Plymouth sold the first Barracuda as a 1964 model, and the last one left showrooms as a 1974 model. Over those 11 years, the Barracuda V8 list grew from one modest small-block to a Hemi, then shrank back to small-blocks again.

Here are the nine V8s Plymouth offered, in the order they arrived. Every rating below comes from the model year it belongs to. Ratings before 1972 are SAE gross, while 1972 and later figures are SAE net, so the later numbers look smaller on paper.

1. 1964–1967 273 V8

The first Barracuda V8 displaced 273 cubic inches and wore a two-barrel carburetor. In that form, it made 180 hp and 260 lb-ft of torque. That small-block mattered to buyers, too. In fact, about 90% of early Barracuda buyers ordered the V8 instead of the Slant Six, Classic Industries reports.

For 1965, Plymouth added the 273 Commando. It brought a four-barrel, 10.5:1 compression and a hotter camshaft, according to Classic Industries. As a result, output rose to 235 hp and 280 lb-ft, Muscle Car Club’s engine table shows.

2. 1967–1971 383 V8

The redesigned 1967 Barracuda brought the first big-block option, the 383. That first year it came only with the Formula S package. It made 280 hp, Muscle Car Club lists.

After that, the rating climbed almost every year. Restrictive exhaust manifolds held the 1968 version to 300 hp, and the 1969 engine reached 330 hp. Then the 1970 ‘Cuda carried a 335-hp 383 as its standard engine. By 1971, Plymouth offered 275-hp two-barrel and 300-hp four-barrel versions. Those year-by-year figures appear in both the Muscle Car Club table and the Barracuda history on Wikipedia.

3. 1968–1974 318 V8

For 1968, the 318 replaced the 273 as the smallest V8, Classic Industries notes. It used a two-barrel carburetor and, at first, made 230 hp through 1971.

Meanwhile, the industry moved to net ratings for 1972. On that scale the 318 showed 150 hp and 260 lb-ft from 1972 through 1974, according to Muscle Car Club. The Wikipedia history gives the same 150-hp net figure. So the 318 was the one V8 that ran from the second generation to the very end.

4. 1968–1973 340 V8

Plymouth also added the 340 four-barrel to the 1968 options list, Classic Industries says. It sat between the 318 and the big-blocks on the order form.

The 340 made 275 hp and 340 lb-ft in gross form through 1971, Muscle Car Club’s table shows. After the switch to net ratings, it showed 240 hp for 1972 and 1973. Once the big-blocks left after 1971, it became the top engine in the car.

5. 426 Hemi, from 1968 drag cars to the 1970–1971 ‘Cuda

The Hemi arrived first as a racing part. For 1968, Chrysler built approximately 50 Hemi Barracudas for Super Stock drag racing, Classic Industries reports. Hurst Performance assembled the fastbacks, and a sticker said they were not for public roads, the Wikipedia history notes.

Later, the street Hemi came with the 1970 redesign. In the 1970 and 1971 ‘Cuda, the 426 Hemi carried a rating of 425 hp and 490 lb-ft, Muscle Car Club lists. However, 1971 was its last year in the car.

6. 1969–1970 440 Super Commando four-barrel

The ‘Cuda name started as a trim level for 1969. That year, buyers could also order the 440 Super Commando, according to Classic Industries. Sources disagree on its 1969 rating, so we leave that number out.

For 1970, the record is clear. The four-barrel 440 made 375 hp and 480 lb-ft, Muscle Car Club lists, and the Wikipedia history gives the same 375-hp figure. In contrast, it does not appear as a regular 1971 option.

7. 1970–1971 440 Six Barrel

The Six Barrel swapped the single four-barrel for three two-barrel carburetors. In the 1970 ‘Cuda, it carried a rating of 390 hp and 490 lb-ft, according to Muscle Car Club.

For 1971, the rating dipped to 385 hp while torque held at 490 lb-ft. The Wikipedia history lists the same 390 and 385 figures. After that season, big-blocks left the Barracuda for good.

8. 1970 AAR ‘Cuda 340 Six Barrel

The AAR ‘Cuda existed so Plymouth could race in Trans-Am. Classic Industries calls it a homologated race car equipped with a 340 six-barrel, in its Barracuda history.

It used the 340 small-block, but it earns its own place here because of the induction. Instead of a four-barrel, it wore three two-barrel carburetors. That setup earned a rating of 290 hp and 345 lb-ft, Muscle Car Club lists, and Plymouth offered it for 1970 only.

9. 1974 360, the last new Barracuda V8

For the final year, Plymouth replaced the 340 with the 360. The bigger small-block made 245 hp and 320 lb-ft on the net scale, according to Muscle Car Club. The Wikipedia history also lists 245 hp net for 1974.

That made the 360 the strongest Barracuda engine of 1972 through 1974 on the table. Plymouth built 11,734 Barracudas for 1974, Muscle Car Club’s production table shows, and then the nameplate ended.

More from Fast Lane Only

• Unboxing the WWII Jeep in a Crate
• 15 rare Chevys collectors are quietly buying
• 10 underrated V8s still worth hunting down
• Police notice this before you even roll window down

This article was created with the help of AI and was reviewed and edited by Fast Lane Only editors before publication.