72-74

['Cuda Hunter]

Here are the production numbers for barracuda's.  All makes and models combined.

  1970--55,499
  1971--18,690
  1972--18,450
  1973--22,213
  1974--11,734

  Total produced--126,586

  As you can see, even though the 71 is the most saught after becuase of the grill, The 1974 is actually the rarest of all the barracuda's.  They are all great and are all muscle cars. 
 

[422STROKER]

72 here for me!

Tom


By tdavist at 2008-06-26

Love 'em all.

[moparmaniac59]

I'm with Tom,
I love them all. I currently have a '74 Challenger, but if you really want to start a debate, then include the "A" bodies. I also have a '68 barracuda. I also like the tailights more on the 72-74 Challengers but like the grills on the 70-71. The prices on the 72-74 Cuda-Challenger's have gone up quite considerably and folks now want 5K just for a rolling frame!!

                                                             Matt B.

[Super Blue 72]

I've got a '72 too!   

I think alot of it has to do with the Vanishing Point movie, IMO.  Of course a lot of it has to do with what was offered during those years also.  In 1970, if I'm not mistaken, there were 9 different engines that you could order for a Challenger, from a slant 6 engine to the mighty 426 Hemi.  In 1972, 3 engines, slant 6, 318, 340.  I think in '73 or '74, only 2 V-8s.  Also, there was less emphasis on performance on the '72-'74 models due to the gas crisis back then and tougher emissions laws which killed a lot of higher horsepower engines "muscle cars".

One of the things I think impact why the '72-'74 Challengers aren't considered "muscle cars" is that I believe that many feel that the era from 1964 through 1971 was the "muscle car" era.  It's a technical thing I believe.  A muscle car is just a loose figuative term to me, not a hard definition.  Some feel that it has to be some sort of intermediate sized car with a larger than normal engine.  Some feel it's the way the car looks/sounds.  To each their own.

Some even feel that all Challengers aren't "muscle cars" as they are moreso "pony cars"....    Go figure... 

[hooD]

I don't think anybody who has seen my '73 on the street would say its not a muscle car.  Everywhere I go I get lots of thumbs up, double takes and nods with big ole grins on folks faces. 

  100%. 

My all time favorite 'Cuda is the '71 with the quad headlights and the gills in the front fenders.
I'm the original owner of my '73 and it doesn't get any better than that, for me.

[moparmussel]

 :bigshades:i am building cuda # 8 all 72-74 cars. love the round tailights. most all of my cars big block,they just say MOPAR! most important thing is build or buy what you like and get out  and enjoy the car,dont get all stupid on what year or production number you must have.

[IMNCARN82]

IMO...   The 'cudas got better looking with age. The 70-71 thing is pure band wagon. People only wanted those because of the engines. At this time,They are ALL muscle cars.  The '71 cuda looks like they tried too hard.The 70 is too plain.  They got it just right then!     The Challengers are another story though.   72-74 are the frown grilles. I still like them too though.  Keep it real.   I could have any car...  I just liked the round tail lights for the price/look.   They could not be beat.  Plus I wanted to modify the car some. Figured it would make more sense.  If the numbers spoke...  The 72-74's would be rarer for sure.    Can't throw a stick without hitting a 70-71 car.

Just me   

[ChallengerHK]

One of the things I think impact why the '72-'74 Challengers aren't considered "muscle cars" is that I believe that many feel that the era from 1964 through 1971 was the "muscle car" era. 

I've heard this too, but I always thought that 74 was a much more logical date for the end of that era. Not only is it the last year for the Challengers and Barracudas, but also the last year for the Javelin/AMXs. It's the beginning of the Mustang II, the Cougar is becoming a luxury car, and the Camaros and Firebirds are being castrated horsepower-wise.

[MyMopar]

NOw why would someone want to start picking a fight?  72-74 not real muscle?  C'mon on now.  I love my 73 and it is easier to mod than a 70-71 because you now the loyalist will be like you shouldn't do this or that.  A 73 with a 440 certainly scoots down the road.

[kissalien]

People feel this way because they got rid of the big blocks. Back in the say, small blocks were not muscle cars. Actually muscle cars weren't muscle cars back then, they were usually called super cars.

Personally, I think the Challenger got worse looking every year. I love the 1970 cars. The '71s not so much. The rear of the '72 is nice but I hate the bumpers on the '73-'74. Don't like the grilles of the '72-'74.

Cudas didn't suffer as much except the ugly bumpers on the '73-'74.

Just my opinion. In my fantasy world I'd love to have one from each year.

[cudadave72]

Now tell me this not a real "muscle car" I drove it to work yesterday and one of my employees told me I had to pull it around back so that people would stop coming in and asking about it!!

[MyMopar]

It's funny about the comments on the Cuda.  My neighbor had a 72 Cuda and ended up getting rid of it because everyone kept saying it looked like a Camaro (round tail lights).  I never once had someone say my Challenger looks like a Camaro.

[71chally416]

If the later ones weren't emasculated compression-wise they might have been considered in the same realm as some BB cars. The A body cars in particular with the high comp 340 could run with many big blocks.

The looks are a personal preference thing. I don't care for the newer ones cause the bumpers stick out and the round tail lights are GM looking. Worst thing about them is they are plastic while the 70/71's still had metal.

[cudadave72]

It's funny about the comments on the Cuda.  My neighbor had a 72 Cuda and ended up getting rid of it because everyone kept saying it looked like a Camaro (round tail lights).  I never once had someone say my Challenger looks like a Camaro.

The funny thing is that when I was 17 I could not find a 72 Cuda to buy so I bought a 72 Camaro instead just cause it had round tail lights like the Cuda. Your friend must not of had the appreciation for his car as I do mine. 10,000 people could tell me it looked like a Camaro and I still would not part with it!!! Since were on the subject of round tail lights this is where Chevy and Plymouth got there idea from:

[Super Blue 72]

 Since were on the subject of round tail lights this is where Chevy and Plymouth got there idea from:

Dodge got it from them too!    I've read Dodge considered these lights "Ferrari-esque".