440ci V8/3-Speed Auto/Leather Interior/AAR Tribute

1974 Plymouth 'Cuda AAR Tribute

With hopes of breaking the Big Two's lock, Plymouth hired Dan Gurney's All American Racers in Santa Ana, Calif., to build a Trans-Am 'Cuda. It was more than competitive, winning it's fair share of races. For 1970, Plymouth decided to honor those achievements on the track with a dealer-only street car option called the AAR, which stands for All-American Racers. The result was the 1970 Plymouth AAR 'Cuda, Plymouth's factory-built race car. Has there ever been a more in-your-face vehicle built in North America? Three carburetors, fiberglass hood and spoiler, side exit exhaust and eye popping graphics make the Plymouth AAR 'Cuda impossible to ignore.

For consignment, a “tribute” car in the form of a 1974 come 1970 AAR (All American Racers) 'Cuda. Great lengths were taken to change the '74 to the '70 tribute version, and it's nearly perfectly correct. Read on for more information to make your decision to come in today and purchase this beauty.

Exterior
You cannot miss the differences between the AAR and a regular Barracuda on the street. First off, the paint colors, this version in Bright Blue Metallic, (B5 for those Plymouth fans), with the aggressive strobe light graphics in flat black adorning the Coke bottle shaped side steel that's minding its gaps very nicely. Also in flat black is the fiberglass pinned hood complete with its functional hood scoop, and lower eyebrow spoilers up front. In between this menagerie of flat black are single headlights flanking a blackened egg crate grille, a V shaped shiny front bumper and some fog lights hanging below the bumper. On the back is a flat black rear spoiler which is atop the rear metallic blue trunk deck. The exhaust exits within the rear roll pan are in rectangular form, and peek out just below a pristine bumper nicely chromed. The rear flat black panel which houses the triple stacked horizontal tail lighting with 'Cuda badging is nearly perfect with no chips or scratches. Door handles which are inset and body matching round sport mirrors along with some shiny chromed window trimmings have this AAR tribute all buttoned up as to the look. On front are 14-inch Mopar rally wheels wrapped in 245/60R14 raised white letter BFGs, and on back 15 inch Mopar rally wheels wrapped in slightly larger 275/60R15's raised white letter BFGs.

Interior
A swing of the doors and the panels look as though they were designed in a wind tunnel. Virtually no seams, pure black molded plastic with an armrest within a wide spear form, a simple window crank, mirror joystick and a 'Cuda badge. In front a drilled 2 spoke black rimmed steering wheel sets up on a Michelin Man-esque steering column. It then works its way back to the textured black dash which sports a lineup of round gauges all in the dash front. Various other knobs and pulls are here as well as the temp sliders. No radio is in, and a futuristic wood appliqué center console races through sleek high back black leather tuck and roll buckets. In back is a pristine rear bench all in full tuck and roll garb. Black clean carpeting covers the floors and above a black headliner with slight wrinkles around the dome light can be seen.

Drivetrain
Under the hood in a completely restored engine bay is now residing a 440ci V8 ca. 1972-1978. On top of an Edelbrock intake manifold is an Edelbrock 850cfm 4-barrel carburetor. On back is an A727 Torqueflite 3-speed automatic transmission and the rear axle takes this power through an 8.75 inch pumpkin. All beautifully restored and painted for the engine too.

Undercarriage
With a frame off restoration you'll get an undercarriage such as this one which is better than factory. All floor pans, rockers and stamped surfaces are the beautiful blue of above. Black framing and components with no rust are seen. A pristine stainless steel exhaust system in H pipe form runs from the headers to the tail pipes. Torsion bar front suspension is on and leaf springs for the rear. Disc braking is in front and drums for the rear.

Drive-Ability
All was very well with the test drive on this car as performance is over the top, acceleration smooth and endless, and bias free panic stopping. Good handling and we noticed the dash lights are inoperable.

A rear taillight panel, and front grille from a 1970 'Cuda, and various other parts make the change from the 1974 through the way back machine of the talented hands of the consignor, and now it's a 1970 AAR 'Cuda tribute standing tall in the Classic Auto Mall.

VIN DECODE
BS23G4B189305
B-Barracuda
S-Special Price Class
23-2 Door Hardtop
G-318ci V8
4-1974
B-Hamtramck, MI Assy Plant
189305-Sequential Unit Number