The 1969 Plymouth Cuda 440 May Have Been Almost TOO Powerful

Posted on May 4, 2011 by jmalcolm

It is certainly hard to believe that any vehicle can have too much power, yet the 1969 Plymouth Cuda 440 was right there on that edge. The idea was to give this particular pony car more power than the competitors. Those into racing definitely were interested in this very high-powered machine. They felt it may be their ticket to getting an edge on some of their competitors.

While the idea for the power under the hood of the 1969 Plymouth Cuda was wonderful, there were problems that arose from it. This high level of power made it hard to control the vehicle during turns. That power was fine for a drag racing strip where the car was going straight but terrible for turns on a track. This was due to more than half of the weight of the vehicle being right over the front tires.

You have to keep in mind that in 1969, they didn’t have the technology that is available today. With such a large engine, it was hard to find room for all of the components. For example, where to put the power steering unit kept the car on hold from 1967 to 1969. Drum brakes had to be used, too, because there was no room for the disc brake assembly to be placed.

Even though there were some concerns with the power of the 1969 Plymouth Cuda 440, it was a great turning point for muscle cars. The design ideas used in developing the  1969 Plymouth Cuda 440 were great, so the next step was to find a logical way to bring them together better in the subsequent year models. The 1969 Plymouth Cuda 440 should be given credit for being the start of the path for some significant improvements in the world of muscle cars.

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The Guts of the 1966 Plymouth Barracuda

Posted on April 30, 2011 by jmalcolm

The spotlight on the new 1966 Plymouth Barracuda only lasted for a few months. The SS model offered plenty of power and could also be purchased with disc brakes. It wasn’t that this vehicle lacked in speed, beauty or sheer glory. Instead, it had to do with the fact that the Ford Mustang was introduced less than a month later. That is what consumers had their eye on, and the 1966 Plymouth Barracuda was quickly cast into the shadows.

To help the Plymouth Barracuda do well, the body style was soon changed. The 1966 model was one of the few that had that particular body style featuring the fastback design. It also featured a wrap-around rear window. Later models featured changes to the front end and what was referred to as the “Coke-bottle body.”

Sales of the 1966 Plymouth Barracuda were decent, but not as good as the Ford Mustang. By 1974, Plymouth decided to halt the production of this particular vehicle. It was due to more than just the competitors on the market, though. A big impact on that decision had to do with the energy crisis that started in the early 1970s. Consumers were worried about the cost of fuel and looking for a vehicle that offered them more efficiency.

Even though the glory wasn’t always there for the 1966 Plymouth Barracuda, there is no denying that it belongs in the same category as other muscle cars of that time. The guts that it offered both inside and out weren’t fully appreciated back then, but they are today. There are many collectors out there with both the time and desire to restore such a vehicle to its original design with the use of after-market parts. Those collectors will be doing the muscle car world a service, because the 1966 Plymouth Barracuda was a serious member of the muscle car community and it deserves to be remembered.

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The Barracuda in the Beginning

Posted on April 24, 2011 by jmalcolm

In mid-1964, the Barracuda was introduced and did fairly well on the market. It was given the title of “the first pony car” even though most people associate that title with the Ford Mustang. It falls into the same category and it was out only a month before the Mustang was introduced.

This early muscle car wasn’t the best muscle car in terms of overall physical appearance, but it was well known for the power behind it. Those that were interested in a muscle car for the power of it, such as for the racing circuit, were more than willing to go with the Barracuda than with another brand of muscle car that looked nice but couldn’t perform the same.

The Barracuda has been the only muscle car that offers a fold-down back seat. For some people, it was the option they needed for additional cargo room. It meant that they could get more use out of their muscle car. For those that planned to use this vehicle as a day-to-day commuter and for errands, that feature was one that they really enjoyed.

The car was a great seller and for the 1966 model it got a new grille. The entire style of the Barracuda changed for the 1967 year, though, and this was the beginning of the second generation of Barracuda muscle cars. 1970 and 1971 were the big years for the Barracuda and this was the third generation line which ended in 1974.

