How The 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Made History

Today, the Plymouth Barracuda can fetch some of the highest prices in the muscle car market as one of the most prized vehicles, but it’s beginnings were far more humble.

The Plymouth Barracuda started in 1964, but in 1970 a new body style was introduced, designed by John E. Herlitz, based on the Chrysler B platform, now called the ‘E body.’ This was the same platform as the Dodge Challenger, but the Challenger had a wheelbase 2 inches longer than the Barracuda.
The style changes also shook off the image of the economy car and all links with its association with the previous Valiant.
Now the Barracuda had the chance to stretch out into the sports market with models like the grand coupe and ultimately to use the 426CU. Hemi engine.

Many options were available, the more rarer optioned cars now fetching the most money.
Colours like Lime Light, Bahama Yellow, Tor Red, Lemon Twist, Curious Yellow, Vitamin C, In-Violet, Sassy Grass and Moulin Rouge Plum crazy were available.

The barracuda models that stood out for the year are as follows:

1970 Barracuda

The base model of the Barracuda period came with a 335 hp 383 engine, the Hemi 425HP 426 cu.,7.0 L option costing an additional $871.
If you went down the Hemi route, then you would get new hydraulic lifters with around 425 hp engine. Two Carter AFB 4 barrel carburettors, Air grabber hood, H.D. driveline parts.
Transmission options were the New Process A-833 four-speed or a 727 TorqueFlite. A Dana 9 3/4-inch in the rear, with leaf spring
suspension, 6 leafs on the right and 5 plus 2 half leafs on the left. Seven inch wide wheels with F60 x 15 tires.
Around 652 were made with the Hemi motor, 284 with 4 speeds, 14 as convertibles, 5 of those convertibles with a stick shift.
The only people who didn’t like the base model where the insurance companies, limiting ownership due to pricing.

1970 Barracuda 340

the 383 V8 was the standard, but the 340cu with a 4.04 x 3.31-inch bore and stroke, fitted in nicely for people who wanted more than the base model, but couldn’t afford a Hemi.
10.5:1 compression, single four-barrel carburettor, producing 275 hp and 340 lbs.ft. of torque.
Quarter-mile time – 15 seconds at 95 mph, 0 to 60 time of 7.5 seconds.

1970 AAR Barracuda

New styling and engines meant race time for the Barracuda in the form of SCCA Trans-Am racing.
In this year rules change saying 5L racing V8’s didn’t have to be the same as production models. Thus, the 340ci small block was de-stroked to 303.8cu. to meet the new rules.
For production models 2,724 AAR’s were built and named after Dan Gurney’s All-American Racers.
The engine was 340cu. with hi-po heads, single four barrel carb. for racing and a triple two-barrel Holley on production models. Fibreglass, cold air induction hoods were also included in the packages.
Other points of note on this version of E body were the rear spoiler, front and rear sway bars, side exit exhaust, A833 four-speed transmission with Hurst shifter or a 727 TorqueFlite transmission.
AAR decals and striping were also included.

From 1970 to 1974, the Plymouth barracuda had slight changes to body styling and different engine and body options, e.g. single headlight instead a dual headlight, but the 1970s version hit the peak of the muscle car era and is arguably one of its biggest heroes.

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