Plymouth Barracuda

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Lore & Background

The first-generation Barracuda, based on Chrysler's A-body, debuted on April 1, 1964. It shared the Valiant's 106-inch wheelbase and many parts, including the hood, headlamp bezels, windshield, vent windows, quarter panels, doors, A-pillar, and bumpers. Its distinguishing feature was a 14.4 sq ft rear window, the largest ever installed on a standard production car at that time, a collaboration between Pittsburgh Plate Glass and Chrysler designers. Powertrains were identical to the Valiant's, including two slant-6 engines: a 170 cu in (101 bhp) standard and a 225 cu in (145 bhp) option. The highest-power option was Chrysler's new 273 cu in LA V8 with a two-barrel carburetor, producing 180 bhp. The 1964 model year was the last for push-button control of the optional Torqueflite automatic transmission. Sales for the abbreviated 1964 season totaled 23,443 units, compared to 126,538 Mustangs sold during the same time. The second-generation Barracuda, built from 1967 through 1969, was redesigned with model-specific sheet metal but still shared many components with the Valiant. It rode on a 108-inch wheelbase A-body and was available as a fastback, notchback coupe, and convertible. In 1967, the V8 options ranged from two- and four-barrel versions of the 273 cu in to a seldom-ordered 383 cu in 'B' big-block rated at 280 bhp. In 1968, the 273 was replaced by the 318 cu in LA engine, and the new 340 cu in LA four-barrel was released. Also in 1968, Chrysler made approximately fifty fastback Barracudas equipped with the 426 cu in Hemi for Super Stock drag racing, assembled by Hurst Performance, featuring lightweight Chemcor side glass, fiberglass front fenders, and a fiberglass hood with scoop. The third generation, offered from 1970 until 1974, was based on the Chrysler E-body, exclusive to it and the slightly larger Dodge Challenger. It was a completely new design, available in hardtop and convertible body styles.

Reader's Guide

The Plymouth Barracuda is significant as one of the earliest entries in the pony car segment, predating the Ford Mustang by two weeks. The first generation (1964–1966) was a fastback version of the Valiant, sharing a great majority of parts and bodywork. The second generation (1967–1969) introduced model-specific sheet metal and new body styles: fastback, notchback, and convertible. Engine options expanded to include the 383 cu in big-block in 1967, and in 1968 the 340 cu in LA engine debuted. For 1969, a new trim package called 'Cuda was released, available with 340, 383, and 440 Super Commando V8s. The third generation (1970–1974) was built on the E-body platform, shared with the Dodge Challenger, and was a completely new design. The Barracuda's legacy includes its role in the pony car rivalry and its use of innovative design elements, such as the massive rear window of the first generation and the lightweight Hemi drag cars of 1968.

Did You Know?

• The first-generation Barracuda's 14.4 sq ft rear window was the largest ever installed on a standard production car at that time.
• The 1964 Barracuda predated the Ford Mustang by two weeks, but only 23,443 were sold in the abbreviated 1964 season compared to 126,538 Mustangs.
• In 1968, Chrysler made approximately fifty fastback Barracudas equipped with the 426 Hemi for Super Stock drag racing, assembled by Hurst Performance.
• The 1969 'Cuda trim package was available with 340, 383, and 440 Super Commando V8s.
• The third-generation Barracuda (1970–1974) was based on the Chrysler E-body, exclusive to it and the slightly larger Dodge Challenger.

Common Misconceptions (Editorial)

Some believe the Plymouth Barracuda was introduced to compete directly with the Ford Mustang, but the Barracuda actually debuted two weeks before the Mustang, on April 1, 1964. Others assume the early Barracuda was a wholly unique model, but the first-generation car was based on the Plymouth Valiant A-body and shared its hood, doors, quarter panels, and many other components. It is also sometimes thought that the Barracuda was always a muscle car; however, the first generation’s highest-power option was only a 273 cu in V8 with 180 bhp, and it initially offered only small-block and slant-6 engines.

Why It Matters (Editorial)

The Plymouth Barracuda’s legacy endures as a bold, underdog response to the pony-car boom—arriving just ahead of the Mustang yet often overshadowed by it. Its evolution from a Valiant-fastback into a purpose-built E-body muscle machine, capped by rare factory Hemi drag cars, makes it a fascinating study of how Chrysler adapted to performance trends in a rapidly changing market.