1970 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA
FISH TALE
Funny Car Driver and Clutch Master Paul Lee Builds the Car of his Dreams
BY BOB RYDER
PHOTOS BY THE AUTHOR
The 1970 Plymouth Barracuda was a third generation E-body and was definitely an epic player of the early muscle car era. It was the cousin to the Dodge Challenger and shared the same platform. The Cuda rolled with a 108-inch wheelbase. The body was 189.5-inches from bumperto-bumper and it was 2-inches shorter than the Challenger.
In keeping with the practice in this era, the Cuda was offered with many engine packages: a 225 slant six that put out 145 horsepower; a 318 V8 with 230 horsepower; a 340 V8 that produced 275 horsepower; 340+6 V8 with 290 horsepower; and a 383 V8 with 335 horsepower. The three optional engines were the Hemi 426 at 425 horsepower, the 440-4V Magnum at 375 horsepower, and the Hemi 440 Six-Pack with three twobarrel carbs at 390 horsepower. A stout four-speed floor shift manual transmission or a bulletproof threespeed Torque-Flite 727 automatic transmission were offered. A Dana 60 rear end was responsible for getting the torque and horsepower to the rear wheels. The various Cuda power plants were covered by three-hood styles; a standard “Flat” hood, an optional “Shaker” hood, and a “Power Bulge” hood that featured dual air scoops.
THAT NIGHT HE SAW THE LEGENDARY “JUNGLE JIM” LIBERMAN IN HIS CAMARO FUNNY CAR DO A F U L L ¼-MILE BURNOUT, THEN BACK UP, STAGE AND BLOW THE DOORS OFF THE GUY IN THE OTHER LANE. FROM THAT MOMENT, PAUL WAS HOOKED ON STRAIGHT-LINE DRAG RACING.