1971 PLYMOUTH CUDA

1971 PLYMOUTH CUDA.
The Plymouth Barracuda is a two-door car that was manufactured by Plymouth from the 1964 to 1974 model years.

The third-generation 1970 to 1974 E-body Barracuda, no longer Valiant-based, was available as a coupe and a convertible, both of which were very different from the previous models. The final model year for the Barracuda was 1974.

1970–71
The redesign for the 1970 Barracuda removed all its previous commonality with the Valiant. The original fastback design was deleted from the line and the Barracuda now consisted of coupe and convertible models. The all-new model, styled by John E. Herlitz, was built on a shorter, wider version of Chrysler's existing B platform, called the E-body. Sharing this platform was the newly launched Dodge Challenger; however no sheet metal interchanged between the two cars, and the Challenger, at 110 inches (2,800 mm), had a wheelbase that was 2 inches (51 mm) longer than the Barracuda.

The E-body Barracuda was now "able to shake the stigma of 'economy car'." Three versions were offered for 1970 and 1971: the base Barracuda (BH), the luxury oriented Gran Coupe (BP), and the sport model 'Cuda (BS). For one year (1971), there also was the Barracuda Coupe, a low-end model which (like other Coupe series Chrysler Corp. offered that year) had a fixed rear passenger window and minor B pillar instead of roll-down rear passenger windows. The high-performance models were marketed as 'Cuda deriving from the 1969 option. The E-body's engine bay was larger than that of the previous A-body, facilitating the release of Chrysler's 426 ci (7.0L) Hemi for the regular retail market.

For 1970 and 1971, the Barracuda and Barracuda Gran Coupe had two six-cylinder engines available — a new 198 ci (3.2L) version of the slant-6, and the 225 ci — as well as three different V8s: the 318 ci, 383 ci with two-barrel carburetor and single exhaust, and the 383 ci with four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust 330 hp (250 kW) SAE gross. The Cuda had the 383 ci 335 hp (250 kW) SAE gross (same as Dodge's 383 Magnum) as the standard engine. It also had the 440 ci four-barrel Super Commando, the 440 ci six-barrel Super Commando Six Pak, and the 426 ci Hemi. The 440- and Hemi-equipped cars received upgraded suspension components and structural reinforcements to help transfer the power to the road.

CC rating: 8,652cc (528ci)

NZ First Registration: 04-Jul-2014

Country of Origin: USA