1971 Plymouth Barracuda Hemi 'Cuda Tribute

It's the third-generation Plymouth Barracuda that lives in the muscle car pantheon.  Though it didn't get bigger, it certainly became meaner and faster.  The total redesign for the 1970 Barracuda appropriately separated it from its vanilla brother, the Valiant.  The Barracuda was based on the E-Body — essentially a wider, shorter version of Chrysler's B platform that was used for rear-wheel-drive passenger cars.  Plymouth ditched the Barracuda's original fastback roots, limiting it to two-door hardtop and ragtop convertible versions for the third generation.  Chrysler also made the brilliant decision to bring the more specialized Hemi Cuda within its own walls for design and production.  The new Barracuda was designed by a young designer named John Herlitz, who was only 27 years old at the time.  The revamped but still large Barracuda was slightly downsized but kept true to the muscle car proportions with a long hood/engine compartment and a short trunk/rear deck.  The more distinct redesign of the Barracuda and its brother Hemi Cuda became huge successes for Chrysler.  Sales went through the roof, doubling that of the last-generation car's final year: the total number jumped from just under 28,000 per year to a whopping 50,617 cars.  The Cuda created hunger with its limited production number, then coupled that with sparse outfitting — like the absence of air conditioning and power steering — to strongly communicate its performance intentions.

For consignment, a built to the hilt and ready to kick ass tribute to the 107 Hemi 'Cuda Hardtops made for the 1971 model year.  This Mopar Action feature car came to our consignor from Kansas, is all Mopar metal, is a 3 owner car and our consignor has over $180,000 in the built.  Starting life as a mild mannered 318ci powered Barracuda Gran Coupe, it has since had all the metalwork done with help from Six Pack Performance helping with the Shaker conversion to the original hood, and a gentleman in Connecticut adding in the gills to the factory fenders.  Along the way a consultation with Ray Barton of the legendary Ray Barton Racing Engines led our consignor to give the nod to a Barton built 528ci Hemi V8 making a tire shredding 849hp and capable of propelling this furious fish to sub 10 second 1/4 mile passes,  9.88 @ 140mph to be exact and I've included a link to the video down below.  Although some safety upgrades are necessary to comply with NHRA rules to run sub 10 seconds on a regular basis, (10 point roll cage, window net, parachute due to MPH, battery shut off, etc).  We give you a high powered Hemi clone, just a beautiful job overall has been done and is more than capable of taking a bite out of the competition.  Scroll on!

Exterior
At the front of the car, things are about as subtle as a punch to the face.  6 gaping grille nostrils within the now Rally Red grille, a pencil thin chrome bumper, dangling fog lights, and angled shark gills on the front fenders are enough to intimidate any modern American heavy hitter.  Hood pins keep things secure for the ever familiar Shaker hood, created from the factory flat hood, and now has a corresponding black Shaker scoop.  The hood continues rearward to a pristine stainless framed windshield and bringing up either side of the stainless framing are Rallye Red sport mirrors and up top is a flawlessly installed black vinyl top.  Moving to the rear quarter on our way, we note extremely well minded gaps, all straight worry-free steel, and the iconic HEMI billboard stripe in matte black.  And at the back of the car, a sleek rear spoiler finished in black textured organisol hovers above a traditional valence housing the iconic Plymouth multi-bar tail lights and a 'Cuda badge all within a matte black rear panel.  The rear showroom quality bumper hangs below the valance and in a Rallye Red lower panel dual chrome tipped exhaust peek out.  Very few imperfections and inclusions are noted in the paint, and certainly no rust is found and one must look hard to find the flaws.  15-inch forged aluminum Cragar S/S wheels by Weld Racing, a rarity to find these days, are wrapped in deeply treaded 225/70R15's up front and steamroller befitting 325/50R15 Mickey Thompson rubber out back.

Interior
Keeping the door open to the “no stone left unturned department”, we can swing open a door and see showroom quality door panels in black molded vinyl.  These have a sleek seamless look along with their 'Cuda badges in chrome.  Also showroom quality are 2 thin early 1970's sleek black leather high back buckets with smooth center panels and back with built in headrests, some tuck and roll pattern inserts with buttons and smooth bolsters.  The rear bench carries this motif in back, and these are nearly perfect as well, although getting back there may be a touch difficult for the average adult as a 6-point roll bar with removable door bars was installed by Precision Chassis.  This all sits in a beautiful calm sea of jet black carpet that has embroidered red 'Cuda stitched floor mats.  Floating above the carpet up front is a well done restoration on the dash, featuring a clean as a whistle round lineup of rallye gauges by American Classic Restorations all within a wood appliqué field and a black padded dash top.  Seen racing up the center between the buckets is a 70's stylized console in black vinyl and wood appliqué, and sporting a Hurst Pistol Grip chrome armed shifter.  A faux wood rimmed 3 spoke rim blow wheel with a “Michelin Man' styled attachment fronts this very 70's muscular dash.  Above all this 70's menagerie is a tight black vinyl headliner.  A shout out to the trunk with its plaid liner and glossy red finished panels.

