1970 Plymouth Hemi Cuda

A variety of 6- and 8-cylinder engines powered the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda, but the big dog of the bunch was armed with the dual-carburetor, 426-cubic-inch Hemi that whipped up 425 horsepower. The Hemi ‘Cuda could certainly go toe to toe with the era’s top-tier muscle cars, as the carmaker gave its muscle cars a suspension tailored to heavy-metal acceleration, according to HowStuffWorks.com.

The Barracuda originally was based on the Valiant. But with a 1970 redesign, the Barracuda finally shifted away from the Valiant’s design. Plymouth produced a limited number of the Hemi ‘Cudas, which are highly prized today.

Opting for the Hemi V-8 engine boosted the purchase price. A shaker hood, featuring an air intake mounted on top of the engine’s air cleaner that protrudes through a hole in the hood, was standard on the Hemi ‘Cuda.