1970 · Plymouth · United States
1970 Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda: The E-Body Arrives with Every Engine and a Gurney-Named Special
The E-body redesign split the line into Barracuda, Gran Coupe, and 'Cuda hardtops and convertibles, put every Chrysler performance engine through the 426 Hemi on the order form, and added the one-year AAR 'Cuda for Trans-Am homologation.
United States · researched through 2026-09-23
At Road America on July 19, 1970, Swede Savage brought Dan Gurney's All American Racers Plymouth home second, 58 seconds behind Mark Donohue's Javelin. It was the best finish the Barracuda program managed all season. The official result sheets record the moment without decoration: a position, a gap, a car entered by AAR. Behind that one line sat the most ambitious year the Barracuda ever had, with a new body, a new performance series, every Chrysler performance engine through the 426 Hemi on the order form, and a street special named for Gurney's team so that the race car could exist at all.1,2
The car was new from the floor up. Plymouth retired the compact A-body Barracuda, and with it the fastback sold from 1964 through 1969, in favor of the E-body shared with Dodge's new Challenger. The Plymouth rode a 108-inch wheelbase, two inches shorter than the Dodge, with a 186.7-inch overall length and a 74.9-inch width. It came only as a two-door hardtop or convertible, in three series: the Barracuda, the more luxurious Gran Coupe, and the performance 'Cuda, whose standard engine was a 383 four-barrel rated 335 horsepower. Plymouth's Rapid Transit System catalog sold the line as a family of power teams.3,4
The price list climbed in tidy steps. The production table gives $2,764 for a six-cylinder Barracuda hardtop and $2,865 with a V8, $3,035 for a V8 Gran Coupe hardtop, $3,164 for the 'Cuda hardtop and $3,433 for the 'Cuda convertible. On top of that, the 426 Hemi was an $871.45 option, while the 440 Six Barrel cost a reported $250 and the four-barrel 440 about $234. The Shaker fresh-air hood was about $97 and front disc brakes about $28. One Gran Coupe price in the same table, $2,394 for a six hardtop, sits below the base car and is treated as a misprint rather than a bargain.3,5
Plymouth built 55,499 of the new cars for the model year, a figure that period trade tables in Automotive News and Chilton's, Scott Ross's reference book and the Over-Drive production table all agree on. The same table breaks it down as 27,205 Barracudas, 8,779 Gran Coupes, 18,880 'Cuda hardtops and 635 'Cuda convertibles. Convertibles were already a small minority everywhere in the line: 1,554 Barracudas, 596 Gran Coupes and the 635 'Cudas. The AAR 'Cuda is listed as its own row rather than folded into the total, and whether the 18,880 'Cuda hardtops include any AAR cars is not stated.6,7,8,3
Ross's engine list shows what 'Cuda buyers actually chose. The 340 four-barrel went into 6,884 hardtops and 243 convertibles, the standard 383 into 4,445 hardtops and 200 convertibles, the four-barrel 440 into 952 and 34, and the 440 Six Barrel into 1,755 hardtops and 29 convertibles. The Hemi went into 652 hardtops, 368 with TorqueFlite and 284 with four-speeds, a count repeated by Peter Grist and by Old Cars Weekly. Against the table's 18,880 'Cuda hardtops, that is roughly one Hemi car in 29. The Six Barrel hardtop line prints a split totaling 1,754, one car short of its own total.8,9,5,3
The Hemi convertible is where the numbers get small enough to count by hand. Ross lists 14, nine with TorqueFlite and five with four-speeds. Old Cars Weekly agrees on 14 for the United States market and adds that three more were built for Canada and one was sent overseas. Those extra four stay in their own rows, because no source adds them into a single total. Hi-Performance CARS tested one of these convertibles, fitted with TorqueFlite and a 4.10 Sure-Grip Dana axle, and recorded 5.6 seconds to 60 mph and a 13.45-second quarter-mile at 105 mph at a test weight of 3,975 pounds.8,5,10
That test result carries an asterisk the magazine supplied itself. Before testing, the car's timing and distributor were adjusted by the magazine's tuner, and its transmission had already been repaired. The text lists three runs between 13.40 and 13.50 seconds, made on street tires at 45 psi with the exhaust closed. Those are real measurements, but they describe one prepared convertible, not every Hemi 'Cuda. The Hemi's 425 horsepower is a separate kind of number: an advertised factory gross rating from Plymouth's catalog, which the magazine's spec box places at 5,000 rpm with 490 lb-ft at 4,000.10
