Automotive trends in the early and mid-1960s encouraged US automakers to create compact sports cars. Chrysler also made efforts in this direction. The basis was taken Plymouth Valiant. As a result, a typical rear wheel drive muscle car was created, which to some extent competed with the Ford Mustang, and its premiere on April 1, 1964, was 2 weeks ahead of the appearance of the Ford bestseller. The sports car of Chrysler Plymouth Barracuda, a subsidiary of the corporation, was manufactured from 1964 to 1974 in two factories: Hamtramck (Michigan) and Windsor (Ontario, Canada). Produced three generations of Barracuda, they were all 2-door.
The first generation of the model was based on platform A from Plymouth Valiant and was produced from 1964 to 1966. Body dimensions were 4780/1781 mm (length / width) with a wheelbase of 2692 mm. The hood, headlights, windshield wipers, bumpers and part of the panels were from Valiant, the other bodywork was original. This approach has significantly reduced the time and cost of creating a model. Chrysler 6-cylinder petrol engines Slant-6 with a volume of 2.8 liters (101 hp) and 3.7 liters (145 hp), as well as LA V8 4.5 liters, were installed on the cars.
Compact and powerful enough motor LA V8 developed a maximum power of 180 hp The power units were paired with an automatic transmission Torqueflite. In 1965, in light of the increasing competition in the muscle car market, the LA engine power was increased to 235 hp. There was a complete set of Formula S, which included such a motor, an updated suspension, larger wheels, special emblems and a tachometer.
Since 1965, Barracuda began to be equipped with disc brakes and air conditioning. Body panels have undergone some changes; facelift gave the car a more rapid outlines. Produced from 1967 to 1969, the second generation Barracuda, although it was basically the same Valiant, but its exterior was already quite modified. Consumers were offered cars in the coupe and convertible. The wheelbase has increased to 2743 mm.
The engine range included the 3.7-liter Slant-6, LA V8 4.5 liters, 5.2 liters and 5.6 liters, as well as V8 of brand B of 6.3 liters (330 hp) and RB 7, 2 l. In 1968, about 50 Barracuda coupes, equipped with 7-liter Hemi Super power units, were launched to participate in the races. These cars were assembled using lightweight materials and interior parts, such as, for example, seats. The surviving samples of these Barracuda are of considerable interest to auto-antique collectors. It was also built a small number of modifications Savage GTs. For the South African market, the Barracuda version was offered with a 3.7-liter engine producing 190 hp.
with increased torque and lower exhaust emission requirements. From 1970 to 1974, the third generation Barracuda was produced, now on platform E, which was significantly different from previous models. Similar models were the Plymouth Cuda and Dodge Challenger. Barracuda cars of this generation traditionally had a coupe and a convertible.
The color range of cars received new bright colors: "Vitamin C", "Ultraviolet" and "Moulin Rouge". Thanks to a new, more powerful and larger platform, it became possible to serially use the Hemi 7 liter engine. The list of other power units installed on the Barracuda is quite impressive: Slant-6 3.2 l and 3.7 l, LA V8 of 5.2 l, 5.6 l and 5.9 l, V8 6.3 l and RB V8 7.2 l. Machines equipped with Hemi and RB V8 engines had a more powerful braking system and reinforced suspension.
It should be noted that only 11 Barracuda units were produced with Hemi engines of 1971; This explains the high, up to $ 2 million, cost of well-preserved “specimens”. The rise in fuel prices and an increase in insurance rates stopped many buyers, as a result of which Chrysler’s interest in producing particularly powerful cars weakened.
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