda is listed for sale on ClassicCars.com by a dealership in Morgantown, Pennsylvania. (Click the link to view the listing)
Mopar fans like to point out the Plymouth Barracuda debuted several weeks before the Ford Mustang, yet the Mustang gets all the credit for spearheading the pony car class. It could be argued that the 1964 Barracuda was not in the same class as the Mustang, as the former was simply a Valiant with a fastback roofline, while the Mustang featured unique styling and had market research as its raison d’etre. You don’t need me to point out what happened next.
When Plymouth introduced its redesigned Barracuda in 1967, it was more in line with the class that the Mustang had carved out for itself. Now Plymouth featured a hardtop and convertible in addition to a fastback, yet Plymouth seemed to be behind the competition because the latter were able to better allow for bigger engines. Additionally, the proportions that characterized pony cars were not exploited as much on the Barracuda, especially the short deck. All that was corrected for the designed 1970 version.
This 1970 Plymouth Barracuda shows the path Plymouth took for the series to be on equal parity with the Mustang and Camaro, among others. This is the base model and not the performance-oriented ‘Cuda or the luxurious Gran Coupe, and it’s an example that shows the purity of the design without having been turned into a ‘Cuda clone or someone’s bad idea with shackles, spoilers, and mud flaps.
Like most Barracudas, it’s powered by the 318 two-barrel, an engine where economy of operation and adequate power met at the crossroads. Painted Alpine White with the standard black interior, there isn’t much that’s fancy about this Barracuda, but it has a the Y14 code, which is a designation that a customer originally ordered it. The air conditioning and tinted glass speak to the sunny California locale of the original owner, while the automatic transmission with console, bodyside protective molding (currently not on vehicle), AM radio, wheel lip moldings, Light Group, glove box lock, rear seat speaker, power steering, and deluxe wheel covers all speak to the content typically found on these vehicles.
If you’ve priced ‘Cudas, you know they’re out of this world. Regular Barracudas have been riding the ‘Cuda’s coattails as a result, which is why the consignor is asking $88,900 for this unrestored pony car
Click here for this ClassicCars.com Pick of the Day.
out of your mind “high” for a base 318 Cuda that still needs reconditioning…
The first Mustang was just a Ford Falcon with a restyle. No less a Falcon than the first Barracuda was a Valiant.
The Mustang doesn’t look like a Falcon. Does the Barracuda look like a Valiant?
Yup!
Taking advantage of the Mopar market I think cudas were cool but the b bodies rule.
Nice,original,E body……..not $88,900 nice though. I bought a numbers matching 1970 ‘Cuda 340 a few years ago for $40,000. That was a good price for a restored car with a few flaws.
Listen people. Nobody should be paying more than $30k for a base 70 Barracuda w/318 2 brl, automatic, hubcap, plain white coupe. You can clearly see Bondo patches @ bottom of front fenders. Rust along under seams with the paint bubbling up. Has some outdoor carpet in it.
It is absolutely nothing special. Was a grandmom basic transportation for 50 years. Power steering, 4 wheel drum non power brakes, automatic trans, and a base 318.
$30k max .
For the asking $90k price you can get a very, very nice Challenger or a different Barracuda. Not to mention all the Chevelles and Camaros you could get which would be fully restored, fast, and reliable. None of which this grey haired cruiser is.
That high price should keep it from becoming a Hemi, 440 or Six-Barrel “tribute car.”
Back in 1970 , my cousin purchased a brand new Cuda ! The day we went out in it for the first time , the young people really ” admired ” it and thought it was so cool ! Think what that classic car would be worth 54 years later ? Many of us never look that far ahead into the future or have the foresight to wonder , ” should I keep it ?” It’s probably had many owners by now or passed through an auto auction for a sizeable sum . It’s hard to say . The old Mopars are in high demand . That we do know ! Happy Motoring
As the owner of a 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT8 with a 6.1 hemi engine and a 6-speed manual transmission I realize that someday this will be considered old Mopar too and two days after I bought it the announcement was made by Dodge that they would no longer be making gas combustion engine challengers so I think I’m going to go ahead and keep my car no matter what..