When it comes to Plymouth Barracudas from the early 1970s, everyone goes nuts about HEMI and 440 Six-Barrel cars. I guess it makes sense since both engines are rare and desirable, but a first-gen ‘Cuda doesn’t need massive power to shine. If you also appreciate all-original and unrestored classics, this 1970 ‘Cuda checks all the right boxes.
Hailing from North Haven, Connecticut, this Mopar doesn’t rely on any of the big-block V8 engines that enabled the Barracuda to morph into a fully-fledged muscle car. This hardtop packs a 340-cubic-inch (5.6-liter) V8. Rated at 275 horsepower, the four-barrel small-block won’t help you defeat HEMI cars at the drag strip, but this rig has quite a few things to brag about.
For starters, it’s one of those super lucky classics that soldiered on for more than 50 years with all of its original components intact. How many of the 48,867 Barracuda units sold in 1970 can say the same? A few thousand, maybe? Well, I bet fewer than that are in excellent condition and still run and drive.
This Cuda’s paint is far from perfect, and you don’t need to inspect it closely to figure it out. But what if I told you the EK2 Vitamin C coating you see here is original? It kind of changes everything, right? Granted, the paint got a few touch-ups over the years, but this doesn’t alter its survivor status—at least not in my book.
The interior is just as gorgeous. The seats appear to be in excellent condition, and I haven’t spotted any cracks in the dashboard or door panels. The floors are a tad dirty, but it’s nothing an experienced detailer can’t fix. Even the headliner is still in one piece and not sagging, which is downright amazing for an unrestored vehicle that’s 54 years old as of 2024.
There’s more good news under the hood, thanks to a numbers-matching 340 V8. The automatic transmission is also factory-original, as is the 3:23 rear end. And while this drivetrain combo is notably more common than anything with a HEMI or 440 Six-Barrel engine, it’s not as ordinary as you think.
Of the 48,867 cars sold in the US in 1970, 6,294 units were ordered with the 340 small-block engine. Of these, only 1,943 were shipped with the automatic transmission. If we eliminate the convertibles from the equation, we’re left with 1,788 hardtops fitted with this drivetrain combo. That’s only 3.6% of the total production. The rare column shifter and bench front seat should narrow that number to a two-digit figure.
In addition to all of the above, this ‘Cuda is rust-free and drives as it should. In short, it doesn’t really need anything and is ready to hit the local car shows. Of course, you could also take it to the next level with a mild restoration.
To do that, you’ll need to bid more than $59,100 and hope that the reserve isn’t significantly higher because that’s where the auction is right now. If you have deeper pockets, you can hit the “buy it now” button for $74,000. Yes, it may seem a bit steep for a small-block car, but unrestored survivors like this are hard to come by.