Performance Review: Plymouth Barracuda 440 - [1970]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Plymouth Barracuda Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Plymouth Barracuda 440 is the 3 speed / Auto version and was first brought out in 1970. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1970 Monteverdi Hai 450 SS and the 1970 Iso Grifo Can-Am 7.4 V8.This particular Plymouth Barracuda has a 7206cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 8 cylinders in a V formation.

Alternative Petrol V8's includes the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170

The Barracuda shares its Petrol V8 engine configuration with the likes of the 2023 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 170 and the 2023 Ferrari SF 90 XX Spider 4.0 V8 Turbo. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Barracuda's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1597 kgs (3520 lbs) this makes the Plymouth Barracuda 440 in the same weight category as the 2021 Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Roadster 6.5 V12 or the give or take 50kg.

The Plymouth Barracuda shares the same bhp with the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp)

In terms of power the 7206cc 16V V8 engine produces 390 bhp (290 kW) @ 4700 rpm similar to the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (369 bhp) or the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged Auto (395 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated V8 throws out 490 lb-ft (664.3 Nm) @ 3200 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2024 Chevrolet Corvette E-Ray 6.2 V8 Petrol Hybrid C8 (470 lb-ft) or the 2023 BMW 3 Series M3 CS 3.0 Twin Turbo G80 (479 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Plymouth Barracuda you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2008 Alfa-Romeo 8C Competitzione Spider (269.0 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Plymouth Barracuda.

The Plymouth Barracuda has a Power to weight ratio of 244.2 bhp per ton and 306.8 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1970 Barracuda competing with the 2008 Alfa-Romeo 8C Competitzione Spider (269.0 bhp per ton) or the 1993 TVR Chimaera 4.5 (268.8 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Plymouth Barracuda generating around 306.8 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2021 Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Roadster 6.5 V12 (331.8 lb-ft per ton) or the 1992 Bugatti EB110 SuperSport (331.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.60 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.8 secs, this made the Plymouth Barracuda 440 as fast as the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T (5.60 secs) the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T AWD (5.60 secs) the 2020 Maserati Ghibli GranSport Petrol Hybrid (5.60 secs) the or the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range (5.60 secs). This Plymouth Barracuda 440 is also faster than the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (5.70 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Wagon (5.70 secs) the 2016 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi 2.0 Turbo Clubsport (5.70 secs) the and the 2014 Abarth 695 Biposto 1.4 Turbo (5.70 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Barracuda and the 2019 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi TCR 2.0 Turbo

When talking about the performance of the Plymouth Barracuda on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 13.22 secs @ 103.5 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2019 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi TCR 2.0 Turbo (13.16 secs), the 1968 Ford XL XL Fastback 427 (13.17 secs), and the 2004 Lotus Exige S2 1.8 (13.19 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1970 version of the Plymouth Barracuda 440 has a maximum speed of 118mph.

Top Speed of the 1970 Barracuda equals the 2022 Toyota Corolla GR 1.6 Turbo (129 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda 440 then how about the 2022 Toyota Corolla GR 1.6 Turbo (129 mph), the 2019 Land-Rover Defender 110 3.0 Turbo (129 mph), or the 2009 Ford Fiesta ST185 (129 mph).

Related Links:

1970 Barracuda Rivals List.

A Brief History of Plymouth

Car Comparison