Drivetrain
A Mopar Performance Mega 426 block now stroked to 528ci by the world renowned Ray Barton Racing Engines, replacing the original 318ci V8, makes 849hp and is more than capable of sub 10 second 1/4 miles passes.  This elephant has been fitted with a Mopar Performance steel crankshaft, Barton connecting rods, CP 10.4-1 compression pistons, and a .700 lift Bullet roller camshaft.  This elephant was then topped off with Barton ported Stage V cylinder heads, Barton roller rockers and Jesel sleeve type roller lifters with no needle bearings.  A 1150cfm Dominator carburetor feeds copious amounts of fuel to the mill through a Barton aluminum intake manifold and a black Hemi 'Cuda badged shaker assembly tops things off perfectly.  Attached to the back of this healthy mill is a Pro-Trans forward manual valve body equipped A727 3-speed automatic transmission.  Power flows rearward and is distributed to each rear wheel via a Strange Engineering built Dana S60 axle with 4.10 gearing.  Perfectly restored, looking factory fresh, and ready to gobble up the competition!

Undercarriage
With a restoration of this quality and attention to detail as such, one would expect nothing less than to see the likes of which all are rust free, even dirt free, a perfect amalgamation of pure metal parts all with a Rallye Red field of the unibody.  A Hemi K-member, Hemi front and rear torque boxes, Wilwood 4 wheel disc brakes held together with new 318 spec independent torsion bar front, and mono-leaf sprung rear suspension with Caltracs bars are all seen.  Note the photo of the custom headers, 3" custom exhaust, stainless Magnaflow mufflers and deep sump pan, it might as well be jewelry, that is just how nice this car presents itself.

Drive-Ability
All was very well with the test drive on this car as performance is over the top, acceleration smooth and endless, and bias free panic stopping.  Good handling for a car of this caliber was noted and not a frown was to be seen, that is until I told my crack decoder and all around good guy it was time to end our test drive.

All dressed up, and now also ready for some whoopass, 528 cubes of Ray Barton Shaker Hemi power, plenty of carb CFM, and a built automatic, all wrapped up in straight and near pristine Rallye Red steel.  Now that's what I call a muscle car.   One of the baddest boys on the block for 1971 and an American icon that even those not in the know will recognize.  Sidle into our Hallowed Halls, break out the checkbook and save yourself the cost of a new Supercar.

DRAG STRIP VIDEO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgAgTMJS-nY

BP23G1B367057

B-Plymouth Barracuda
P-Premium Price Class
23-2 Door Hardtop
G-318ci V8 2bbl
1-1971
B-Hamtramck, MI Assy Plant
367057-Sequential Unit Number

FENDER TAG

BP23:Plymouth Barracuda
Premium, Gran Coupe 2 Door Hardtop
G1B: 318 230hp 2bbl
1971
Dodge Main, Hamtramck, MI, USA
367057: Sequence number
E44:318 cid 2 barrel V8 230hp
D31:A904 3-Speed Auto Trans.
GB5: True Blue Metallic Exterior Color
PRX9:Trim - Premium, Leather Bucket Seats, Black
000:Full Door Panels
422:Build Date: April 22
016520:Order number
GB5:True Blue Metallic Top Color
U:USA Specifications
A62:Rallye Instrument Cluster 
B51:Power Brakes
C16:Console w/Woodgrain Panel
C28:Right Head Restraint
C55:Bucket Seats
G11:Tinted Glass (all)
G36:OS Dual Racing Mirrors
H51:Air Conditioning with Heater
J25:3 Speed Wipers
J41:Pedal Dress Up
M21:Roof drip rail moldings
M25:Wide sill moldings
M31:Belt Moldings
N85:Tachometer
R11:Radio Solid State AM (2 Watts)
V5X:Body Side Stripes, Black
26:26in Radiator
EN2:End of Sales Codes

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.  This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.