A rare 1970 Plymouth ’Cuda powered by the 440 Six-Barrel engine has reappeared on the market after a rollover crash, drawing early attention on Copart despite extensive damage. The heavily wrecked muscle car has already attracted a $10,000 high bid, underscoring the enduring appeal of high-performance E-body Mopars, even in compromised condition.
The Barracuda entered its third generation in 1970, moving to Chrysler’s E-body platform shared with the Dodge Challenger. The redesign gave the car more aggressive proportions and, more importantly, an engine bay capable of accepting Chrysler’s full lineup of engines. That change opened the door for factory big-block options that had previously been limited experiments.
Among the most desirable of those was the 440 Six-Barrel, also known as the 440-6. Featuring three two-barrel carburetors, the 7.2-liter V8 was rated at 390 horsepower and 490 lb-ft of torque. It delivered performance comparable to the 426 Hemi at roughly half the cost, making it the most popular of Chrysler’s over-400-cubic-inch E-body engines during its short production run.
In 1970, Plymouth sold 1,784 Barracudas equipped with the 440-6, followed by 254 more in 1971. Only 853 were built with the Torqueflite three-speed automatic transmission, including the example now listed on Copart. Period testing showed the combination capable of quarter-mile times in the mid-14-second range and sub-six-second sprints to 60 mph.
The crashed ’Cuda reportedly went off the road in late December and ended up inverted in a ditch. Photos show severe damage, though the car retains components that collectors and restorers value. The odometer reads 14,402 miles, but no documentation accompanies the listing to clarify its prior history. Pre-crash images suggest the car had been refurbished at some point, though that can no longer be confirmed.
Copart currently estimates the car’s retail value at roughly four times the existing high bid. While some enthusiasts believe the ’Cuda could be rebuilt, others see it primarily as a source for rare parts. Either way, the early bidding shows that even wrecked examples of top-tier muscle cars continue to command serious money.
About the Author
