Plymouth Barracuda

Plymouth Barracuda
1970 Plymouth Barracuda
Overview
Manufacturer	Plymouth (Chrysler)
Production	1964–1974
Assembly	Hamtramck, Michigan, United States Los Angeles Assembly, Maywood, California Windsor, Ontario, Canada
Body and chassis
Class	Pony car
Layout	FR layout
Chronology
Successor	none

First generation
Overview
Production	1964–1966
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door fastback coupe
Platform	A-body
Related	Plymouth Valiant
Powertrain
Engine	170 cu in (2.8 L) Slant-6 I6 225 cu in (3.7 L) Slant-6 I6 273 cu in (4.5 L) LA V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	106 in (2,692 mm)
Length	188 in (4,775 mm)
Width	70 in (1,778 mm)
Height	52.5 in (1,334 mm)
Curb weight	3,100 lb (1,406 kg) as tested

Second generation
Overview
Production	1967–1969
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door fastback coupe 2-door notchback coupe 2-door convertible
Platform	A-body
Related	Dodge Dart Plymouth Valiant
Powertrain
Engine	225 cu in (3.7 L) Slant-6 I6 273 cu in (4.5 L) LA V8 318 cu in (5.2 L) LA V8 340 cu in (5.6 L) LA V8 383 cu in (6.3 L) B V8 440 cu in (7.2 L) RB V8 426 cu in (7.0 L) 2x4bbl HEMI RB V8
Dimensions
Wheelbase	108 in (2,743 mm)

Third generation
1970 Plymouth 'Cuda
Overview
Production	1970–1974
Body and chassis
Body style	2-door notchback coupe 2-door convertible (Hamtramck, Detroit, MI plant only)
Platform	E-body
Related	Dodge Challenger
Powertrain
Engine	198 cu in (3.2 L) Slant-6 I6 225 cu in (3.7 L) Slant-6 I6 318 cu in (5.2 L) LA V8 340 cu in (5.6 L) LA V8 360 cu in (5.9 L) LA V8 383 cu in (6.3 L) B V8 426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi (Hamtramck plant only) V8 440 cu in (7.2 L) RB V8
Transmission	3-speed manual 4-speed manual 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic
Dimensions
Wheelbase	108.0 in (2,743.2 mm)
Length	186.6 in (4,739.6 mm)
Width	74.9 in (1,902.5 mm)
Height	50.9 in (1,292.9 mm)
Curb weight	3,395 lb (1,540 kg)

The Plymouth Barracuda is a two-door car that was manufactured by Plymouth from the 1964 to 1974 model years.

The first-generation Barracuda, a fastback A-body coupe based on the Plymouth Valiant, had distinctive wraparound back glass and was available from 1964 to 1966.

The second-generation 1967 to 1969 Barracuda, though still Valiant-based, was heavily redesigned. Second-generation A-body cars were available in fastback, notchback, and convertible versions.

The third-generation 1970 to 1973 E-body Barracuda, no longer Valiant-based, was available as a coupe and a convertible, both of which were very different from the previous models. The final model year for the Barracuda was 1973. Although a prototype of the Plymouth Cuda was introduced as a concept in 1974, it was never produced.

Automotive trends in the early to mid-1960s had all the U.S. manufacturers making vehicles in the rapidly increasing sporty compact-size market segment. Chrysler's A-body Plymouth Valiant was chosen for the focus of the company's efforts in this direction.

Ford's Mustang, which significantly outsold the Barracuda, gave to this type of vehicle its colloquial name "pony car", but the Barracuda fastback, released on 1 April 1964, pre-dates the Mustang by two weeks.

Plymouth's executives had wanted to name the car Panda, an idea that was unpopular with the car's designers. In the end, John Samsen's suggestion of Barracuda was selected.

The Barracuda used the Valiant's 106 in (2,692 mm) wheelbase and the Valiant hood, headlamp bezels, windshield, vent windows, quarter panels, doors, A-pillar, and bumpers; all other sheet metal and glass was new. This hybrid design approach significantly reduced the development and tooling cost and time for the new model. The fastback body shape was achieved primarily with a giant back glass, which wrapped down to the fender line.Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) collaborated with Chrysler designers to produce this 14.4 ft² (1.33 m²) backlight, the largest ever installed on a standard production car to that time.