So the designers had to come up with an interesting design to attract more buyers. Also, it had a sleek fastback body line that was advanced for the period. Plymouth introduced the Barracuda just two weeks before the Mustang, in April of 1964. And since the automotive world was anticipating the Mustang due to the reports coming from Ford, Chrysler decided to introduce a car in the same segment. Before the Fury was a separate model, it was an option on the Belvedere.
- This model was a junior muscle car since it looked like its bigger competitors.
- Of course, they too were painted in primer ready to be personalized by the racers.
- The biggest news in the Mopar clan for 1964 was the return of the mighty, legendary Hemi 426 engine.
- So, buyers could choose from five power plants starting with the modest 225 Slant Six and ending with the mighty 383 V8.
Plymouth Barracuda Hemi Drag Car
All through the ’60s, those icons of the industry didn’t mix, at least not in street legal cars. So in 1970, Plymouth offered this legendary engine in the Barracuda body style, creating one of the fastest, most desirable muscle cars ever. The 1971 Plymouth GTX was one of the last true muscle cars of the era, and its powerful engine and distinctive styling made it a favorite among enthusiasts. Today, the GTX remains highly prized by collectors and enthusiasts, with examples in excellent condition commanding high prices at auction. Although this ‘Cuda wasn’t an official Plymouth product, it was one of the most legendary and best-known muscle cars of its day.
Although the Savoy is an affordable car with a simpler design, it still has enough power to command respect. The 1970 Plymouth Cuda Convertible was a rare and highly sought-after muscle car that was part of the legendary E-Body lineup. It was one of the last convertibles produced by Plymouth before the model was discontinued due to increasingly strict safety regulations. The 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda was a limited-edition muscle car built to compete in the Sports Car Club of America’s Trans Am racing series. AAR stands for All American Racers, the team founded by legendary driver Dan Gurney.
Plymouth Fury I-II-III/Belvedere/Savoy – 1962 To 1967
So, they installed the Roadrunner engine, suspension and components, creating one of the fastest station wagons available. Also, some people even installed Hemi engines, creating the fastest family car in the world at the time. The hot rod culture is one of the key ingredients of the American automotive landscape.
They offered a fastback coupe, notchback coupe and for the first time. It had a full body kit with rear window louvers, a spoiler, a graphics package and sports wheels. Some versions even featured a T-top roof, which was a cool choice back in the day. And if you wanted a real performance, you would choose the manual.
- Never before or since there were so many muscle cars on offer and so many memorable and sought-after machines.
- The 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda was a limited-edition muscle car built to compete in the Sports Car Club of America’s Trans Am racing series.
- Also, it had two more body styles, a convertible and notchback coupe.
This vehicle was a one-year-only variant of the Road Runner, which was already an elevated model within the mid-sized Belvedere line-up. Plymouth never officially sold the Roadrunner Wagon but still, car enthusiasts have converted quite a few cars. They built the Roadrunner on the Belvedere platform, which meant every panel fit. So, crafty muscle car fans could take ordinary Belvedere Wagons and put Roadrunner front ends on them. They thoroughly changed the ‘Cuda over the standard model, but the basic layout was the same.
The Plymouths were dependable, high-quality automobiles at affordable prices that appealed to a wide audience. By 1970, Plymouth took the Barracuda to a whole new level by putting it on the larger E-Body platform shared with the Dodge Challenger. This was the birth of the muscle-bound Barracuda that car enthusiasts know and love. The early ’60s marked the birth of Plymouth’s entry into the muscle car world. The Ply mouth Fury, Belvedere, and Savoy were among the key players during this era. However, the Road Runner’s creation was almost derailed when Macadam learned that the marketing department, under Jack Smith, intended to affix a cartoon bird onto his sleek design.
By 1974, the Road Runner had cemented itself as one of the last true muscle cars before rising fuel costs and emission regulations changed the pin up online casino game. The Fury was available with a wide variety of engines beneath that long flat hood, from the 225 cubic inch Slant Six all the way up to a 440 cubic inch big block. This one is powered by the smallest V8 offered, a 318, backed by a Torqueflite automatic. As an economy brand, Plymouth was active and successful at the lower end of the market since the early ’60s with the Valiant model.
1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda
As one of the craziest muscle cars they ever produced, Plymouth has one of the most recognizable graphics packages they ever presented to the public. The Superbird was an attempt to win the famous Aero Wars in the late ’60s to early ’70s NASCAR championships. To homologate the car for racing, Plymouth built just under 2,000 roadgoing Superbirds, selling them all over America. Also, they added a special trim to distinguish the GTX from the rest of the model lineup. It had a nice interior and exterior details and only one optional engine choice – the mighty 426 Hemi. The 440 Magnum was the standard engine, but if you wanted the ultimate Plymouth muscle luxury, you had to go for the Hemi.
Recent Comments