What's the difference between a Cuda and Barracuda?

IIRC, in one particular year (maybe 1970) they stopped using the whole name Baracuda on the cars emblem and just used Cuda'

Or was it on the 426 cars they dropped it to just Cuda??

I know someone specifically answered this question during one of the recent BJ auction broadcasts and that is where I'm trying to pull my info from...and not very well =)

 

It had nothing to do with options or engines or anything else.......it was merely marketing.

 

'Cuda higher end.
Baracuda lower end.

 

"Cuda
Shortened name was introduced on the 1970 model line the Barracuda name was last used on the 1969

Very First Cuda... Purple THIS CAR. My picture
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Ding, ding, ding. We have a winnah! You could get a Barracuda with a slant 6 but not 'Cuda.
http://www.widing.biz/cuda/about.html

 

So I take it that its comparable to the Firebird/Trans Am then as well. Thanks I never knew that.

 

Not quite.

 

Honestly stay away, I do not see ANY chance of that cars value going. They were "economy" cars in the day....

 

I'd pass. The Mavericks weren't good cars at all. Horid handling, and they were Ford's "cheap" car.

 

Cuda was applied to the performance version of a barracuda. You couldnt get a performance cuda with a 318 or less under the hood. If it had a 340 and up it was a cuda (70-74). If you had a 69 for example it would be called a barracuda 340 formula S or a 383 barracuda formula S. If you opted for the Cuda package on a 340 or 383 barracuda you got the Cuda340 or cuda383 which added little dummy scoops to the hood near the cowl and black strips. Ive had dozens of mopars from 318's to hemis which launched me into the ferrari world when I cashed in. i still like the mopar iron but its not worth the price of admission anymore.

 

When I was a teenager, my best friend drove a 1971 Maverick our junior and senior years of high school. The car was absolute garbage in every way you can measure the worth of an automobile.

 

'69 was the first year 'Cuda (the 440, of which just 358 were built). From '70 on, 'Cuda became Plymouth's performance (Rapid Transit System) take on the Barracuda (340ci up, as stated).

 

1969 was the first year the 'Cuda appeared. It was availible as a 'Cuda 340, 'Cuda 383 and later a 440 'Cuda. This was designated by black lower body rocker stripes and decals or emblems, just behind the front wheelwells. The Formula S package was also availible at the time but had a high stripe that ran the length of the car and this designation was extended to include hardtop and convertible models.

 

All 440s in 69 were after the fact by grand spalding dodge, not off the line, they were 383 cars that were converted. Worth big bucks today. I had a 383 formula S 4 speed car, fast back. It was cool and rare as well.

 

Yeah, If I remember, the factory said a 440 wouldn't fit and Mr. Norm proved them wrong. The tight fit resulted in a starter heat soak problem so he made a heat sheild to solve it. I think.

 

Dart's were Grand Spaudling (sub-contracted to Hurst - who had done the S/S Hemi Darts/Barracuda's earlier). Pretty sure the Cuda's (and '69 Dart 440's) were factory efforts.

'69 'Cuda ...

http://www.colinsclassicauto.com/detail.php?car=160


'68 Mr. Norm's Dart GSS ...

http://www.colinsclassicauto.com/detail.php?car=307

 

Tenney is right, the 440 'cuda was factory, it's VIN numbers being BH23M9B or BH29M9B. I got it confused with the GSS Dart.

 

The M for the engine code tells you its a special conversion not factory. U or V are 440 engine codes and J being Hemi up until the end of 69 then the J became an R for hemi.