The AAR 'Cuda existed because of the SCCA Trans-American series. The Henry Ford's catalog record says Plymouth built 2,724 street AAR 'Cudas for public sale to qualify the racing program, and Ross splits them as 1,604 TorqueFlites and 1,120 four-speeds. The street car used a 340 with three two-barrel carburetors, rated 290 horsepower, a black fiberglass hood with pins, a rear spoiler, side-exit exhaust tips, and 15-by-7 Rallye wheels with E60 front and G60 rear tires. The production table prices it at $3,966. None of that describes the race cars, whose engines and chassis were prepared separately and are not documented here.11,8,3
The racing season behind the special was hard. All American Racers ran Savage in all eleven completed rounds and Gurney in four, at Laguna Seca, Lime Rock, Kent and Riverside. Across 15 starts the Plymouths recorded six finishes and nine retirements, with engines, a clutch, a transmission, an oil leak and a differential among the printed causes. Savage's fourth at the opening round and his second at Road America were the high points, and at Riverside he and Gurney finished fourth and fifth together. Plymouth ended with 15 net manufacturer points, behind Ford, AMC, Chevrolet and Dodge, and neither Mopar program won a round.1,12
The high-water mark did not last. For 1971, period trade tables put Barracuda-line production at 18,690, about a third of 1970's 55,499, and Plymouth's 1971 AMA specification sheets still carried an AAR row that no source shows turning into a built car. The E-body's first year therefore stands as its fullest: three series, two body styles, a Hemi convertible count that fits in a paragraph, and a Trans-Am special built by the thousand for a race car that never won. Swede Savage's second place at Road America remains the one line in the official sheets that shows how close the program came.6,13,1
Fact sheet · 1970 · United States
The numbers
1970 Plymouth Barracuda and 'Cuda — The E-body redesign split the line into Barracuda, Gran Coupe, and 'Cuda hardtops and convertibles, put every Chrysler performance engine through the 426 Hemi on the order form, and added the one-year AAR 'Cuda for Trans-Am homologation.
Coverage: Partial — researched sections are shown; missing ones are not yet sourced. Researched through 2026-09-23.
Every figure is labeled with how sure we are. Reported means a manufacturer, registry, or reference figure we cite but have not reconciled against factory records ourselves. Disputed means credible sources disagree and both are shown. Rows are separately scoped; don't add them together unless the note says they make up a total.
Key facts
- Plymouth built 2,724 street AAR 'Cudas for public sale to qualify the Trans-Am program, according to The Henry Ford; Scott Ross splits them as 1,604 TorqueFlites and 1,120 four-speeds.11,8
- 652 Hemi 'Cuda hardtops were built: 368 TorqueFlites and 284 four-speeds.8,9,5
- Old Cars Weekly counts 14 Hemi 'Cuda convertibles for the US market, three more built for Canada, and one sent overseas.5
- The 426 Hemi was a $871.45 option on the 'Cuda.5,3
Production
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barracuda, Gran Coupe, and 'Cuda (table 'TOTAL')6,7,8,3 Barracuda, Gran Coupe, 'Cuda · hardtop and convertible · not stated Period trade tables, Ross, and the Over-Drive table agree. Equals the table's Barracuda (27,205), Gran Coupe (8,779), and 'Cuda (18,880 + 635) rows. The AAR 'Cuda is a separate row. The same table's 'Production TOTAL' of 94,207 does not correspond to its rows and is not used. | 55,499 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barracuda hardtop3 Barracuda · 2-door hardtop (BH23) · six and V8 · not stated | 25,651 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Barracuda convertible3 Barracuda · convertible (BH27) · six and V8 · not stated | 1,554 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Barracuda Gran Coupe hardtop3 Gran Coupe · 2-door hardtop (BP23) · six and V8 · not stated | 8,183 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Barracuda Gran Coupe convertible3 Gran Coupe · convertible (BP27) · six and V8 · not stated | 596 | built, model-year | Reported |
| 'Cuda hardtop3 'Cuda · 2-door hardtop (BS23) · V8 · not stated Whether AAR 'Cudas (also body BS23 in the table) are included is not stated. | 18,880 | built, model-year | Reported |
