Plymouth "Cuda" 1974

The Cuda was the performance model of the Barracuda family. The Barracuda, introduced one week ahead of the Ford Mustang in 1964 was a fastback version of the Chrysler Corporation "A" body. In 1970, a new body designation emerged as a "pony" car variant to combat the Mustang and the GM "F" bodies also know as Camaros and Firebirds. Although the E-Body existed from only from 1970-1974, it has been argued that these were the models that represent, even to this day, the full bore of Dodge and Plymouth's position in the Muscle Car realm. Hemi powered Cuda's were produced for only two years, 1970 and 1971. Hemi Powered Cuda's today set the gold standard for muscle car collectors. Certain Hemi models have been sold at national auctions recently for seven figures (that means Millions!)

Cuda' 360 4-speed background

This particular Cuda' is under a complete rotisserie restoration at Green Acres. Although it is not a Hemi, this is a 1974 360, Hurst "pistol grip" 4-speed model. It is one of only 398 produced in this configuration for 1974. This was the maximum performance offeringin in the final production year. Rated at 240 hp, it is far cry from the 425 hp Hemi-4 speed available just 3 model years prior.

In keeping with the Green Acres theme, it is a factory KG8 Deep Sherwood Metallic (Green) with V1G "Mock Turtle" green vinyl top, green interior with white bucket seats and white longitudal stripes. It is registed with GTS (Galen Govier) as sequence number 26 out of 55 total 360 four-speeds cars produced for the 74 model year. Of the 55 registered with GTS, only 17 are four-speeds. Of that 17, ony two are KG8 and optioned with the A6G6 (chrome mirrors) option. Only one of these two have the green vinyl top and this is it. It would hard to imagine a green vinly top on any other colored car aside from green. That being so, it is a one of one in the GTS registry.

"What is missing"

Unfortunately, we do not have the correct numbers matching block. We do have a 1976 360 block that we had built for a certain 1974 Roadrunner "re-creation" back in 1990. (We used to call it a "fake"). This engine has a steel crank, it is bored .030 with JE Pistons, 10.5.1 compression, MP HV oil pump, double-roller timing chain, purple-shaft cam (.484 lift), Edelbrock single plane and a Holley 650 fired by the MP electronic ignition. We have sourced the correct Thermoquad, cast iron intake and left exhaust manifold. Without the right-hand ex-manifold, it may need to be built with TTI headers.  Brewers Performace found us the correct date coded 833 gear-box and Hurst rebuilt the shifter mechanism. It also has the correct 3:23 cogged third-member, and radidator with shroud. It will be upgraded to a 3:55. In this configuration, we are looking for 325 hp on pump gasoline.

This is what it will look like completed. This is a 1974 360 automatic with a white roof. So except for the white hat and the automatic, it will look like this when completed. This photo was taken at Carlisle in 2003.