'Cuda/Barracuda?

[DavidSL]

What's the difference?

I always thought that 'Cuda was the model from 1970 onwards, when the E-body was used, but I see lots of people mentioning having Barracudas rather than 'genuine 'Cudas'.

What was the difference, and how do you tell a real 'Cuda from a clone? I've seen no E-bodies so far with 'Barracuda' written on them, only 'Cuda!

Thanks!

[dutch]

there was the barracuda,  barracuda gran    coupe and the `cuda.   you can always recocnize the `cuda by the vin... it starts with BS.  the `cuda was the high perf. barracuda and came with the 383 bb as standard equipment.   
as for the rest, you can find all info on the subject here;

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/index.shtml

[torredcuda]

Gran coupe   
You don`t see many Barracudas b/c most are cloned into looking like`cudas.

[DavidSL]

You could get the '71 Cuda with a 340 Magnum, right? I've seen so many 71 Cudas with 340s in?

[Moparal]

My 70 barracuda says barracuda on the fender emblems and tail panel. It is a BH vin code

[hebeegbz]

The first mention of a cuda was around 67 or 68 by drag racers pertaining to either the hurst hemi under glass and again the hurst 68 cudas . Plymouth picked it up later what this would mean is any race car or hot rod barracuda would qualify as a cuda the rest is just BS. 

[426HEMI]

Vin and some options were the only difference with trim being different also.  Cuda did not come out till 1970 as an option with a BS vin.  The others have a BH vin and trim being the main differences.  Most all things could be put on a Barracuda when ordered from the dealer.  I was there at dealers and saw this.  Some things were added at the dealership also and it was considered factory by most people at that time.      

[cudadave72]

`cuda by the vin... it starts with BS.  the `cuda was the high perf. barracuda and came with the 383 bb as standard equipment.   

Lets not forget about out "round tail light" friends from 72-74. The 340 was highest choice in 1972 and was offered through mid 1973 when it was replaced by the 360. In each of those years the 'Cuda could be ordered with the 318. Not as mighty at the 70/71 but still a very capable performer with a stouter suspension than the base Barracuda.

[hemiken]

Officially the 'Cuda name tag was fitted on the 69 Barracuda from factory as the official start of the 'Cuda line

[torredcuda]

Officially the 'Cuda name tag was fitted on the 69 Barracuda from factory as the official start of the 'Cuda line

Yup

[DavidSL]

Great, loads of info, thanks guys!

What I have learnt is that the '71 Cuda with 340 engine was an option, apparently the 340 wasn't an option with the Barracuda (BH) models. That clears up that question. I saw a numbers matching (BS) Cuda with a 340 engine, and when someone told me only Barracudas were available with 340s and not Cudas, it threw me.

[Topcat]

The first mention of a cuda was around 67 or 68 by drag racers pertaining to either the hurst hemi under glass and again the hurst 68 cudas . Plymouth picked it up later what this would mean is any race car or hot rod barracuda would qualify as a cuda the rest is just BS. 

That could be true but I do recall reading an article in a Mopar mag years ago that the name Cuda was born on Woodward Ave. That 2 of the Plymouth engineers took out a 69 Barracuda on the streets packed with a 440 in it to see how it would do against the Ford's and Chevies. The crowd on the streets nick-named it Cuda. The next year the new model took on the name.

In any case however the name came to be...

[cudazappa]

That could be true but I do recall reading an article in a Mopar mag years ago that the name Cuda was born on Woodward Ave. That 2 of the Plymouth engineers took out a 69 Barracuda on the streets packed with a 440 in it to see how it would do against the Ford's and Chevies. The crowd on the streets nick-named it Cuda. The next year the new model took on the name.

In any case however the name came to be...

There's literature that calls Barracuda's 'cudas as far back as '65.  I gave it all away when I sold my 64.... There's even an add from ~66 about the Ba ba ra ra cu cu da da...  In 69 you could order a 'cuda (340, 383 or the mid year intro of the 440).  Of course, the separate VIN started in 70

[EB3-GranCoupe]

correct me if i am wring, but i don't believe there were any BH (Barracuda) cars with the H code in 7 or 71.

HOWEVER,
in 72 there were:
H - 3pd 25
H - 4spd 127
H - Auto 338

1973:
H - 3spd 289
H - 4spd 1718
H - Auto 4576

i don't know if there were any L code 360's for the BH Vin in 1974.  anyone?

[DavidSL]

correct me if i am wring, but i don't believe there were any BH (Barracuda) cars with the H code in 7 or 71.

HOWEVER,
in 72 there were:
H - 3pd 25
H - 4spd 127
H - Auto 338

1973:
H - 3spd 289
H - 4spd 1718
H - Auto 4576

i don't know if there were any L code 360's for the BH Vin in 1974.  anyone?

This is what confuses me most. Before I came to this site I hadn't seen any 70 onwards Cudas with 'Barracuda' written on them. But then the other day I saw a car with 'Barracuda' written on the back and 'Cuda' on the side. The owner called it a 'Cuda' but it had both written on it. It was a 1970 model.

Every search I've done indicates that 'Cuda was simply what the cars were called from 1970 onwards rather than a performance option, but I've been given different answers by everyone I've asked. I know that BS codes indicate a Plymouth 'Cuda, but I'm not sure about BH or BP codes from 1970-71.

EDIT: This site: http://www.lov2xlr8.no/broch1.html - posted here by member djr71, covers all the answers. So the Barracuda was available, and the Cuda was technically the sports model. The 340 was ONLY available in the 'Cuda, not the Barracuda or Gran Coupe. That answers my query!