Differences in 70-74 cudas

[gafletch]

What are the differences in model years of the 70-71 and 72-74's? (besides grills).

[4Cruizn]

70 and 71 differences on the exterior include the grill as you stated, tail lights are different, header panels, headlight mounting as 71 has 4 and the lower valance is different.  AAR's have some difference as well . . .  Interiors for the 70 model have some unique options also as the console is different, rallye dash is unique, speedo is different for the 70 model and some of the dash pieces are also different. 

72 -74 . . . These years had a grill change as well, no more big blocks, 72 had different bumper setups, 73 added rubber bumper guards and a spacer between the bumper and the car, 74 is a lot like the 73 model except the seat belts were on a hanger in 74 and the engine size was a 318 or 360  . ...  No more 340. 

I'm sure there is more but this is a start.

[Chryco Psycho]

Why they did not use the flush sidelights for the entire production run never made sense to me , they had the molds , but in a cost cutting measure they decided to use a 1 part fits all cars side light unfortunatly .
 Between the 70 & 71-74 models almost every part was modified in some way , everything from window felts , seatbelts , mirrors , console , gauges , it is a very long list !! 
 The 73-74 car became much heavier , my 70 440 Chall R/T SE weighed 3550 lbs , my 74 340 Chall weighed 3780 After I had removed all the extra bumper re-inforcement pieces & moved the bumpers in flush . at least disc brakes became std !

[Jamiez]

All the 74 bumper set up got reinforced with different brackets which means they don't directly swap between a 73, the guards will interchange

73-74 use a different fuel tank set up with a vapor separator/charcoal canister

74 has a unique air cleaner

74 has a radiator fluid overflow tank

74 has a seat belt interlock that prevents starting the car if there is weight in either front seat and the matching belt isn't fastened

74 interior rear quarter panels have a slot for the belt retractor

72+ use a different jack than 70/71.  The 72 jack uses a slot in the bumper so it's important to match the jack/bumper (a lot of people switch the 73/74 bumpers with earlier years for the look).

[gafletch]

  You guys ROCK! So bottom line as far as appearance goes is rhat they pretty much look alike, at least generally.
Thanks for the edumacation! Flash.   

[EB3-GranCoupe]

One thing i discovered is that '70 quarter glass is unique to that year.  it seems that almost everything got tweaked or re-engineered for '71.

[Jamiez]

Depends on what you mean by "Look alike"
The 71 could have gills in the front fender that no other year had.
Either the 70 or the 71 (or both)? had an M46 option which added scoops to the body work.
The 70, 71, and 72+ grills look nothing the same
The paint options were different in each year (later years lost the High Impact colors but picked up a few unique colors).
The interior is different with the earlier years offering options like Burnt Orange, Red, etc which were dropped in later years
The 70/71(?) seats had a back panel that was dropped in the 72 style seats.
The 70 had a unique hood option (AAR fiberglass)
70 and 71 had the Shaker hood option which was dropped in 72
The stripe options vary by year, with 71 having billboards and 70 having hockey sticks.
There were some exclusive (Grand Coupe) badging options that didn't make it to 72.

[EB3-GranCoupe]

Rocker moldings are unique to '70 as well.  Only the Gran Coupe rocker moldings transferred over to 1971, but i think even they got some change from 1970.

['Cuda Hunter]

M 46 scoops were a 70 barracuda model only option.

I have only seen the gran coupe rocker moldings on the 70 GC.  So they did not transfer to 71 either.

[EB3-GranCoupe]

1971 Gran Coupe......

It is hard to find a really good shot of the rocker, but most of these look a lot wider than the 71-74 'cuda rocker trim.  I just can't tell if they are different than the 1970 style.

not the best examples, but a start:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/splattergraphics/6298577419/#

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/classic-car/1971-Plymouth-Barracuda-492522.xhtml

[EB3-GranCoupe]

Here is the 1971 brochure:

http://www.stockmopar.com/plymouth-barracuda/1971-brochure/7.html

if you look real close at the rear wheel well, you can kinda make out the rib ends.  Still need a good clear pic.

[dodj]

as far as appearance goes is rhat they pretty much look alike, at least generally.

Yup, pretty much. And what one looks best is pretty much all over the map. Up to the individual I guess.
For Challengers, I like the the '70, then the '72-74, then the '71's
For 'Cudas, I like the '71, then the '72-'74, then the '70
Grille and tail lights being the only BIG standout difference, to me. You could probably list a thousand differences if you really wanted to.

[AARuFAST]

Convertibles only 70-71.
Gran Coupe convertible one year only 1970.
Marker lights were changed for safety reason like the large rubber bumper guards.
Emissions added.

[72bluNblu]

1971 Gran Coupe......

It is hard to find a really good shot of the rocker, but most of these look a lot wider than the 71-74 'cuda rocker trim.  I just can't tell if they are different than the 1970 style.

not the best examples, but a start:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/splattergraphics/6298577419/#

http://www.autotraderclassics.com/classic-car/1971-Plymouth-Barracuda-492522.xhtml

Hopefully this isn't totally hijacking the post, but I was told these were rocker moldings from a '71 Gran Coupe. I bought them as part of a "lot" of parts that a guy wouldn't break up, I wanted a couple of things but had to buy it all.

Can anyone confirm if these are '71 Gran Coupe rocker moldings?

[Topcat]

Hopefully this isn't totally hijacking the post, but I was told these were rocker moldings from a '71 Gran Coupe. I bought them as part of a "lot" of parts that a guy wouldn't break up, I wanted a couple of things but had to buy it all.

Can anyone confirm if these are '71 Gran Coupe rocker moldings?



Yes, those are 71's. I recall them on mine.
Parents bought the car 1 year old and those were on the car.