Plymouth produced a handful of fantastic muscle cars during the golden era, but it doesn’t get better than the third-generation Barracuda in my book. It’s not quite as heavy as the Road Runner, it’s a bit more compact, but it also looks notably more aggressive. And it was available with Mopar’s most potent engine.
The Barracuda was born as a pony car with mild oomph in 1964. Plymouth added the 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) big-block to the engine lineup in 1967, while the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB briefly appeared in 1969. Things changed dramatically when the third-gen model arrived for the 1970 model. Plymouth not only introduced the 440 Six-Barrel but also put the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI on the options list.
Granted, these powerplants weren’t popular at the time due to high insurance rates, but that’s precisely what makes the 1970 and 1971 ‘Cuda rare and desirable today. Some versions are also quite expensive. The HEMI-powered convertibles, for instance, usually change hands for more than $1 million at auction.
A 1970 HEMI ‘Cuda drop-top, one of only 14 made, sold for $2.14 million in January 2024. That’s a new record for 1970 ‘Cudas of any type. But I’m not here to talk about HEMI engines and retractable tops. I want to show you a very sexy hardtop that rocks a 440 Six-Barrel and a couple of really cool options.
Sure, nothing beats a HEMI ‘Cuda in terms of performance and exclusivity, but the 440 Six-Barrel is the next best thing. It sends 390 horsepower to the rear wheels, 35 less than the HEMI, while weighing slightly less than the HEMI. It’s also scarce enough to send the ‘Cuda into $150,000+ territory.
Plymouth 48,867 Barracudas during the 1970 model year. About 25% of these cars left the assembly line with a big-block V8, but only 1,784 were specified with the 440 Six-Barrel (only 3.6% of the total production). The example you see here is an automatic, which makes it one of only 853 hardtops fitted with this drivetrain combo.
But besides being rare, this ‘Cuda is also a fabulous specimen thanks to a rotisserie restoration. The In-Violet paint (you might know it better as Plum Crazy from Dodge models) shines like the car just rolled off the assembly line, and the black interior is flawless. The engine is squeaky clean and looks accurate from every angle. Oh, this ‘Cuda also rocks a shaker hood, yet another rare feat on the 1970 Barracuda.
The Mopar is also loaded with options, including a Rallye dash, Super Performance rear axle with a 4.10 ratio, console with woodgrain panel, and bucket seats. It also features a tach, a noise reduction package, and power brakes. The fender tag confirms it’s a factory In-Violet 440-6 car. However, there’s no info on whether the Six-Barrel under the hood is numbers-matching.
The car is for sale via “Pedal to the Metal,” but it’s located in Europe. If you live across the pond, the ‘Cuda comes with Swedish plates and costs €149,750. That’s about $161,160 at the current exchange rates.
