If you’re any type of a Barracuda fan, then you already know the 1970 model year car was redesigned in its third generation to look more like a traditional coupe rather than a fastback. This so-called E-Body Barracuda shared a platform with the Dodge Challenger, although their styling was rather different, and no sheet metal was shared between the two.
You could get a Barracuda with a wide range of slant-6 or V8 engines, but today we’ll be talking about two specific V8 options, the entry-level 318 ci (5.2-liter) unit and the 360 ci (5.9-liter) V8.
The car you’re looking at here left the factory with the former, before ditching it in favor of the latter. That’s not the end of the story though, but we’ll talk more about performance in a minute. Let’s focus on other things first.
For starters, this is a heavily modified vehicle, both visually and from a performance standpoint. It left the factory wearing Tor-Red but was subsequently repainted in a House of Kolors-supplied shade of purple. The end-result is something that you might call an “acquired taste”, but it’s not like the Barracuda doesn’t look great in pretty much any hue.
We should also note that this car failed to sell at auction recently, its owner refusing to part with it for $31,000.
Aside from the vibrant exterior, other visual highlights include the “hockey-stick” stripes, a rear wing, ‘Cuda badging, dual exhaust outlets, a black tail panel, silver-colored grille, hood pins, fog lights, dual side mirrors, body-color bumpers, plus a set of chrome-finished custom wheels measuring 18” in diameter and featuring staggered-width Nokian zLine rubber.
This classic muscle car also comes with power-assisted front disc brakes and power-assisted rack-and-pinion steering.
Meanwhile, inside is where you’ll find the black vinyl front bucket seats and rear bench (both with purple inserts), woodgrain trim for the center console, the B&M Pro Stick shifter, an AutoSound head unit, package-shelf speakers, a Tuff-style steering wheel, and custom Intellitronix digital gauges.
Now we can talk more about the engine. As previously stated, this car came with a 318 ci V8 originally, which was then exchanged for a 360 ci V8 which eventually became a 408 ci stroker unit.
Mods include the .030” overbore, 3.58”-stroke cast crankshaft, Mopar Performance cast pistons, Comp Cams pushrods, custom cylinder heads, stainless steel intake and exhaust valves, bronze-walled valve guides, an Edelbrock RPM Performer intake manifold, Holley Street Avenger 770-cfm carburetor, Mopar Performance fuel pump, oil pump and water pump, plus the TTi Performance exhaust with ceramic-coated headers.
Power is sent to the rear wheels via a rebuilt TorqueFlite three-speed automatic gearbox which utilizes a 2,100-rpm-stall torque converter and B&M balanced flex plates.
We’re not exactly sure how much “force” is hitting the road today, but it’s definitely way more than the 230-horsepower this thing left the factory with.