Original vintage early 1970s Plymouth Hemi with "Shaker" hood advertisement for the company's legendary Barracuda automobile.
 
Dimensions: Roughly 10 inches wide by 13.25 inches high.
 
The Plymouth Barracuda is a two-door pony car that was manufactured by Chrysler Corporation from 1964 through 1974 model years.
 
The third generation, featured in the advert here and offered by Plymouth from 1970 until 1974, was based on the Chrysler E-body, exclusive to it, and the slightly larger Dodge Challenger.  A completely new design, the two-door Barracuda was available in hardtop and convertible body styles.
 
The all-new 1970 Barracuda was styled by John E. Herlitz and the redesign was offered only in coupe and convertible models.  Though sharing its platform with the newly launched Dodge Challenger, no exterior sheet-metal was shared between the two.  The Challenger's 110-inch (2.79 m) wheelbase was 2 inches (5.1 cm) longer than the Barracuda's, and its body 5 inches (12.7 cm) longer.
 
The 'Cuda model had the 383 335 hp (250 kW) SAE gross (same as Dodge's 383 Magnum) as the standard engine. Options included the 340 cu in (5.6 L), 290 hp (220 kW) AAR "Six Barrel", with triple 2-barrel carburetors, a 440 cu in (7.2 L) four-barrel 375 hp (280 kW) Super Commando, the 440 Six Barrel with triple 2-barrel carburetors with a gross rating of 390 hp (290 kW), and the 425 hp (317 kW) 426 cu in (7.0 L) Hemi.  The 440- and Hemi-equipped cars received upgraded suspension components and structural reinforcements to help transfer the power to the road.
 
Other Barracuda options included decal sets, hood modifications, and some unusual "high impact" colors such as "Lime Light", "Bahama Yellow", "Tor Red", "Lemon Twist", "Curious Yellow", "Vitamin C", "In-Violet", "Sassy Grass" and "Moulin Rouge.”
 
Swede Savage and Dan Gurney raced identical factory-sponsored AAR (All American Racers) 'Cudas in the 1970 Trans-Am Series.  The cars qualified for three pole positions but did not win any Trans-Am races; the highest finish was second at Road America. Four 1970 Hemi 'Cudas were also successfully raced by Chrysler France, from 1970 until 1973. The works team director Henrí Chemin piloted the first car, and then sold it on to friend and privateer J. F. Mas who went on to race it for another two years.  This Hemi 'Cuda won four French Group 1 class championships, three on track and one in hill climbing.
 
The Barracuda was changed slightly for 1971, with a new grille and taillights, seat, and trim differences. This would be the only year that the Barracuda would have four headlights (which the Challenger had for all five years of their concurrent run), and also the only year of the fender "gills" on the 'Cuda model.  Only 1970 'Cuda models received a "hockey stick" stripe with an engine call out within it, whereas 1971 'Cudas were the only year that had the full side "Billboard" decal with the engine call out inside of the billboard decal.
 
 
A 1975 Barracuda had been planned before the end of the 1970-74 model cycle. Plymouth engineers sculpted two separate concepts out of clay, both featuring a Superbird-inspired aerodynamic body, and eventually reached a consensus upon which an operational concept car could be built.  Due to a rapidly changing automotive market due to the energy crisis, the concepts were scrapped and the Barracuda was not put into production for 1975.  However, the Barracuda was discontinued after 1974, a victim of the 1973 Energy Crisis.
 
The Barracuda (particularly the 1970–1974 E-Body cars) is a collectible car today, with high-performance versions and convertibles commanding the highest prices.  The small number of Barracudas remaining in existence is the result of low buyer interest (and low production/sales) when the vehicles were new.  The remaining cars of any condition are rare, and the outstanding examples fetch high appraisal values today.  Original Hemi super stock Barracudas (and similarly configured Dodge Darts) are now prized collector vehicles, with factory (unaltered) cars commanding high prices.
 
The 1971 Hemi 'Cuda convertible is now considered one of the most valuable collectible muscle cars. Only thirteen were built, seven of which were sold domestically. The most recent public sale was at the June 2014 Mecum auction in Seattle, where a blue-on-blue 4-speed sold for US$3.5 million.