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| 1970 Plymouth Barracuda |
The 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, also known as the ‘Cuda, was designed by John E. Herlitz. It was called the E-body, and it was based on Chrysler’s B platform, albeit with a shorter and wider body. It had an engine bay that was larger than the A-body of previous years, thus allowing it to fit in the 7.0-liter Hemi engine of Chrysler.
The Hemi engine is a hemispherical combustion chamber first built in 1951 as the Fire Power engine. The one used in the Plymouth ‘Cuda was the second generation Hemi. It was a V8 OHV engine with a capacity of 426 cubic inches and 6,981 cc. Carter carburetors power it.
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| 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda |
The maximum power of the engine is 425 horsepower at 5,000 rpm. It has a three-speed automatic transmission, with solid disc brakes at the front and drum at the rear. It measures 186.7 inches in length and 74.9 inches wide. It weighs 3,880 pounds and stands at 50.9 inches tall.
The 1970 Plymouth Hemi ‘Cuda can go from 0 to 60 miles per hour in just 5.8 seconds and can stop at reverse that speed within 126 feet. Tested at a distance of a quarter of a mile, it cranked up all the way to 102 miles per hour and completed the distance in just 14 seconds.
1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda photos collection:
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| 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda |
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| 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda |
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| 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda |
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| 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda |
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| 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda |
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| 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda |
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| 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda |
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| 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda |
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| 1970 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda |
The redesign for the 1970 Barracuda removed all its previous commonality with the Valiant. The original fastback design was deleted from the line and the Barracuda now consisted of coupe and convertible models. The all-new model, styled by John E. Herlitz, was built on a shorter, wider version of Chrysler's existing B platform, called the E-body. Sharing this platform was the newly launched Dodge Challenger; however no exterior sheet metal interchanged between the two cars, and the Challenger, at 110 inches (2,800 mm), had a wheelbase that was 2 inches (51 mm) longer than the Barracuda.
The E-body Barracuda was now "able to shake the stigma of 'economy car'." Three versions were offered for 1970 and 1971: the base Barracuda (BH), the luxury oriented Gran Coupe (BP), and the sport model 'Cuda (BS). Beginning mid year 1970, and ending with the 1971 model, there also was the Barracuda Coupe (A93), a low-end model which included the 198ci Slant Six as a base engine, lower grade interior, and (like other Coupe series Chrysler Corp. offered that year) had fixed quarter glass instead of roll-down rear passenger windows. The high-performance models were marketed as 'Cuda deriving from the 1969 option. The E-body's engine bay was larger than that of the previous A-body, facilitating the release of Chrysler's 426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi for the regular retail market.
For 1970 and 1971, the Barracuda and Barracuda Gran Coupe had two six-cylinder engines available a new 198 cu in (3.2 L) version of the slant-6, and the 225 as well as three different V8s: the 318ci, the 383ci with two-barrel carburetor and single exhaust, and the 383ci with four-barrel carburetor and dual exhaust 330 hp (250 kW) SAE gross. The Cuda had the 383ci 335 hp (250 kW) SAE gross (same as Dodge's 383 Magnum) as the standard engine. It also had the 440ci four-barrel Super Commando, the 440ci six-barrel Super Commando Six Pak, and the 426ci Hemi. The 440- and Hemi-equipped cars received upgraded suspension components and structural reinforcements to help transfer the power to the road.
In 1970 the big-block power options offered to the customer were:
- approximately 270 hp (200 kW) SAE net in the high performance 383-4V,
- approximately 310 hp (230 kW) SAE net in the 440-4V,
- approximately 335 hp (250 kW) SAE net in the 440-6V, and
- approximately 355 hp (265 kW) SAE net in the 426-8V.
Other Barracuda options included decal sets, hood modifications, and some unusual "high impact" colors such as "Lime Light", "Bahama Yellow", "Tor Red", "Lemon Twist", "Curious Yellow", "Vitamin C", "In-Violet", "Sassy Grass" and "Moulin Rouge".
Source: wikipedia.org