| 'Cuda convertible3 'Cuda · convertible (BS27) · V8 · not stated | 635 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barracuda series total3 Barracuda · hardtop and convertible · not stated | 27,205 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Gran Coupe series total3 Gran Coupe · hardtop and convertible · not stated | 8,779 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAR 'Cuda11,3,8 AAR 'Cuda · 2-door hardtop · 340 three 2-bbl · not stated Museum, reference site, and book agree; none exposes the Chrysler record. Over-Drive's photo caption once prints 2,742, an apparent transposition. | 2,724 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| AAR 'Cuda, TorqueFlite8 AAR 'Cuda · 2-door hardtop · 340 three 2-bbl · TorqueFlite · not stated | 1,604 | built, model-year | Reported |
| AAR 'Cuda, 4-speed8 AAR 'Cuda · 2-door hardtop · 340 three 2-bbl · 4-speed manual · not stated | 1,120 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemi 'Cuda hardtop8,9,5 'Cuda · 2-door hardtop · 426 Hemi · not stated Two books and a periodical agree. A figure of 666 hardtops circulates online without a source (see leads). | 652 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Hemi 'Cuda convertible8,5,9 'Cuda · convertible · 426 Hemi · US (Old Cars Weekly); not stated (Ross) | 14 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Hemi 'Cuda convertible built for Canada5 'Cuda · convertible · 426 Hemi · Canada | 3 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Hemi 'Cuda convertible sent overseas5 'Cuda · convertible · 426 Hemi · export | 1 | built, model-year | Reported |
| 'Cuda hardtop, 440 Six Barrel8 'Cuda · 2-door hardtop · 440 three 2-bbl · not stated The printed split totals 1,754. | 1,755 | built, model-year | Disputed |
| 'Cuda convertible, 440 Six Barrel8 'Cuda · convertible · 440 three 2-bbl · not stated | 29 | built, model-year | Reported |
| 'Cuda hardtop, 440 Magnum8 'Cuda · 2-door hardtop · 440 4-bbl · not stated | 952 | built, model-year | Reported |
| 'Cuda convertible, 440 Magnum8 'Cuda · convertible · 440 4-bbl · not stated | 34 | built, model-year | Reported |
| 'Cuda hardtop, 383 Magnum8 'Cuda · 2-door hardtop · 383 4-bbl · not stated | 4,445 | built, model-year | Reported |
| 'Cuda convertible, 383 Magnum8 'Cuda · convertible · 383 4-bbl · not stated | 200 | built, model-year | Reported |
| 'Cuda hardtop, 3408 'Cuda · 2-door hardtop · 340 4-bbl · not stated | 6,884 | built, model-year | Reported |
| 'Cuda convertible, 3408 'Cuda · convertible · 340 4-bbl · not stated | 243 | built, model-year | Reported |
| What was counted | Count | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemi 'Cuda hardtop, TorqueFlite8,9 'Cuda · 2-door hardtop · 426 Hemi · TorqueFlite · not stated | 368 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Hemi 'Cuda hardtop, 4-speed8,9 'Cuda · 2-door hardtop · 426 Hemi · 4-speed manual · not stated | 284 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Hemi 'Cuda convertible, TorqueFlite8 'Cuda · convertible · 426 Hemi · TorqueFlite · not stated | 9 | built, model-year | Reported |
| Hemi 'Cuda convertible, 4-speed8 'Cuda · convertible · 426 Hemi · 4-speed manual · not stated | 5 | built, model-year | Reported |
Rows are separately scoped; do not add them. Series totals are the sources' own figures.
Engine rows are from Scott Ross's 2016 guide read through Google Books search snippets (page numbers not displayed); they do not by themselves add up to the 'Cuda body totals, so other 'Cuda lines (if any) were not visible. No engine rows were found for Barracuda or Gran Coupe.
Geography is stated only by Old Cars Weekly for the Hemi convertible.
Prices when new
| Model | Price | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Barracuda hardtop, six3 | $2,764 | factory price as reported, 1970 model year |
| Barracuda hardtop, V83 | $2,865 | factory price as reported, 1970 model year |
| Barracuda convertible, six3 | $3,034 | factory price as reported, 1970 model year |
| Barracuda convertible, V83 | $3,135 | factory price as reported, 1970 model year |
| Gran Coupe hardtop, V83 | $3,035 | factory price as reported, 1970 model year |
| Gran Coupe convertible, six3 | $3,160 | factory price as reported, 1970 model year |
| Gran Coupe convertible, V83 | $3,260 | factory price as reported, 1970 model year |
| 'Cuda hardtop3,5 | $3,164 | factory price as reported, 1970 model year |
| 'Cuda convertible3,5 | $3,433 | factory price as reported, 1970 model year |
| AAR 'Cuda3 | $3,966 | factory price as reported, 1970 model year |
Prices are the nominal dollars of the day, not adjusted for inflation.
