Cars

Plymouth AAR 'Cuda

Muscle

America

As mentioned in a previous article, the Plymouth Barracuda (high performance models had their badges shortened to “‘Cuda”) was launched in 1970 alongside the Dodge Challenger as “pony cars”, compact muscle cars slotting into the niche below full-size muscle cars such as the Dodge Charger and Plymouth Road Runner. The ‘Cuda came, as pony cars did, with a bewildering array of engines, from relatively small straight-sixes up to the fearsome Hemi V8 putting out over 400bhp.

The AAR Cuda was a specialist model, a homologation special made to compete in road racing. That is, not ovals (which were dominated by Chargers and Road Runners), but circuits that tested cornering. The AAR was named after racing legend Dan Gurney’s All-American Racers team, and Gurney drove the car in the 1970 championship.

With a body shell lightened by acid-dipping, a 340 Cubic Inch V8 with a “six-pack” (three two-barrel carburettors), and aerodynamic improvements, the street AARs are collector’s items. GRID features the race car – further lightened, and with its distinctive “rainbow” paintjob, it can hold its own against some of the more modern machinery it finds itself placed up against, and exudes style and presence. And of course, it sounds fantastic.