1973 | Plymouth Barracuda Cuda 340
Plymouth Cuda 340 (1973). Estimated price CHF 55'000 - CHF 65'000
Plymouth Cuda 340 (1973). Estimated price CHF 55'000 - CHF 65'000
Plymouth Cuda 340 (1973). Estimated price CHF 55'000 - CHF 65'000
Plymouth Cuda 340 (1973). Estimated price CHF 55'000 - CHF 65'000
Power, Style and Cult Status – the 1973 Plymouth ’Cuda 340
During the 1960s, a new generation of Americans was gradually coming of age: style-conscious and fashion-aware, yet independent-minded, with a growing appetite for the exotic and the sporting. In the spring of 1964, Ford responded to this emerging clientele with the Mustang – relatively affordable, powerful and highly configurable.
Plymouth, however, was actually two weeks ahead of Ford, unveiling the Barracuda and thus marking the true birth of a new vehicle category that would soon be known as the “pony car”: a compact automobile with a fastback profile, visually linking a short rear end with a long, muscular bonnet. Despite this pioneering role, Ford’s Mustang initially outsold the Barracuda by more than five to one. As a consequence, Plymouth was quick to respond, steadily enhancing the Barracuda with greater performance and a more exotic, overtly sporting appearance.
The example presented here belongs to the third generation and appears even more assertive than the original Barracuda, thanks to its pronounced hip line. Beneath the bonnet resides the optional 340 cubic inch V8 engine – equivalent to 5.6 litres in European terms – delivering approximately 275 horsepower. When new, the car was also specified in its country of first registration, the United States, with the optional TorqueFlite automatic transmission.
This ’Cuda – the designation reserved for the sportier variants – is finished in the highly fashionable colour Lemon Twist, which contrasts beautifully with the black vinyl roof and the factory-applied side stripes. In 2021, the car underwent a comprehensive restoration in England, during which the seats and interior trim were consciously retained. New components include the instrument dials and gauges, carpets, headlining and three-point seat belts. From a technical standpoint, the braking system was overhauled, the suspension renewed and a new twin-exit exhaust system installed.
The most recent veteran vehicle inspection dates from spring 2023, and our own technical assessment confirms that this ’Cuda is presented in an almost faultless condition.
Have this vehicle inspected by experts!