In-Violet 1970 Plymouth AAR 'Cuda Is Golden-Era Mopar Perfection

The combination was a big hit throughout 1970, with Plymouth selling almost 49,000 units. It was the third-gen Barracuda's best-selling year, which makes the 1970 version the most common of the bunch. However, the lineup includes quite a few rare gems.

When it comes to body styles, the convertible is arguably the rarest. Only 2,501 cars left the factory with a soft top, and just 548 were range-topping 'Cuda trims. Some engines are also scarce. The entry-level 198-cubic-inch (3.2-liter) slant-six, for instance, found its way into only 461 examples. But I bet you're here to read about big V8s, so that's precisely what I'm going to give you.

As you might have already guessed, the 426 HEMI is the most elusive in terms of production numbers. Plymouth built only 666 HEMI 'Cudas, a number that also includes just 14 drop-tops (which are worth millions nowadays). Then there's the 440 RB, which the company offered in both four-barrel and six-pack configurations. These were produced in 986 and 1,784 units, respectively.

The two-barrel 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) big-block is just as rare as the 440 six-pack at 1,780 units, but I'm actually here to talk about the smaller 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) mill. It's not the most desirable engine in a 1970 Barracuda at first glance, but I'm not talking about the run-of-the-mill four-barrel version.

The 'Cuda was also available with a six-pack variant of the same lump. It had a 2x3-barrel setup similar to the 440, and it was created for homologation purposes. It's called the AAR 'Cuda, and it was Plymouth's take on the Dodge Challenger T/A. Both competed against the more iconic Ford Mustang Boss 302 and Chevrolet Camaro Z/28 in the SCCA Trans-Am series.

The road-legal version was developed so that the 'Cuda would become eligible for competition. And like most homologation specials from the era, it was sold in limited numbers. Plymouth built only 2,724 AAR 'Cudas, which we can further split into 1,604 automatic and 1,120 manual rigs.

But there's more to the AAR 'Cuda than low production numbers. Due to its race-oriented nature, it stands out next to any other 1970 Barracuda, including the HEMI. Sure, the 290-horsepower 340-cubic-inch is nowhere near as potent as the 425-horsepower HEMI, but this 'Cuda has additional features to brag about.

For starters, it's wearing an unmistakable stripe pattern across the upper body and rear fenders (including the All American Racers logo). It also has a unique hood scoop that looks more fetching than a Shaker in my book. Finally, there's the side-exiting exhaust, the sexiest-looking pipe configuration out there.

Add a High Impact color to the list, and you get classic Mopar muscle car perfection. Just like the brilliantly restored AAR you see here. Well, it would be perfect in Moulin Rouge (Panther Pink), but I know many of you aren't into pink muscle cars, and In-Violet (Plum Crazy) is much closer to the generally accepted holy grail status.

See it in all its glory and idling like a proper golden-era Mopar in the video below. And remember to crank up the volume.