Engines
| Engine | Factory rating | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|---|
| E24 · 225 Six 1-bbl3 225 cu in · 1-barrel | 145 hp @ 4,000, 215 lb-ft @ 2,400 (gross (period advertised)) | standard, Barracuda and Gran Coupe | Not yet sourced |
| E44 · 318 V8 2-bbl3 318 cu in · 2-barrel | 230 hp @ 4,400, 320 lb-ft @ 2,000 (gross (period advertised)) | optional, Barracuda and Gran Coupe | Not yet sourced |
| E55 · 340 V8 4-bbl 340 cu in · 4-barrel | 275 hp, 340 lb-ft (gross (period factory advertised)) | optional | Not yet sourced |
| 340 V8 three 2-bbl (AAR)3 340 cu in · three 2-barrel | 290 hp (period advertised (standard not stated)) | AAR 'Cuda only | 2,72411 Reported |
| E63 · 383 V8 4-bbl ('Cuda standard)3 383 cu in · 4-barrel | 335 hp, 425 lb-ft (gross (period factory advertised)) | standard, 'Cuda | Not yet sourced |
| E86 · 440 V8 4-bbl3 440 cu in · 4-barrel | 375 hp @ 4,600, 480 lb-ft @ 3,200 (gross (period advertised)) | optional, 'Cuda | Not yet sourced |
| E87 · 440 Six Barrel V8 440 cu in · three 2-barrel | 390 hp, 490 lb-ft (gross (period factory advertised)) | optional, 'Cuda | Not yet sourced |
| E74 · 426 Hemi V810 426 cu in · two 4-barrel | 425 hp @ 5,000, 490 lb-ft @ 4,000 (gross (period factory advertised)) | optional, 'Cuda | Not yet sourced |
| E61 · 383 V8 2-bbl (Barracuda and Gran Coupe option)14 383 cu in · 2-barrel | 290 hp @ 4,400, 390 lb-ft @ 2,800 (factory data-book specification (8.7:1, regular fuel)) | optional on Barracuda and Gran Coupe; automatic only | Not yet sourced |
| E63 · 383 V8 4-bbl (Barracuda and Gran Coupe option)14 383 cu in · 4-barrel | 330 hp @ 5,000, 425 lb-ft @ 3,200 (factory data-book specification (9.5:1, premium fuel)) | optional on Barracuda and Gran Coupe; the same E63 code is standard on 'Cuda, where the data book rates it 335 hp @ 5,200 and 425 lb-ft @ 3,400 | Not yet sourced |
Ratings are the manufacturer's advertised figures under the standard shown (SAE gross before 1972, SAE net after). They are not dyno results, and gross and net ratings can't be compared directly.
Transmissions
| Transmission | Availability | Built |
|---|---|---|
| D13 · 3-speed manual, floor shift3 | base transmission | Not yet sourced |
| D34 · TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic3 | optional | Not yet sourced |
| D21 · 4-speed manual3 | optional | Not yet sourced |
Options and packages
| Code | Option | Price | Installed |
|---|---|---|---|
|
426 Street Hemi V85,3 | $871.45 | Not yet sourced |
|
440 Six Barrel V83 | $250 | Not yet sourced |
|
440 V8 4-bbl3 | $234 | Not yet sourced |
N96order code |
Shaker fresh-air hood ('Cuda)3 | $97 | Not yet sourced |
H51order code |
Air conditioning3 | $357 | Not yet sourced |
S77order code |
Power steering3 | $105 | Not yet sourced |
B41order code |
Front disc brakes3 | $28 | Not yet sourced |
|
AAR 'Cuda: 340 three 2-bbl, black fiberglass hood with pins, rear spoiler, side-exit exhaust tips, 15x7 Rallye wheels, E60x15 front and G60x15 rear tires3 | — | 2,72411 Reported |
A01sales code |
Light Package (see ordering guide p. 15 for contents)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A04sales code |
Basic Group (solid-state AM radio, power steering, remote-control left racing mirror, variable-speed wipers with electric washer)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A21sales code |
Elastomeric front bumper group, colour-keyed14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A22sales code |
Elastomeric front and rear bumper group14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A35sales code |
Trailer Towing Package14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A46sales code |
Exterior Trim Group (not available on Gran Coupe)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A62sales code |
Rallye Instrument Cluster14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A67sales code |
Backlite louver14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A31sales code |
High Performance Axle package14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A32sales code |
Super Performance Axle package ('Cuda only)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A33sales code |
Track Pak ('Cuda only; 4-speed; 3.54 axle)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A34sales code |
Super Track Pak ('Cuda only; 4-speed; 4.10 axle)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
A36sales code |
