The third-generation Plymouth Barracuda was introduced in 1970, and production ended shortly after in 1974. During that period, customers could choose from a wide variety of engines, ranging from a 3.2-liter straight-six to a 7.2-liter V8.
The straight-six was less than impressive, but the Hemi 7.0-liter V8 would still feel exciting to drive today. After all, when’s the last time you drove a 425-hp muscle car? Efficiency is not going to be its middle name, but it’ll get your adrenaline pumping for sure.
It takes just one look at this 1971 Plymouth Cuda for you to realize that there’s something quite fishy about it. You may notice the 540 decals on the side or even the enormous rear tires. And what about that wheelie bar?
Forget about a 10-second car; this thing looks like it could stand a chance at the drag strip against any of today’s mega cars. The Illinois resident that built this thing first bought it back in 2007. At the time, it was packing a massive 440 ci (7.2-liters) V8.
In 2008, after the engine’s rebuild, this thing secured a 9.6-seconds pass down the quarter-mile (402 meters). But that’s within reach for quite a few automotive enthusiasts these days. So the car was sent out for a full tube 25.2-cert chassis upgrade.
That’s the kind of certification you need if your car needs between 6 to 7.49 seconds to run the whole quarter-mile. Of course, the chassis alone is not going to be enough. So if you were to build the King of all Cudas, what kind of an engine would you go for?
How does a Steve Morris Racing Engines all-aluminum 540 ci (8.8-liters) V8 sound like? Pair that to an F3 ProCharger with a water-to-air intercooler and a host of other race-ready upgrades, and you’ve got yourself a 2,400-hp monster! Most people will never take their project car this far.
Keyword: Plymouth Looks Like the King of All Cudas / Could G.ap Any Bugatti at the Strip…