Photo: cmy_may_tex6rr4/eBay
Introduced in 1964 as a pony car, the Plymouth Barracuda was redesigned twice before it went into the history books in 1974. Launched in 1967, the second-generation A-body gained a sportier look and bigger, more powerful V8 engines, including the 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) big-block. But it wasn't until the third-gen dropped for the 1970 model year that the Barracuda morphed into a fully-blown muscle car.
Moved on the E-body platform, shared with the first-generation Dodge Challenger, the 1970 Barracuda was meaner and sleeker. In addition, Plymouth finally allowed custom to opt for the range-topping 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB and 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) HEMI V8s. While the 440 was offered on a limited-edition Barracuda in 1969, the HEMI was previously used on a factory-built drag car only.
All these new features saw Barracuda sales surge from almost 32,000 units in 1969 to nearly 49,000 in 1970. Not surprisingly, most owners went with the more affordable, small-block V8 options. Still, about a quarter of all Barracudas sold that year were ordered with big-block power.
The 383-cubic-inch B-block was the most popular choice, accounting for almost 9,000 units. As for the 440 RB, 986 buyers selected the four-barrel version, and 2,784 customers went with the six-barrel variant. Finally, Plymouth sold 666 examples equipped with the mighty 426 HEMI V8.
But the big-block Barracudas aren't the only rare iterations of the first-year third-gen model. Convertibles are also scarce. This body style wasn't exactly popular at the time, and Plymouth ended up making only 2,501 vehicles. That's only 5.1% of the total production for the 1970 model year. The red-over-white example you see here is one of those cars.
Granted, it's not a super rare HEMI example produced in just 14 units. It's not a 440 version, either. In fact, this 383-equipped Barracuda drop-top doesn't even have a numbers-matching under the hood. Moreover, there's no information on what mill it got from the factory. But it's rare, no matter how you look at it.
Plymouth offered three versions of the Barracuda convertible in 1970. The lineup included the entry-level Barracuda, the more premium Gran Coupe, and the performance-oriented 'Cuda. This one sports a "Barracuda" badge on the rear fascia, which means it's one of only 1,387 examples built in this trim.
The Barracuda Convertible was restricted to only three engines. It came standard with the 225-cubic-inch slant-six, and it was optionally available with the 318-cubic-inch and the 383 V8s. Assuming this Barracuda got a replacement 383 for a similar factory engine, then it's either one of 59 cars fitted with the two-barrel version or one of 59 ordered with the four-barrel mill. Only 36 were also equipped with an automatic, just like this car.
But it's rare even if it didn't leave the factory with a 383 V8. That's because Plymouth sold only 223 slant-six cars and 1,046 318 V8 models. But regardless of what this drop-top had under the hood when new, it's a fantastic-looking rig with the perfect color combo. No, it doesn't wear a High-Impact hue, but the red exterior is almost as flashy. And the white "383" fender stripes, plus the white/black interior and the white soft top provide a great contrast.
And here's the even more interesting thing about this 1970 Barracuda Convertible. Even without a numbers-matching V8, a High-Impact color, and accurate mileage information, people rush in to place bids on it. To the point bidding has reached a whopping $54,000 with more than four days to go.
This car is the perfect proof that early 1970s Plymouth Barracuda Convertible prices are going wild regardless of engine/transmission combo and colors. Sure, it will probably change hands for less than $100,000, but these drop-tops no longer need HEMI or 440 V8 engines to be highly desirable.
All these new features saw Barracuda sales surge from almost 32,000 units in 1969 to nearly 49,000 in 1970. Not surprisingly, most owners went with the more affordable, small-block V8 options. Still, about a quarter of all Barracudas sold that year were ordered with big-block power.
The 383-cubic-inch B-block was the most popular choice, accounting for almost 9,000 units. As for the 440 RB, 986 buyers selected the four-barrel version, and 2,784 customers went with the six-barrel variant. Finally, Plymouth sold 666 examples equipped with the mighty 426 HEMI V8.
But the big-block Barracudas aren't the only rare iterations of the first-year third-gen model. Convertibles are also scarce. This body style wasn't exactly popular at the time, and Plymouth ended up making only 2,501 vehicles. That's only 5.1% of the total production for the 1970 model year. The red-over-white example you see here is one of those cars.
Granted, it's not a super rare HEMI example produced in just 14 units. It's not a 440 version, either. In fact, this 383-equipped Barracuda drop-top doesn't even have a numbers-matching under the hood. Moreover, there's no information on what mill it got from the factory. But it's rare, no matter how you look at it.
Plymouth offered three versions of the Barracuda convertible in 1970. The lineup included the entry-level Barracuda, the more premium Gran Coupe, and the performance-oriented 'Cuda. This one sports a "Barracuda" badge on the rear fascia, which means it's one of only 1,387 examples built in this trim.
The Barracuda Convertible was restricted to only three engines. It came standard with the 225-cubic-inch slant-six, and it was optionally available with the 318-cubic-inch and the 383 V8s. Assuming this Barracuda got a replacement 383 for a similar factory engine, then it's either one of 59 cars fitted with the two-barrel version or one of 59 ordered with the four-barrel mill. Only 36 were also equipped with an automatic, just like this car.
But it's rare even if it didn't leave the factory with a 383 V8. That's because Plymouth sold only 223 slant-six cars and 1,046 318 V8 models. But regardless of what this drop-top had under the hood when new, it's a fantastic-looking rig with the perfect color combo. No, it doesn't wear a High-Impact hue, but the red exterior is almost as flashy. And the white "383" fender stripes, plus the white/black interior and the white soft top provide a great contrast.
And here's the even more interesting thing about this 1970 Barracuda Convertible. Even without a numbers-matching V8, a High-Impact color, and accurate mileage information, people rush in to place bids on it. To the point bidding has reached a whopping $54,000 with more than four days to go.
This car is the perfect proof that early 1970s Plymouth Barracuda Convertible prices are going wild regardless of engine/transmission combo and colors. Sure, it will probably change hands for less than $100,000, but these drop-tops no longer need HEMI or 440 V8 engines to be highly desirable.
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