1970 Plymouth AAR Barracuda - 340

Probably everybody that cares about sweet classic muscle cars has seen the picture of the cute, sexy blonde with the mini skirt and go-go boots that were typical attire of the girls of my youth. If you looked really closely at that picture, her fine butt was propped against the fender of a bad ass ride, also from the days of my youth.

It was the 1970 Plymouth AAR ‘Cuda.

A special 'Cuda derivative for 1970 was the race-themed AAR. This car, much like Dodge's Challenger T/A, and was a tribute to Dan Gurney's ‘All American Racers’ Trans-Am racing team. The AAR 'Cuda was produced to race in the SCAA road racing and to compete with the Ford Mustang.
Only 2,724 AAR 'Cudas were built in 1970 at the Hamtramck, Michigan, plant. The AAR Cuda was ONLY produced between March 10th and April 17th, 1970. Production of the AAR began on March 10 and continued until April 17. There was however the pilot car that was produced February 3rd. The powerhouse was a 340-cu.in. V-8 topped with three 2-bbl. Holley carburetors, and it made 290 hp when mated to the A-833 four-speed manual or the A727 three-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission. There were 1,120 produced with the A-833 manual 4-speed transmissions, and the remaining 1,614 had the A727 TorqueFlite automatic 3-speed transmissions.
AAR Cuda's featured staggered front and rear tires, a black grille with a matching, functional, NACA-ducted flat black hood and fender tops, distinctive "strobe" side stripes that incorporated the tri-color AAR shield logo and a special “ducktail” trunk lid spoiler. The exclusive AAR engine was a side-exhausted, the AAR's exhaust came out near the back wheels, the rear of the 'Cuda was raised nearly two inches to allow for the side-exit exhaust.
The AAR had special stocks and rolled on Goodyear Polyglas GT 60 15-inch tires in the rear and E60 15-inch tires in the front. This gave the 1970 AAR 'Cuda the distinction of being the first Detroit production car with staggered wheel-sizes.

1970 AAR 'Cuda Specifications:
• Engine Type: V-8
• Construction: Cast-iron block and heads
• Displacement: 340 cubic-inches
• Bore and Stroke: 4.04 inches x 3.31 inches
• Compression Ratio: 10.5:1
• Induction System: Triple two-barrel Holley carburetors; Edelbrock intake
• Max Power: 290 hp at 5,000 rpm
• Max Torque: 350 lb-ft at 2,800 rpm
• Transmission: three-speed automatic; optional four-speed manual
• Rear axle: 3.55:1; optional 3.91:1
• Body/Frame: Unitized two-door coupe
• Brakes: Disc (Front); Drums (Rear)
• Wheels: Pressed steel, 7 x 15 inches
• Tires: Goodyear Polyglas GT E60 x 15-inch (Front); G60 x 15-inch (Rear)