1974 Plymouth Barracuda Hardtop

You lying so low in the weeds
I bet you gonna ambush me
You'd have me down, down, down on my knees
Now wouldn't you, Barracuda? Oh……As the song by HEART goes, so goes the overall look of the '74 Barracuda, so named after a species of fish that are drawn to shiny objects.  So too, you may be with a beautiful example here at Classic Auto Mall.  Go ahead… take the hook!

Right at the end of the early 70's muscle car mayhem, we find this consignment swimming around in our Hallowed Halls in the form of a tastefully done 'Cuda tribute.  Bathed in smooth and slippery Pearl White Tricoat paint, this 1974 Plymouth Barracuda stands out from the other horses, snakes and spyders that grace our overstuffed halls.  This predator has some extra bite with a 440ci V8, an Edelbrock intake, a 6-pack carburetor set up, and sweet muscle car design, looking like it's right out of the 1974 Plymouth factory.

Exterior
The beneficiary of all panels stripped, filled where needed, sprayed with Pearl White Tricoat, then dressed with glossy black 1970 vintage hockey stick engine call out stripes, I find myself in muscle car heaven!  Overall the panels are straight, gaps are well minded and the exterior is straight and true.  The black decal begins just behind the long doors and continues to the rear quarter where it takes a sharp downward turn and surrounding the 440 designation before dying just above the rear bumper.  I'll call it 70's fab!  The black rear deck panel houses 4 round tail lights and is framed below by a small chrome bumper that has been tucked in and the rubber protection blocks on either side removed, all in good condition.  Badging back here shows a little wear but is period correct and uses 'Cuda.  Up front an original split grille with black inserts and dual angled rearward intake snouts feeds air to the radiator and a twin scooped hood, complete with hood pins and 440 Six Pack call outs give the perfect muscle car look.  Lest I forget the 1971 style Gullwing spoiler adorning the trunk lid and the crystal clear glass and chromed surrounds just on the edges of the roof. 15-inch Weld DragLite wheels are all around and are shod in staggered width blackwall rubber.

Interior
Very nice and tasteful would best describe all surfaces in the passenger compartment.  All black fuzzy broadcloth covers the buckets, and a rear bench featuring tuck and roll inside panels and smooth bolsters with snappy charcoal gray piping.  Black plastic is on the dash panel which is complete with a speedo, trio of gauges, (fuel etc), and a black round to let your imagination run wild.  We move onto the Michelin man like steering column, which is topped by a 2 spoked drilled black rimmed steering wheel and to the top right of the cluster is a chrome bezel aftermarket oil pressure gauge.   Racing between the seats is a black plastic console with a nice wood applique insert and the Seattle Space Needle style slap-stick shifter.  New like carpet in black floats under the seats, while the headliner is like new and we see a slightly cracked and worn padded topper for the dash.  Door handles, locks, and smooth black molded plastic are on both sides of the buckets.  

Drivetrain
The circa 1969 440ci V8 engine has been refreshed and sports a trio of 2-barrel carburetors to feed fuel to the mill through an Edelbrock intake manifold.  A non original A727 Torqueflite automatic transmission behind this healthy mill.   An 8-3/4 inch rear axle throws power out to the rear tires and makes you go forward…quickly.

Undercarriage
Peering underside, black floor pans, toe kicks, and rockers peppered with black shiny unibody construction, framing, suspension, and a sprinkling of surface rust is noted on the usual suspects and untreated components.  Of note, there is a small amount of invasive rust to be seen at the rear of the driver's side rear unibody rail but all else remains solid.  I see headers and new dual exhaust with Glasspack style mufflers.  Keeping this fish well footed, (wait....fish don't walk), is an independent torsion bar front suspension, and leaf spring rear suspension under here.  Also, front disc brakes and rear drum brakes are mechanically sound.  

Drive-Ability
An overall good experience with the nicely powered 440ci V8, nice interior, and all working inside and out save for the wipers getting caught on the stainless trim at the rear of the hood, a common E-body Mopar issue.   A quick starter, a quick accelerator, and smooth shifting from the 3-speed and this one is a quickie, as well as offering up a big car ride for the cruise section of the test drive.

A very well done, with little fault to be found throughout this muscle car.  Eye catching Pearl White paint, glossy black stickers, like new interior, and nice power curves, this is now right at the end of the 1970's muscle car era.  Ooooooooh BARRACUDA!  I'll dangle the shiny keys to lure you in.

BH23G4B310966

B-Barracuda
H-High Price Class
23-2 Door Hardtop
G-318ci V8 2bbl
4-1974
B-Hamtramck, MI Assy Plant
310966-Sequential Unit Number

FENDER TAG

BH23:
Plymouth Barracuda
High Price Class
2 Door Hardtop
G4B: 318ci 2bbl V8
1974
Dodge Main, Hamtramck, MI, USA
310996:Sequence number
E44:318 cid 2 barrel V8 
D34: A904 Automatic
KG8: Deep Sherwood Metallic  Exterior Color
A6X9:Basic, Vinyl Bucket Seats, Black
000:Full Door Panels
208:Build Date: February 08
239532:Order number
KG8:Deep Sherwood Metallic 
U:USA Specifications
B43:Manual Brakes
C16:Console w/Woodgrain Panel
C56:Bucket Seats
G55:Outside LH Remote Painted Racing Mirror
G65:Outside RH Manual Painted Racing Mirror
G75:Dual Painted Racing Mirrors
M21:Roof drip rail moldings
N76:Coolant Recovery System
R11:Radio Solid State AM (2 Watts)
V6W:Longitudinal Stripes, White
L2:Unknown
724:Unknown

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 850 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display. This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.