Performance Axle package (3.55)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
D91sales code |
Sure-Grip differential (standard in performance axle packages)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
J54sales code |
Performance hood less hood pins (hood pins standard on 'Cuda)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
J81sales code |
Aerodynamic rear spoiler (not with M91 luggage rack or with 225, 318 and 383 2-bbl engines)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
S13sales code |
Heavy-duty suspension: torsion bars, rear springs, sway bar (standard on 'Cuda)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
S15sales code |
Extra heavy-duty handling package (383 4-bbl and 340 only; standard with Hemi and 440)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
S25sales code |
Firm-ride shock absorbers (standard with 440, Hemi and S15)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
R11sales code |
Solid-state AM radio14 | — | Not yet sourced |
R22sales code |
Solid-state AM radio with stereo tape player14 | — | Not yet sourced |
R35sales code |
Multiplex AM/FM radio14 | — | Not yet sourced |
R31sales code |
Rear seat speaker (not on convertible)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
H31sales code |
Rear window defogger (not on convertible)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
G11sales code |
Tinted glass, all windows14 | — | Not yet sourced |
G15sales code |
Tinted windshield only14 | — | Not yet sourced |
B11sales code |
Heavy-duty 11-in brakes front and rear (standard on 'Cuda)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
B51sales code |
Power brakes (required with disc brakes)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
P31sales code |
Power windows14 | — | Not yet sourced |
P37sales code |
Power convertible top lift14 | — | Not yet sourced |
M05sales code |
Door edge protectors14 | — | Not yet sourced |
M26sales code |
Wheel lip moulding (standard on Gran Coupe and 'Cuda)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
M31sales code |
Belt moulding (standard on Gran Coupe and 'Cuda)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
M46sales code |
Air scoop quarter panel and black lower paint (Barracuda only)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
M81sales code |
Front bumper guards14 | — | Not yet sourced |
C13sales code |
Front shoulder belts (convertible only)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
C14sales code |
Rear shoulder belts (not on convertible)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
C15sales code |
Deluxe seat belts14 | — | Not yet sourced |
F11sales code |
50-amp alternator14 | — | Not yet sourced |
F25sales code |
70-amp-hr battery (standard with 440 and Hemi)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
C16sales code |
Console (with bucket seats only)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
C62sales code |
'Comfort Position' manual six-way seat adjuster, left bucket only14 | — | Not yet sourced |
C92sales code |
Colour-keyed accessory floor mats14 | — | Not yet sourced |
G34sales code |
Remote-control left racing mirror, colour-keyed14 | — | Not yet sourced |
G36sales code |
Remote-control left and manual right racing mirrors, colour-keyed14 | — | Not yet sourced |
J11sales code |
Glove box lock (standard on convertible)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
J21sales code |
Electric clock (standard with Rallye cluster)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
J25sales code |
Variable-speed wipers with electric washer14 | — | Not yet sourced |
L42sales code |
Headlight time delay and warning signal14 | — | Not yet sourced |
M91sales code |
Deck lid luggage rack14 | — | Not yet sourced |
N88sales code |
Automatic speed control (V8 automatic; not with 340, 440 6-bbl or Hemi)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
W08sales code |
Regular spare tire (convertible only)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
W34sales code |
Collapsible spare tire (standard on convertible; required with 15-in tires)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
S83sales code |
Three-spoke rim-blow steering wheel with styled pad14 | — | Not yet sourced |
W11sales code |
Deluxe wheel covers, 14-in14 | — | Not yet sourced |
W15sales code |
Wire wheel covers, 14-in14 | — | Not yet sourced |
W21sales code |
