Plymouth’s Barracuda ran from the spring of 1964 through the 1974 model year, and most fans remember only the Hemi cars. That leaves plenty of overlooked versions, from the early fastback to the Barracuda Formula S and the last 360 ‘Cuda. Several of them reward a driver more than a spec sheet suggests.
These nine are our picks, and the verdicts are our opinion. We favored manual gearboxes, balanced engines and the odd versions few people order today. Every figure comes from auction records, club and magazine fact sheets, or published model histories.
1. 1964 Plymouth Barracuda
Plymouth put the Barracuda in showrooms about two weeks before Ford’s Mustang arrived. Underneath, however, it was a Valiant with a new roof. Its fastback glass wrapped all the way down to the rear fender line.
At first, engines ranged from 170- and 225-cubic-inch sixes to a 273 V8, and buyers could add a four-speed manual. According to Supercars.net, Plymouth built 23,443 of them for the short 1964 season. Our take: a 273 four-speed car is the purest early Barracuda. It feels like a sporty compact rather than a muscle car, and that’s exactly its charm.
2. 1967 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S 383
For 1967, the Barracuda came as a hardtop, fastback or convertible. Buyers who wanted the big engine had one route, because the 383 V8 came only with the Barracuda Formula S package. In turn, that package added heavy-duty suspension, D70x14 Wide Oval tires and a 150-mph speedometer.
The Over-Drive Magazine fact sheet rates the 383 at 280 horsepower and 400 lb-ft. However, the engine bay was so tight that power steering wasn’t available, and disc brakes were mandatory. We’d seek out a 383 Barracuda Formula S for exactly that reason. It’s a heavy-steering, hard-pulling fastback that asks something of its driver.
3. 1968 Plymouth Barracuda 340-S
For 1968, the new 340 V8 replaced the 273 in the Formula S package. In fact, it was a Barracuda exclusive that year. With 10.5:1 compression and a Carter AVS carburetor, it made 275 horsepower at 5,000 rpm.
Over-Drive Magazine lists the 340 Formula S at $212 over the body price, while the 383 version cost $251. By comparison, the fastback led production with 22,575 cars. In our view, the 340 car is the sweet spot of the whole A-body run. It offered small-block balance with real power, and that’s what a driver feels in every corner.
4. 1969 Plymouth Barracuda ‘Cuda 440
For 1969, Plymouth stuffed its 440 Super Commando V8 into the small A-body Barracuda. Rated at 375 horsepower and 480 lb-ft, it was a lot of engine for a compact car. Every 440 car got the A727 TorqueFlite automatic and a limited-slip rear end.
As a result, numbers were tiny. Mopar Insiders reports just 45 M-code notchback coupes and 310 fastbacks. One coupe raced in F/SA from 1969 to 1981 and ran 10.40 seconds with headers and slicks. Our take: it isn’t the subtlest Barracuda. Even so, few factory cars put this much engine in so little car.
5. 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe
For 1970, the Barracuda lineup added a luxury model called the Gran Coupe. It added leather bucket seats, a molded headliner and an overhead console with warning lights. Engines ran from a 225 six and a 318 V8 to 383s with 290 or 330 horsepower.
Hagerty counts 8,183 Gran Coupe hardtops and just 596 convertibles for 1970. For example, the hardtop started at $2,934 with the six. Later, Plymouth built 1,615 more for 1971 before it dropped the trim. We think a 383 Gran Coupe is the grown-up’s Barracuda. It pairs a strong V8 with a cabin built for long drives.
6. 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda
Trans-Am rules required at least 1,900 street versions, so Plymouth built the AAR ‘Cuda. Specifically, its 340 wore three two-barrel carburetors and made 290 horsepower. In addition, it had a flat-black fiberglass hood, side-exit exhaust tips and bigger tires at the rear than the front.
Old Cars Weekly reports that Plymouth built 2,724 between March 10 and April 17, 1970, including 1,120 four-speeds. Swede Savage raced one for Dan Gurney’s All American Racers, though the car never won a Trans-Am race. We’d take a four-speed car without hesitation. It’s the rare ‘Cuda engineered for corners rather than the drag strip.
7. 1971 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda convertible
1971 was the last year Plymouth offered the 426 Hemi in the Barracuda. It was rated at 425 horsepower and fed by two four-barrels. In convertible form, almost nobody ordered it.
My Car Quest reports that Mecum sold one at Seattle in June 2014 for $3.5 million. Between 11 and 13 Hemi ‘Cuda convertibles were built for 1971, depending on the source. Mecum described the blue car as one of 11 and one of two four-speed cars delivered in the U.S., while SlashGear puts the 1971 total at 12. In our view, a four-speed car is the purest way to experience a Hemi. That said, at this price, most owners will rarely drive one hard.
8. 1972 Plymouth ‘Cuda 340
For 1972, the Hemi, the 440 and the 383 were gone, and the convertible was dropped. That left the 340 four-barrel, rated at 240 net horsepower, as the top ‘Cuda engine. Styling also changed, with single headlights, four round taillights and a black rear panel.
Hagerty’s valuation guide notes that about 80 percent of 1972 ‘Cudas had automatic transmissions. Overall, Plymouth built 18,450 Barracudas that year. Our take: a four-speed 340 car is the overlooked driver’s choice. Because it carries a small-block up front, we think it suits a back road better than the big-block cars before it.
9. 1974 Plymouth ‘Cuda 360
For its final year, the ‘Cuda offered a 360 V8 with a Carter Thermoquad carburetor, rated at 245 horsepower. The four-speed with a pistol-grip Hurst shifter came only with that engine. Also, the ‘Cuda got a sport hood with twin intakes, heavy-duty suspension and a front stabilizer bar.
Mac’s Motor City Garage lists the ‘Cuda at $3,252 and total 1974 output at 11,734 cars. After that, Plymouth dropped the Barracuda line along with the Dodge Challenger. We’d hunt for a four-speed 360 car. It’s the last ‘Cuda Plymouth built, and it closes the story on a surprisingly strong note.
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