The forgotten 'Cuda

Plymouth introduced the Barracuda in 1964. It was based on the Valiant platform, and the engine choices were 198 or 225 inch Slant-sixes or a 273 inch V8. I guess they thought it was going to compete with the Mustang, but it was too ugly, even in fastback form. Because they were really light ( around 2,900 lbs ) the 273 models made good drag racers, and when the SCCA started the Trans-Am series they could compete with the Mustangs. ( At least on the racetrack, if not in sales.) The Trans-Am series was immensely popular, but the only fly in the ointment in the musclecar era of "Bigger is Better" is the cubic inch limit was 305 inches. The Ford 289 and Mopar 273 did nicely. Chevrolet wasn't content to race a Nova with the old "economy" 283. They fired back with both barrels in 1967, introducing the Camaro, and putting a 283 crank in a 327 block, and adding Corvette "fuelie" heads, a "30-30" ( for the valve lash settings) cam, aluminum intake and a 780 Holley carb, and the legendary Z/28 was born. Also, the big-block 396 was optional in a Camaro, which left the Mustangs in the dust. Ford responded by offereing the 390 in the Mustang to keep up on the street, and after Chevrolet won the 1968 championship in Trans-Am with Mark Donohue driving a Z/28, they brought out the Boss 302, and offered the T-Bird / Police Interceptor 428 in the Mustang and called it the "Cobra Jet".  Mopar couldn't sit by, and let Ford and GM dominate the pony car market, so they got busy. The E-bodies that became the-now legendary Challenger and re-designed Barracuda, had several design and production delays, and didn't debut until 1970. In the interim, they had to fight back with something. The 1968 Barracuda had a much cleaner Fastback body, and was actually good-looking, although it was still light. ( About 3,200 lbs.) Further the all-new for 1968 340 V8 was a quantun leap up in performance from the 273. Besides the extra cubes, it had freer-breathing heads, 10.5:1 compression, a much hotter cam, and with a steel crank, a bullet-proof bottom end. Grossly under-rated at 275 hp, the power to weight ratio was excellent. The 340 Cudas could not only paste small-block Mustangs and Camaros, they could give the much heavier 396 Chevelles and 400 GTOs a run for the money they'd not soon forget. Mother Mopar also offered the 383 big-block in the Barracuda as well. These were a little nose-heavy and didn't handle handle as well as the 340 models, but boy were they quick in a straight line. These 68-69 models have a bit of a following of their own, but they are way cheaper to buy than a 1970 or later Cuda ./ Challenger. The good thing is, you don't have to search the galaxy for a 340 or 383 model. Buy a 318 model and a stout Mopar Performance 390 hp 360 crate motor, or a Bluprint engines 408 stroker ( based on a 360 ) will bolt right in. Or with a little work, forget a 383, stuff in a 440, or an MP 500 inch stroker!  If you want Mopar performance that's a little different from everyone else, consider the "Forgotten Cuda." Mastermind