This well-built muscle car was able to deliver in spite of some stiff competition during that period of time. However, emission laws, higher gas prices, and the fading interest in muscle cars as day-to-day transportation resulted in drastically lower sales for the third generation models. By 1974 the company decided to stop making the Barracuda and to focus on other vehicles.

While the end of production of the third generation of Barracudas was a sad moment, it in no way ends the fascination with muscle cars by the public and especially by muscle car fans. The long-lasting popularity for classic Barracudas means that this model will continue to be restored and admired for many years to come.

 

 

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The Muscle Car Aptly Named The Dark Lord

Posted on April 15, 2011 by jmalcolm

Known as the “Dark Lord,” nothing compares to the muscle car known as the Plymouth Barracuda. The dark colors of this exciting muscle car made it more attractive and mysterious. Many call this the villain of all muscle cars. The mystique that surrounds it has long been a key reason why many people buy them. They love that veil of darkness and the edginess that comes with being behind the wheel of such a powerful and amazing car.

The dark colors of the Plymouth Barracuda along with some chrome in all the right places definitely made it an icon. This vehicle was introduced in 1970 but at first wasn’t as large of a hit as the company had hoped for. Of course, Plymouth entered a market that was already saturated with various muscle cars.

The dark colors were not appealing to many consumers. Not when they could get a Mustang, Camaro or even a Corvette. Those muscle cars came in a wide variety of bright and vibrant colors. However, there is always a market for individuals that thrive on having something that doesn’t belong to everyone else. They still wanted the muscle car look. They still wanted the power, and they still wanted the thrill. But they wanted it all on their own terms and the Plymouth Barracuda is a good fit for that vision.

The Dark Lord wasn’t mass produced and that is also an attraction of the Plymouth Barracuda. Those that have one in very good condition often find themselves being solicited on a regular basis by eager collectors. Those that wish to restore a Plymouth Barracuda find it is a tough car to get your hands on, even in very poor condition.

There is absolutely no way to discredit the power and style of the Dark Lord, aka the Plymouth Barracuda. The stories and legends of this particular muscle car are part of popular culture. It has certainly earned its place to be credited along with the others of that era.

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The Resurrection of the Barracuda

Posted on March 7, 2011 by jmalcolm

The definition of what a classic Plymouth Barracuda is may vary depending on who you are talking to. The many variations of the Barracuda continued to be introduced from when the classic muscle car was introduced in 1964 through 1974. No matter who is arguing that they know the real truth about what defines a classic Barracuda, there is no questioning that the “Cuda” is a classic muscle car of song and film fame that will continue to capture the imaginations of car collectors for many decades to come.

Barracuda purists would probably freeze the real classic period of when the Barracuda was truly magnificent between 1964 and 1966. There is no question that the popularity of this muscle car exploded on the muscle car scene in ways that were unexpected and unprecedented even in the volatile muscle car culture of those years.

The early version of the classic Barracuda was actually inspired by the Plymouth Valiant. It featured an A-body coupe fastback design and the sleek and sexy car was easily spotted on the road because of its wrap-around back glass body style. Because the design of the classic Barracuda was such a generator of excitement, the popularity of the car propelled the car to the level of myth and the culture surrounding the “Cuda” looked upon the car with reverence and awe.

As is true of many truly classic muscle cars, the bold design approach of these cars, which combined explosive power with a luxury interior and a sleek body type, became dated and many of the most beloved aspects of all muscle cars, including the classic Plymouth Barracuda, were phased out. While the “Cuda” continued to see new generations well into the ‘70s, many of the classic aspects that made a Barracuda get attention did not survive the years.

Now there is excitement in the air for true Cuda aficionados. At the 2010 SEMA (Special Equipment Market Association) show, people in the know hinted strongly that the classic Barracuda was being considered for a resurrection. Of course, from a marketing approach, this is a smart move to cash in on the enduring love that is still in the culture for the Barracuda. Time will tell if we see the Barracuda back on the streets in its full glory. Whether new generations of the classic Barracuda are coming our way or not, it seems clear that in the hearts and minds of car lovers, the “Cuda” never did really go away.

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Posted on January 17, 2011 by admin

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