The Story

Imagine this beauty rolling off the Chrysler Los Angeles assembly line on September 9, 1969, wearing Hemi Orange paint and white vinyl bench seat interior, a factory big block car built to move. The fender tag confirms the factory spec: a numbers-matching 383ci two-barrel backed by a heavy-duty automatic. For anyone wanting more power, the suspension and chassis are already sorted for a 440 swap straight from the factory. The last registration tag is from 1984, suggesting it's been off the road for 42 years. Mopar1.us reports that only 722 Barracuda Coupe/HT came with a 383-2bbl and automatic.

Some collectors buy one car at a time. Fifteen years ago, the seller bought five E-bodies at once out of the Southern California high desert. This 1970 Barracuda is one of them, and its sale will help fund the crown jewel of the collection, a 340 four-speed 'Cuda restoration that's been waiting its turn.

The seller holds a clean California title. This is a reserve auction.

What You Get

Drivetrain & Chassis: The factory engine is a numbers-matching 383ci two-barrel rated at 290hp. The 383 moves by hand and shows no signs of being frozen. The transmission is believed to be the original heavy-duty automatic, though this is unconfirmed. The rear axle is an 8.75-inch unit, though whether it is a Positraction or open differential is unconfirmed. Modified dual exhaust is present which runs through side pipes. As a big block factory car, the suspension is already spec'd for heavier powerplants, making a 440 or larger swap a natural progression. An original type fan blade is included.

Body & Exterior: The car presents as a solid high desert survivor with some body and trunk rust. The front shroud, bumper brackets, and turn signals are present. Both fenders are on the car with repairable dents in the fronts. The doors are in good condition. All glass is present and in usable condition. The drip rail moldings are on the car. The valance is the original non-Cuda style without exhaust cutouts. The VIN sticker is present on the door and matches the dash VIN.

Interior & Floors: The interior is largely intact and correct for the car. The split bench buddy seat frames and back seat structures are present and will need recovering. The dash carries the non-rally gauge cluster. The column shift and full steering column are in place. The glove box door, latch, and lock are present. Window regulators are in the doors. The heater box is intact. The foot-operated windshield washer pump is present — an unusual but correct factory feature for this car. The AM radio is missing but the dash cutout is uncut. No headliner is present and the headliner bows are incomplete. The interior floors are solid with topside surface pitting and no rust holes.

What You Need

Drivetrain & Chassis: The 383 will need a full assessment - carburetor, fuel pump, and a general inspection to determine whether a full rebuild is needed or if it will run with basic cleaning and freshening. The transmission condition is unknown and should be inspected once the engine is running. The 8.75-inch rear is an unconfirmed open or Posi differential. The entire braking system needs evaluation. All chassis components need inspection and replacement of worn parts.

Body & Exterior: The driver side quarter needs a patch repair in the lower rear area. The passenger side quarter requires a large patch on the rear half or full replacement panel. Rust is present around the sides of the rear window and along the top front center edge of the windshield frame. Both front fenders have dents that will need repair. The front valance needs replacement. The rear valance is the original non-Cuda style and aftermarket replacements with the correct non-cutout style are not currently available through the major suppliers. The valence could possibly be saved with some body work. The header panel and grille need to be sourced.

Interior & Floors: The seat upholstery, door panels, headliner, and carpet will need full replacement. The headliner bows are missing and will need to be sourced. Depending on the level of restoration, the floors are solid and can be cleaned up and sealed for a driver quality build or replaced if a higher level restoration is desired. The dash is cracked and should be replaced. The trunk floor requires replacement. The trunk extensions are in acceptable condition and are the buyer's choice to replace along with the floor.