`Cuda 1970-1974

Although some elements of the previous design were vaguely apparent, the new Barracuda was much more clean, crisp and taut. The long hood/short deck theme was more obvious and the high trunk, short roof and smooth undisturbed sheetmetal gave it a more balanced look. Plymouth stylists paid particular attention to design and manufacturing details to maintain the uncluttered theme of the car. The windshield wipers were now recessed. The front end sheetmetal was carried right to the leading edge, then sharply turned under. The same was done to the rear of the car. Door handles were flush. The rectangular dual exhaust tips exited through the rear end sheet metal on the `Cuda model.

There were three distinct models for 1970: Barracuda, Gran Coupe And `Cuda. Each model was available as either a two door hardtop or convertible. There was not a fastback body style as before.

You could order the new Plymouth ponycar in one of eighteen exterior colors. Some of which were extra cost colors. Optional vinyl roofs came in black, white, green , Gator Grain and two floral pattern Mod Tops carried over from the previous year.

It was the `Cuda that was of interest to Mopar enthusiasts. Previously, the Barracuda had picked up the slang name `Cuda, so Plymouth adopted `Cuda as a tough sounding name for a new model appropriate to its image. The `Cuda was one of five cars that made up the Rapid Transit System. In the October 1969 issue of Car And Driver, as well as other magazines, Plymouth ran an add that read: "The Rapid Transit System Announced". The other cars in the Rapid Transit System were the GTX, Sport Fury GT, Road Runner and Valiant Duster 340.

The `Cuda came standard with a high performance 383 four-barrel rated at 335 hp at 5200 rpm. Optional engines included the 275 hp 340, the 375 hp 440 four-barrel, the 390 hp 440 six-barrel and the 425 hp 426 Hemi 8-barrel.

The distinguishing feature of the `Cuda was the standard performance hood, which sported two beautiful non-functional scoops. Because the hood was stamped steel, plastic moldings had to be used at the openings to resolve the undercut problem. Hood pins were standard on the `Cuda, as were two high-intensity driving lights mounted below the front bumper. The performance hood and hood pins were optional on the Barracuda and Gran Coupe. Identification on the Barracuda and Gran Coupe came in the form of chrome script on the front fenders. On the `Cuda, the sole identification was the word `Cuda in silver on the right of the rear license plate holder. Also, the recessed rear end was painted matte black on `Cudas.

An interesting appearance option was the elastomeric front and rear bumpers. This consisted of taking an unchromed bumper, molding a smooth skin of urethane over it, and painting it.Two packages were available. One was the front bumper in any one of nine body colors with racing mirrors. The other package had the front and rear bumpers and racing mirrors in Rallye Red only.

Another appearance option announced engine displacement. An inverted "hockey stick" stripe started above the door handle, followed the fenderline toward the rear of the car and just after turning down read 340, 383, 440 or Hemi. The other way to announce engine displacement was with the functional shaker scoop, available as an option only on the `Cuda in the Plymouth line. This was a corporate scoop, optional also on the Dodge Challenger. It was available with all high-performance engines in the `Cuda. Engine displacement was also given on the scoops of the standard performance hood.

Plymouth was quick to supplement the option list for the `Cuda. A rear spoiler, code J81 could be ordered for $34.80. Like the shaker scoop, this was a corporate option also available on certain other Plymouth and Dodge performance cars. A backlight louver option, code A67 was available for $175.05. It included black louvers, black vinyl roof, black backlight molding and right and left color-keyed racing mirrors. If you wanted to jazz up your plain Barracuda or Gran Coupe with a `Cuda performance hood, code J54, it cost you only $20.95. The hood pins, code J45, cost $15.40.

`Cudas powered by the 340 or 383 came with heavy duty 0.90 inch diameter front torsion bars with a spring rate of 113 pounds per inch, heavy duty rear leaf springs with a spring rate of 129 pounds per inch, heavy duty 0.94 inch diameter front stabilizer bar, 0.75 inch rear stabilizer bar. The 440 or 426 Hemi powered cars came with extra heavy duty 0.92 inch diameter front torsion bars with a spring rate of 124 pounds per inch, extra heavy duty rear leaf springs with five full leaves plus two half leaves on the left side and six full leaves on the right side with a spring rate of 148 pounds per inch, heavy duty 0.94 inch diameter front stabilizer bar, no rear stabilizer bar and extra heavy duty shock absorbers.

Transmissions and differentials were also up to the task. A heavy duty three speed manual transmission and heavy duty rear axle with Chrysler built 8-3/4 inch diameter ring gear came standard with 340 and 383 powered `Cudas. The high upshift Torqueflight automatic transmission came standard in `Cudas with 440 or 426 Hemi engines, and power reached the pavement through an extra heavy duty Dana 60 rear axle with 9-3/4 inch diameter ring gear. On `Cudas with 340 or 383 engines and three speed or optional four speed manual transmissions, a 3.91:1 axle ratio was standard. You could order 3.55:1 or 3.91:1 axle ratios with four speed manual transmissions as part of the Performance Axle Packages. If you went up in engine displacement, a 3.54:1 axle ratio was standard on four speed manual transmission `Cudas, with an optional 4.10:1 rear axle ratio. If you ordered the Torqueflight automatic transmission, a 3.23:1 axle ratio was standard, with a choice of optional 3.55:1 or 4.10:1 ratios as part of the Performance Axle Packages which included Sure-Grip differentials.

`Cudas were equipped with larger drum brakes than those on the Barracuda. The Barracuda came with 10x2-1/2 inch front and rear drums having 195.2 square inches swept area. `Cudas came with 11x3 inch front and 11x2-1/2 inch rear drums with 234.1 square inches swept area. Front disc brakes were optional.

To complete the package, the `Cudas with 383 or 440 engines came standard with F70x14 inch white-letter tires on six inch rims. E60x15 inch tires on seven inch rims were optional but came standard on the 340 four-barrel `Cuda. The Hemi`Cuda came equipped with F60x15 inch tires on seven inch rims. Nestled among all this heavy duty hardware was a high performance dual exhaust system which on the 340 and 383 powered cars featured 2-1/4 inch exhaust pipes with tuned low restriction mufflers and 2-1/4 inch tail pipes. `Cudas powered by the 440 or 426 Hemi engines received 2-1/2 inch exhaust pipes, tuned low restriction mufflers and 2-1/4 inch tail pipes.