For consignment, a rotisserie restored restomod Barracuda from Plymouth. This formerly slant 6 notchback is late 60's cool and at first glance is just a mild mannered family car until you look closer. The scoops, (440 equipped car options), and the 'Cuda 370 decal callouts on the lower fenders are enough to draw you in and ask ""What is this?"". Let's get in and turn the key, when that modern 6.1 Liter Hemi V8 comes to life and you very quickly realize you will be going for more than groceries!
Exterior
A respray of Scorch Red bathes straight rust-free panels which are minding their gaps very nicely. In front a dual opening grille houses the parking/turn signal lights and the single round headlights. A nicely preserved bumper is framed underneath. Matte black stripes race back the hood and end at the twin scoops that are oft seen on the rare 1969 440 'Cuda. On either side covering the rocker is a black racing stripe which works with chrome trim around the wheel wells, red line tires, and 15-inch shiny Scorch Red steel wheels and factory Plymouth wheel covers to help create the look. Don't make the mistake of overlooking the shiny Barracuda script call out on the front fenders as well as the fearsome and ferocious predatory fish below. Just behind the front wheel wells is a black 'Cuda 370 call out giving more highlights to the red. Speaking of which, the true highlight of this car is the sharply sloping rear window which transitions into the rear deck gracefully and seamlessly. A slightly angled trim surrounds a digital taillight deck with another clean bumper below and dual exhaust tips on the bottom and we have the Barracuda presentation. A nearly flawless presentation for a rarely seen model.
Interior
A color change for the interior, in particular the seats, all the while still sporting a factory speced floor shift console, and a retina searing red gut. The lowback bomber style front buckets, courtesy of Legendary Auto Interiors, are excellent, and so are the adjustable headrests. A clean and like new red bench occupies the rear of the passenger compartment and both sets of seats float in a sea of blinding red carpeting. Splitting the front buckets is a red plastic console with a fine mix of chrome and burl applique races under the clean dash and holds a small storage compartment along with the space needle style shifter and chrome lidded ashtray. Moving our attention to the dash we see vents for the Classic Auto Air system and the factory AM radio which appears original with its twin wheel controls. In front of the driver are round gauge pods with a gamut of monitoring gauges to the right, the speedometer to the left and front and center is a factory tachometer all residing in a mix of more burl applique and mirror polished chrome. A crack free red padded topper provides cover for the dash face and a nice lacquered zebra grained steering wheel is in front of this dash and looks great inside this environment. A shout out to the door panels which are new Legendary coverings. Not to be overlooked is the trunk which hides the spare tire under a like new gray plaid mat and we note the factory jack mounted in its home on the right inner quarter panel.
Drivetrain
Looking perfectly at home under the hood is a retro Hemi Orange painted 6.1 Liter Hemi V8 courtesy of a 2010 Dodge Charger. A BBK throttle body provides the oxygen to the Warhart Customs LLC custom built intake manifold. EFI Source handles the fuel and electronics management for the engine with their computer and wiring and the rest of the engine bay and car itself is rewired with Ron Francis 24/7 Access wiring kit. Bouchillon Performance provides the kickdown cables and brackets for the A727 3-speed automatic and putting the massive Hemi horses to the ground is a 8 3/4"" 3.55 geared Auburn Tru-Trac differential. Keeping things cool under the hood is a Raceware custom radiator.
Undercarriage
Better than new underneath with Scorch Red covering the near flawless rockers, flooring and unibody. Any form of rust wouldn't dare show its head in this clean environment and we note for structural integrity subframe connectors have been installed. Wilwood provides the disc brakes on the front and back and for the ride we see an independent coil over front arrangement from RMS and in the rear we see a 4 link with more RMS coilovers. Clean shiny headers snake their way down from the elephant under the hood and flow into like new dual exhaust complete with Pypes mufflers. Of extra note is the power rack and pinion steering and the gold race style deep sump oil pan. You better have mirrors at the car show to display how clean this undercarriage is!
Drive-Ability
This car lit right up, and we were off to the test track. We put her through the paces, and it handled nicely, had blistering acceleration, handling like a modern muscle car and was a comfortable cruiser. A few frowns reared up during our time behind the wheel, those being turn signals that wouldn't flash and a radio that wouldn't broadcast. A true wolf in sheep's clothing here!
1 of 12,757 coupes built, make this fish a bit rare. Now with a modern Hemi, creature comforts, and all the while retaining the ""innocent"" hardtop look, it could be seriously considered a find. When one thinks of the Barracuda many only see it as a fastback, but in this writer's opinion the hardtop is where it's at. Here we have it gracing the halls of Classic Auto Mall.
BH23B9B378302
B-Barracuda
H-High Price Class
23-2 Door Hardtop
B-225ci Slant 6
9-1969
B-Hamtramck, MI Assy Plant
378302-Sequential Unit Number
