Photo: vrana419/eBay
Introduced in 1964, two weeks before the Ford Mustang, the Barracuda was Plymouth's entry into the then-emerging pony car market. But as the years passed, Chrysler moved the nameplate deeper into muscle car territory. In 1970, the third-generation Barracuda emerged as a sportier-looking rig with high-performance V8 options.
The redesigned Barracuda was built around the brand-new E-body platform, which Dodge used to introduce the first-generation Challenger. And both cars were entered in the SCCA Trans Am series, a venture that forced Plymouth and Dodge to create street-legal versions for homologation. That's how the Challenger T/A and the AAR 'Cuda were born.
Unlike their other street-legal high-performance siblings, these cars didn't rely on big-block power to move about. Mopar created a beefed-up version of the smaller and lighter 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) V8 for the T/A and AAR. Fitted with a trio of two-barrel carburetors atop an aluminum intake manifold, the 340 Six Pack came with 290 horsepower on tap. Exactly 15 horses more than the regular four-barrel 340 V8.
Despite being solid performers, these Trans Am-spec muscle cars didn't sell very well. Dodge moved only 2,399 T/As, which accounted for only 3.1% of the total production. Of the almost 49,000 Barracudas sold in 1970, only 5.6% were AAR 'Cudas. That's 2,724 units.
Naturally, both vehicles are rare and sought-after nowadays. While they're not as scarce and expensive as their HEMI-powered counterparts, these Trans Am rigs tend to change hands for more than $100,000 when in Concours-ready condition. The four-speed manual cars are obviously more desirable.
The Rally Red AAR 'Cuda you see here is not one of those examples that comes with row-your-own fun. But it's pretty rare, too, since Plymouth sold only 1,604 automatics. What's more, this 'Cuda hides an unexpected surprise in the cabin. I'm talking about the front bench seat and column shifter, two features you wouldn't normally expect to see in a high-performance 'Cuda.
Not that the standard bench-seat/column-shift layout isn't common on the 1970 Barracuda, but most range-topping 'Cuda versions were equipped with the optional bucket seats and console shifter. According to classic Mopar expert Galen Govier, only 7.2% of the total 'Cudas built in 1970 left the factory with bench seats. And more than 61% were specced with the optional center console.
His records do not include similar figures for the AAR 'Cuda, but word has it that only 20% of them were shipped with front bench seats. Plymouth made 1,604 AARs with automatic gearboxes, so we're looking at around 320 examples. And far fewer than that are still around since many were converted to console shifters in their early years.
All told, even if we don't have specific numbers to run by, this AAR 'Cuda is a rare gem.
But the seats and the column shifter aren't the only highlights. This Mopar still rocks its numbers-matching 340 V8, running and driving as it should following a thorough refresh in 2022. It's also surprisingly clean inside and out and factory-stock except for components that were replaced during maintenance work. It's not perfect, but it looks stunning, and it's just a bit of work away from being a Concours-ready rig.
Located in Cary, North Carolina, the AAR 'Cuda is looking for a new owner as we speak. The high bid sits at $75,300 with three days to go, but the reserve is still in place. Is this Trans Am-spec Mopar worth more than $100,000?
Unlike their other street-legal high-performance siblings, these cars didn't rely on big-block power to move about. Mopar created a beefed-up version of the smaller and lighter 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) V8 for the T/A and AAR. Fitted with a trio of two-barrel carburetors atop an aluminum intake manifold, the 340 Six Pack came with 290 horsepower on tap. Exactly 15 horses more than the regular four-barrel 340 V8.
Despite being solid performers, these Trans Am-spec muscle cars didn't sell very well. Dodge moved only 2,399 T/As, which accounted for only 3.1% of the total production. Of the almost 49,000 Barracudas sold in 1970, only 5.6% were AAR 'Cudas. That's 2,724 units.
Naturally, both vehicles are rare and sought-after nowadays. While they're not as scarce and expensive as their HEMI-powered counterparts, these Trans Am rigs tend to change hands for more than $100,000 when in Concours-ready condition. The four-speed manual cars are obviously more desirable.
The Rally Red AAR 'Cuda you see here is not one of those examples that comes with row-your-own fun. But it's pretty rare, too, since Plymouth sold only 1,604 automatics. What's more, this 'Cuda hides an unexpected surprise in the cabin. I'm talking about the front bench seat and column shifter, two features you wouldn't normally expect to see in a high-performance 'Cuda.
Not that the standard bench-seat/column-shift layout isn't common on the 1970 Barracuda, but most range-topping 'Cuda versions were equipped with the optional bucket seats and console shifter. According to classic Mopar expert Galen Govier, only 7.2% of the total 'Cudas built in 1970 left the factory with bench seats. And more than 61% were specced with the optional center console.
His records do not include similar figures for the AAR 'Cuda, but word has it that only 20% of them were shipped with front bench seats. Plymouth made 1,604 AARs with automatic gearboxes, so we're looking at around 320 examples. And far fewer than that are still around since many were converted to console shifters in their early years.
All told, even if we don't have specific numbers to run by, this AAR 'Cuda is a rare gem.
But the seats and the column shifter aren't the only highlights. This Mopar still rocks its numbers-matching 340 V8, running and driving as it should following a thorough refresh in 2022. It's also surprisingly clean inside and out and factory-stock except for components that were replaced during maintenance work. It's not perfect, but it looks stunning, and it's just a bit of work away from being a Concours-ready rig.
Located in Cary, North Carolina, the AAR 'Cuda is looking for a new owner as we speak. The high bid sits at $75,300 with three days to go, but the reserve is still in place. Is this Trans Am-spec Mopar worth more than $100,000?
Google News