Tech & Auto
The 5 Most Overlooked Classic Plymouth Muscle Cars
By JASON PARKER
1964 Barracuda
While many remember later iterations of the Plymouth Barracuda, people forget that the original 1964 model was a sight to behold.
Built on the Valiant’s chassis and bringing a 273-cubic-inch V8 engine, what truly made the ’64 Barracuda unique was its fastback styling and enormous wrap-around rear window.
1965 Valiant
The 1965 Plymouth Valiant may have been more of an economy car aimed at average drivers, but it could also pack a punch with the proper configuration.
Although the Valiant would never be named a peak muscle car, it had the option for a 235 horsepower 273 cubic inch V8 engine that was much more affordable than others.
1971 Duster
A lesser-known Plymouth model, the 1971 Duster had a 340 cubic inch V8 engine that could produce nearly 300 horsepower and cost less than other muscle cars.
The Duster was in production from 1970 to 1976, but it lost much of its power due to new emissions standards and the auto industry-wide move towards unleaded gasoline after 1972.
1971 GTX
The 1971 Plymouth GTX had different configurations, with its 370 horsepower 440 cubic inch V8 engine being its peak option in terms of power.
Although there was a shift toward eco-friendly emission standards, the 1971 GTX seemingly went all out on the specs before the new regulations took place.
1970 AAR Cuda
Plymouth only built the AAR Cuda for one year, as the company wanted to try its hand at the racetrack against other performance cars.
The racing version needed to be more agile, but it still sported a 440-horsepower 305-inch V8. However, the most powerful version featured the iconic 455-horsepower 426 Hemi V8.