The Cuda was a performance option,on the Barracuda. The base Cuda came with the 335 HP 383 engine,and a 3 speed manual trans. The engine options in 1970,were a 275 HP 340,a 375 HP 440,a 390 HP 440 Six Barrel,and the 425 HP 426 Hemi. The trans options were the 3 speed manual,the 4 speed manual with the Hurst Pistol Grip shifter (440,and hemi cars got the 18 spline Hemi 4 speed trans,and 383,and 340 cars got the 23 spline 4 speed trans) and the three speed 727 Torque flight automatic trans. Cuda models had heavy duty suspensions,with bigger tortion bars,heavy duty leaf springs,and sway bars. The rear axels were the 8 3/4 sure grip,with 3.23,3.55,and 3.91 ratios for all automatic equipped cars,and 340,and 383 equipped manual trans equipped cars. 440,440 Six Barrel,and Hemi equipped cars recieved the Dana 60,9 3/4 axel with 3.54,and 4.10 ratios available. The brakes were also upgraded,11 inch drums replaced the Barracudas 10 inch drum brakes.The Disc Brakes were the same as a Barracuda with disc brakes,11 inch rotors,with single piston calipers,and 10 drums in the rear.Brakes were available in manual,or power. The dual exhaust was standard on Cuda models,and had rectangular chrome exhaust tips that exited through dual cutouts in the rear valence(Except in California,where Cuda models had exhaust turn downs that exited below the rear valence) The dual scooped Rallye hood was standard on the Cuda,and the functional Shaker hood was optional (except on Hemicudas,where the Shaker was standard equipment)The rallye dash was optional on all Barracuda/Cuda models. Cudas had the black out treatment on the rear tail panel,trimmed off with a thin stainless steel trim on the outter perimeter of the tail panel,and had the Cuda emblem to the right of the licence plate opening. Plastic louvered rocker panel moldings were also an option on Cuda models. Body colored molded rubber bumpers,and painted racing mirrors were an option,on high impact colored Cudas. The road lamp fog light option was also available on Cuda models. I think I covered most of the differences. There was also the AAR Cuda which was produced to allow the Cuda to compete in Trans AM racing. The street version had a 290 HP 340 engine,with 3 Holley two barrel carbs(Six Barrel induction)with either a 4 speed manual,or 727 Torque Flight auto trans. The car featured a fully functional ram air fiberglass hood,front and rear spoilers,and exhaust that exited on each side in front of the wheels. It also had matte black paint on the hood,and tops of the fenders,that continued along the top of the doors,and up to the end of the quarter glass,and wild strobe stripes down the side,with Dan Gurneys all american racers logo at the end of the stripe. They also came with E 60 15 tires up front,and H 60 15 in the rear.