Rallye road wheels, 14 or 15 in14 | — | Not yet sourced |
W23sales code |
Chrome-styled road wheels, 14-in (not with Hemi)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
J55sales code |
Undercoating with underhood pad14 | — | Not yet sourced |
N95sales code |
Evaporative emission control (California registration only)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
N97sales code |
Noise reduction package (California 440 6-bbl and Hemi cars only)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
V1Wsales code |
Vinyl roof: V1W white, V1X black, V1F green, V1G gator grain; V1P yellow floral and V1Q blue/green floral on BH23 and BS23 only14 | — | Not yet sourced |
V6Xsales code |
Sport stripe, black ('Cuda only)14 | — | Not yet sourced |
V5Xsales code |
Body-side vinyl protection moulding: V5B blue, V5F green, V5R red, V5W white, V5X black14 | — | Not yet sourced |
T87sales code |
Raised-white-letter F70x14 tires (standard on 340, 383 and 440 'Cuda); U82 E60x15 and U84 F60x15 raised-white-letter also listed, U84 standard with Hemi14 | — | Not yet sourced |
Paint
| Code | Color | Built |
|---|---|---|
A4 |
Silver3 | Not yet sourced |
B3 |
Light Blue3 | Not yet sourced |
B5 |
Bright Blue3 | Not yet sourced |
B7 |
Dark Blue3 | Not yet sourced |
C7 |
Plum Crazy3 | Not yet sourced |
E5 |
Rally Red3 | Not yet sourced |
F4 |
Lime Green3 | Not yet sourced |
F8 |
Ivy Green3 | Not yet sourced |
J5 |
Sub Lime3 | Not yet sourced |
K2 |
Vitamin C Orange3 | Not yet sourced |
K3 |
Burnt Orange3 | Not yet sourced |
K5 |
Deep Burnt Orange3 | Not yet sourced |
L1 |
Sand Pebble Beige3 | Not yet sourced |
M3 |
Moulin Rouge3 | Not yet sourced |
P6 |
Frosted Teal3 | Not yet sourced |
R6 |
Scorch Red3 | Not yet sourced |
T3 |
Sahara Tan3 | Not yet sourced |
T6 |
Burnt Tan3 | Not yet sourced |
W1 |
Alpine White3 | Not yet sourced |
X9 |
Black Velvet3 | Not yet sourced |
Y1 |
Top Banana3 | Not yet sourced |
Y2 |
Sunfire Yellow3 | Not yet sourced |
Y3 |
Yellow Gold3 | Not yet sourced |
Y4 |
Citron Mist3 | Not yet sourced |
Y6 |
Citron Gold3 | Not yet sourced |
EB3 |
Ice Blue Metallic14 | Not yet sourced |
EB5 |
Blue Fire Metallic14 | Not yet sourced |
EB7 |
Jamaica Blue Metallic14 | Not yet sourced |
FC7 |
In Violet Metallic (extra cost)14 | Not yet sourced |
FE5 |
Rallye Red14 | Not yet sourced |
FF4 |
Lime Green Metallic14 | Not yet sourced |
EF8 |
Ivy Green Metallic14 | Not yet sourced |
FJ5 |
Lime Light (extra cost)14 | Not yet sourced |
EK2 |
Vitamin C Orange (extra cost)14 | Not yet sourced |
FK5 |
Deep Burnt Orange Metallic14 | Not yet sourced |
BL1 |
Sandpebble Beige14 | Not yet sourced |
FT6 |
Burnt Tan Metallic14 | Not yet sourced |
EV2 |
Tor-Red (extra cost)14 | Not yet sourced |
EW1 |
Alpine White14 | Not yet sourced |
TX9 |
Black Velvet14 | Not yet sourced |
FY1 |
Lemon Twist (extra cost)14 | Not yet sourced |
DY3 |
Yellow Gold14 | Not yet sourced |
FY4 |
Citron Mist Metallic14 | Not yet sourced |
Color names are the factory's. We don't show color swatches, because a screen color is no guide for a restoration.
Interiors
| Code | Trim | Built |
|---|---|---|
H4B5 |
Bench seat, vinyl, blue (hardtop only; center armrest; not with manual transmission)14 | Not yet sourced |
H4F8 |
Bench seat, vinyl, green (hardtop only)14 | Not yet sourced |
H4X9 |
Bench seat, vinyl, black (hardtop only)14 | Not yet sourced |
H4BW |
Bench seat, vinyl, white and blue (hardtop only)14 | Not yet sourced |
H4FW |
Bench seat, vinyl, white and green (hardtop only)14 | Not yet sourced |
H4XW |
Bench seat, vinyl, white and black (hardtop only)14 | Not yet sourced |
H6B5 |
Bucket seats, vinyl, blue (Barracuda and 'Cuda)14 | Not yet sourced |
H6E4 |
Bucket seats, vinyl, red14 | Not yet sourced |
H6F8 |
Bucket seats, vinyl, green14 | Not yet sourced |
H6T5 |
Bucket seats, vinyl, tan14 | Not yet sourced |
H6X9 |
Bucket seats, vinyl, black14 | Not yet sourced |
H6BW |
Bucket seats, vinyl, white and blue14 | Not yet sourced |
H6EW |
Bucket seats, vinyl, white and red14 | Not yet sourced |
H6FW |
Bucket seats, vinyl, white and green14 | Not yet sourced |
H6XW |
Bucket seats, vinyl, white and black14 | Not yet sourced |
P6A8 |
Gran Coupe deluxe bucket seats, vinyl, black frost14 | Not yet sourced |
P6B5 |
Gran Coupe deluxe buckets, vinyl, blue14 | Not yet sourced |
P6E4 |
Gran Coupe deluxe buckets, vinyl, red14 | Not yet sourced |
P6F8 |
Gran Coupe deluxe buckets, vinyl, green14 | Not yet sourced |
P6K4 |
