Plymouth’s Luxury ‘Cuda Was An Identity Crisis That Buyers Ignored
When it comes to the Plymouth Barracuda, collectors often dream of owning one model in particular. As you may have guessed, the most popular option is the 426 HEMI ‘Cuda with plenty of raw power on tap. However, you can go for an even rarer model for a fraction of the cost. It’s a notably comfortable option that buyers initially rejected. Now it’s a unique bargain with exclusive features not found on HEMI-powered models.
The 1970 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda Is All About Power
The 1970 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda abides by the “If you’re not first, you’re last” motto, as it was built with the primary goal of winning drag races. It’s a big-block beast specifically designed to compete against the Ford Mustang and Chevrolet Camaro with a lighter platform than the Dodge Challenger’s.
Let’s take a moment to appreciate the 426 cubic-inch (7.0-liter) 90-degree V8 engine with hemispherical combustion chambers. It delivers 425 hp and 490 lb-ft of torque. It helps the HEMI ‘Cuda launch from 0 to 60 mph in roughly 5.6 seconds and complete a quarter mile in about 13.1 seconds at 107 mph, with a top speed of around 140 mph.
This muscle car won 37 NHRA Wallys and multiple other drag races and championships during the 1970 season. However, Plymouth was worried that it wasn’t catering to a specific type of potential customer. It felt as though the performance-oriented HEMI Barracuda wasn’t attracting car buyers looking for more luxury and comfort.
While the HEMI ‘Cuda could blow the doors off of the Ford Mustang, it didn’t offer as many luxury amenities as the Mustang Grandé model. Also, Plymouth wanted to build something to compete against other luxurious pony cars like the Chevy Camaro Type LT and the Pontiac Firebird Esprit.
1970 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe Delivered Plush Features
To tackle luxury rivals, the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe was born. It featured standard luxury bucket seats with leather-trimmed upholstery, plush carpeting, an overhead console with warning indicator lights, wood-grain trim, a molded headliner, floor-shifter transmissions, a center console, and AM/8-Track stereos.
Plenty of Gran Coupe badging and chrome accents helped the exterior pop. Plus, buyers could opt for remote-control driver-side mirrors, power steering, and factory air conditioning. But it was only available as a two-door hardtop or convertible. It wasn’t available with the popular fastback body style.
Also, it lacked HEMI power. The Gran Coupe’s most powerful engine variant was the 383 cubic-inch (6.3-liter) four-barrel V8 engine with 330 hp and 425 lb-ft of torque. The Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe 383 can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in about 7.4 seconds and complete a quarter mile in around 14.4 seconds with a top speed of roughly 127 mph.
Meanwhile, the Plymouth HEMI Barracuda was a better fit for muscle car culture with its fastback shape and lack of amenities. It was stripped of the basics to reduce its weight. But buyers still enjoyed their cloth bucket seats, fresh air vents, standard instrument clusters, and vinyl mats.
The Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe Didn’t Sell Like The HEMI Cuda
The 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe failed to gain the same amount of popularity as the HEMI ‘Cuda, which became a pop culture icon with legendary status related to its raw power and thrilling performance. Meanwhile, the Gran Coupe was seen as a tame option for niche buyers who wanted solid performance with luxury comfort.
It also didn’t help that the Gran Coupe was expensive, with an original MSRP of $2,938 and $3,260 depending on the engine and body style. The 383 convertible configuration was the most expensive option. But the 1970 Plymouth HEMI Barracuda was even more expensive, with an original MSRP of about $4,039.
Only about 140 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe convertible models with the 383 engine were produced, meaning most buyers simply ignored those build options. Plus, only about 2,173 models were built overall. Then around 666 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda models were made, making the luxury convertible the rarer option.
Now The 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe Is A Steal
It might be worth hunting for a surviving 1970 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe model to save thousands compared to the HEMI ‘Cuda. Value for the 1970 Gran Coupe 383 hovers between $35,000 and $45,000 for models in project condition. Models found in good driving condition fetch about $50,000 to $70,000.
Barracuda Gran Coupe models in pristine condition that are ready for museums hover between $80,000 and over $90,000. Rarer configurations such as convertible models with the available four-speed manual transmission tend to have a higher demand. It was also available with a three-speed automatic transmission.
Then the value for 1970 Plymouth HEMI ‘Cuda models in project condition starts at around $122,000 and $303,000. Models in clean condition that can be driven daily hover between $200,000 and $600,000. Next, extremely rare configurations and pristine examples cross the auction block for between $1.5 million and over $3 million.
Source: Super Cars, Automobile Catalog, Hagerty
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