Gran Coupe deluxe buckets, vinyl, burnt orange14 | Not yet sourced |
P6T5 |
Gran Coupe deluxe buckets, vinyl, tan14 | Not yet sourced |
P6BW |
Gran Coupe deluxe buckets, vinyl, white and blue14 | Not yet sourced |
P6EW |
Gran Coupe deluxe buckets, vinyl, white and red14 | Not yet sourced |
P6FW |
Gran Coupe deluxe buckets, vinyl, white and green14 | Not yet sourced |
P6XW |
Gran Coupe deluxe buckets, vinyl, white and black14 | Not yet sourced |
P6XY |
Gran Coupe deluxe buckets, vinyl, gold and black14 | Not yet sourced |
P5K4 |
Gran Coupe 2-door hardtop, cloth and vinyl, burnt orange (credit option)14 | Not yet sourced |
P5X9 |
Gran Coupe 2-door hardtop, cloth and vinyl, black (credit option)14 | Not yet sourced |
PRX9 |
Leather bucket seats, black (Barracuda, Gran Coupe, 'Cuda; extra cost)14 | Not yet sourced |
PRXW |
Leather bucket seats, white and black (extra cost)14 | Not yet sourced |
PRT5 |
Leather bucket seats, tan (extra cost)14 | Not yet sourced |
Specifications
| Measure | Value | Applies to |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase3,10 | 108 in | all bodies |
| Overall length3 | 186.7 in | all bodies |
| Overall width3 | 74.9 in | all bodies |
| Front track3 | 59.7 in | all bodies |
| Test weight, Hemi 'Cuda convertible10 | 3,975 lb | Hi-Performance CARS test car only |
Period road tests
| Test | Car tested | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Cars (Hi-Performance CARS), 1970-05100-60 mph | Hemi 'Cuda convertible, 426 Hemi, TorqueFlite with Slap Stik shifter, 4.10:1 Sure-Grip Dana, power steering and disc brakes, Shaker hoodCar had timing and distributor adjustments by the magazine's tuner before testing; transmission previously repaired. | 5.6 s |
| Cars (Hi-Performance CARS), 1970-0510standing quarter-mile | Hemi 'Cuda convertible, 426 Hemi, TorqueFlite, 4.10:1Spec box: 13.45 s at 105 mph. Text lists three runs of 13.40/105.10, 13.45/105.00, and 13.50/103.70 on street tires at 45 psi with closed exhaust; same tuning caveat. | 13.45 s |
A road test result belongs to the one car that was tested, with its engine, gearing, tires, and conditions. It is not a figure for every car of the year.
Identification
- Series and body codes (as reported)
- The production table lists series FB1 and FB2 and body numbers BH (Barracuda), BP (Gran Coupe), and BS ('Cuda and AAR 'Cuda), with 23 for hardtop and 27 for convertible.3
Where the sources disagree
Gran Coupe six hardtop price
- $2,394 (below the base Barracuda hardtop's $2,764)3
Likely misprint in a single source; the price is withheld from the price list until a factory price list is seen.
440 Six Barrel 'Cuda hardtop count
- 1,755 printed; split 852 + 902 = 1,7548
Show 1,755 with the split and flag the one-car internal difference; the snippet may carry an OCR error.
Hemi 'Cuda convertible total
Present 14 as the US figure and the Canadian and export cars as separately scoped rows; do not add them into a single total without a source that does.
1970 Barracuda paint codes and names
- Two-character codes with names partly shared with Dodge (e.g. C7 Plum Crazy, J5 Sub Lime, Y1 Top Banana), including colours such as M3 Moulin Rouge, P6 Frosted Teal and Y6 Citron Gold3
- Plymouth three-character sales codes and Plymouth names for 18 colours (e.g. FC7 In Violet, FJ5 Lime Light, FY1 Lemon Twist, EV2 Tor-Red)14
Both lists are kept. The Plymouth ordering guide governs Plymouth names and sales codes at launch; Over-Drive's extra colours may be mid-year additions or cross-division entries and are not removed.
Identification
Read a 1970 Plymouth VIN
The VIN decoder runs in your browser and never sends the VIN anywhere. How the factory numbered this year's cars:
Same model year
Also in 1970
- AMC AMX The last two-seat AMX: a restyled nose, a 360 base V8 and a 325-hp 390. At 4,116 cars it was the rarest of the three two-seat years.
- AMC Javelin Penske and Donohue brought the Javelin to Trans-Am, and the showroom answered with 2,501 Mark Donohue Javelins and 100 red-white-blue Trans Am Javelins, while total production fell to 28,210.
- AMC Rebel and Rebel Machine AMC's intermediate supercar: a 340-hp 390, four-speed and Hurst shifter in the Rebel hardtop, first in white with red-white-blue stripes. Totals reported for the one-year run range from about 1,200 to 2,326.
- Buick Riviera The 455 (370 hp gross) arrived with a restyle; production fell to about 37,300 with some 3,505 GS cars.
- Buick Skylark Gran Sport, GS and GSX Buick's GS went to a 455 rated at 510 lb-ft, the Stage 1 option added 10 advertised hp, and a mid-year GSX package was built 678 times in two colors.
- Buick Wildcat The final Wildcat, Custom trim only, with the 370-hp 455; 23,645 built.
- Chevrolet Chevelle and Malibu SS The year the Chevelle Super Sport split into RPO Z25 SS 396 and RPO Z15 SS 454, with the LS6 454 rated at 450 gross horsepower.
- Chevrolet Chevy II and Nova Last year the source engine table lists the big-block (as 402) in the Nova. Enthusiast-compiled production: 307,280 cars; Super Sport 19,558.
- Chevrolet El Camino SS The Malibu/Custom El Camino could carry either RPO Z25 SS 396 or RPO Z15 SS 454, including the 450 hp LS6; the El Camino share is not separately published.
- Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS The first Monte Carlo, with the SS 454 as RPO Z20: 3,823 of 145,976 Monte Carlos per Chevrolet-report-derived tables.
- Dodge Challenger Dodge's first pony car arrived as a 1970 model with nine advertised engines, base, SE, R/T, and R/T SE hardtops, two convertibles, and a one-year Trans-Am homologation special, the T/A.
- Dodge Charger The last year of the second-generation body: a new full-width grille, three series (Charger, 500, R/T), the 440 Six Pack added to the R/T, and production roughly half of 1969's.
- Dodge Coronet R/T and Super Bee The final Coronet-based R/T and Super Bee: the R/T fell to 2,615 cars, while the Super Bee added a 3-speed manual and kept its Six Pack and Hemi options.
- Dodge Dart GTS, Swinger and Demon With the GTS gone, the Swinger 340 was the only performance Dart; it kept front discs, Rallye suspension and a twin-scoop hood and sold about 13,800 beside the new Challenger.
- Ford Fairlane The last Fairlane year: the name survived only on the Fairlane 500 beneath the new Torino, with a mid-year Falcon sharing the body at the bottom of the range.
- Ford Maverick Grabber The Grabber appearance and tire package arrived in mid-1970 on the new two-door Maverick; no Grabber count for 1970 was found.
- Ford Ranchero GT The Torino-based Ranchero GT could take the 429 Cobra Jet and Super Cobra Jet; reference counts give 3,905 GTs, while Barn Finds rounds the GT figure to about 3,600 of 21,640 Rancheros.
- Ford Thunderbird The 429 at 360 hp was the standard and only engine listed in the 1970 catalog.
- Ford Torino A new, longer body on a 117-inch wheelbase; the Torino Cobra became its own model with the 429, offered in 360, 370 (Cobra Jet) and 375 (Super Cobra Jet) horsepower forms.
- Mercury Comet and Cyclone A new, longer Montego-based Cyclone in three versions: the 429 Cyclone, the small-block Cyclone GT that outsold both others, and the Ram Air 429 Cobra Jet Cyclone Spoiler.
- Mercury Cougar The last first-generation Cougar moved to the 351 Cleveland, kept the Boss 302 as an Eliminator-only engine, and built 2,268 Eliminators.
- Mercury Marauder and S-55 The second and last year of the 1969-70 Marauder: production fell to about a third of 1969's, with the X-100 near half of it.
- Oldsmobile Cutlass, 4-4-2 and Hurst/Olds The 4-4-2 got a standard 455 rated at 365 hp, the W-30 went to 370 hp, and the small-block W-31 moved to the Cutlass and F-85 coupes.
- Plymouth Duster 340 and 360 Plymouth's new Valiant-based fastback coupe arrived with a 275 hp 340 performance model priced at $2,547; the Standard Catalog lineage counts 24,817 Duster 340s among 217,192 Dusters.
- Plymouth GTX, Belvedere and Satellite Now hardtop-only, the GTX fell to 7,748 cars while its 440 Six Barrel option cost just $119.
- Plymouth Road Runner Production halved from 1969, the 440 Six Barrel became a regular option, and the winged Superbird was built as a Road Runner hardtop to put Plymouth back on NASCAR superspeedways.
- Pontiac Firebird and Trans Am A late-arriving, coupe-only second generation: 48,739 Firebirds, 3,196 of them Trans Ams, and 88 Ram Air IVs.
- Pontiac GTO A new Endura nose, a 455 added beside the three 400s, and GTO production falling to 40,149.
- Pontiac Grand Prix The SJ took a 370 hp 455, Hurst built the SSJ, and production fell to 65,750.
- Pontiac Tempest and LeMans The T-37 and GT-37 bring budget performance to the Tempest.