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1970 Plymouth Barracuda Gran Coupe: The Luxury ’Cuda
In this day and age, you would search a long time before finding a classic-car nut who hasn’t heard of the 1970–74 Plymouth Barracuda. But most of those folks will be thinking of the high-octane versions such as the ‘Cuda and AAR ‘Cuda versions—just like most folks won’t think of the Camaro Type LT, Pontiac Firebird Esprit, or Dodge Challenger Special Edition. But they existed, as luxury versions of the pony cars that were so popular in the early ’70s. And so it was over at Chrysler-Plymouth, with the Barracuda Gran Coupe.
There had already been more luxurious pony cars, probably starting in 1969 with the Ford Mustang Grande. As was the custom at the time, upgrades usually included nicer upholstery and door panels, simulated woodgrain on the door panels and dashboard, and a vinyl roof.
For 1970, the Barracuda was all-new. For the first time, a fastback model was no longer available, with just a two-door hardtop coupe and convertible offered. The choice was kind of interesting, since the Barracuda began life as a fastback only in 1964, when it was essentially a Valiant with a special roofline and “fish tank” wraparound rear window.
Plymouth’s marketeers were very excited about the Gran Coupe, judging from the prose it received in the ’70 Barracuda sales brochure. As it related, “We give partial credit for the newness of the new Barracuda Gran Coupe to the Grand Touring cars.”
The brochure continued: “Which are elegant, extraordinary automobiles with leather seats, wire wheels, long hoods and short decks, enormous brakes, coachmaker crests, etc.
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“Best of all, these cars are personal and completely individual. That’s what a Barracuda Gran Coupe is all about.”
The Gran Coupe came in two versions: the two-door hardtop, which cost $2934 with the base 225-cubic-inch inline-six and $3035 with the base 318-cubic-inch V-8, and $3160 or $3260 for the convertible, depending on whether you wanted the six or the V-8. Yes, despite the name, you could get a Gran Coupe convertible!
Extras included leather bucket seats (which appear to be a different style in our featured car, compared to the brochure), a molded headliner, a nifty overhead console with warning lights (I am embarrassed to say I forgot to get a photo of this feature on our featured car), exterior Gran Coupe crests on the front fenders and rear panel, and more.
Fortunately, the weekend before I started this column, I saw another Gran Coupe at a car show in downtown Port Byron, Illinois, and had the presence of mind to get a picture of the overhead console.
The overhead console was shared with the Challenger’s luxury version as well, the Special Edition. It’s a common feature on many cars these days, but it was pretty distinctive back in 1970!
After 1970 Barracuda sales were tallied, a total of 8183 Gran Coupe, er, coupes and 596 Gran Coupe convertibles were built. (Those figures may explain why you may have never seen one.) For comparison’s sake, a base Barracuda coupe was $2764 with the six and $2865 with the base V-8. The sporting ‘Cuda coupe had an MSRP of $3164.
Despite the à la carte method of ordering Detroit cars back in 1970, you could not, apparently, get the 440 or 426 Hemi V-8 in the Gran Coupe, at least from what I could glean from my books and ’70 brochures. But you could get one of a pair of 383-cubic-inch V-8s in your Gran Coupe, a two-barrel version with 290 hp and a 330 four-barrel variant.
The Gran Coupe returned for 1971, albeit only as a two-door hardtop, with a base price of $3029. Like all ’71 Barracudas, it got a facelift with a new, segmented grill, quad headlights, revised taillights, and other minor changes.
As in 1970, the Gran Coupe got its own two-page spread in the Barracuda brochure: “What coming through in the sport/luxury manner is all about. Rich leather-and-vinyl buckets and overhead consolette with warning lights, and thick carpeting.
“Automatic transmission, and color-keyed bumpers optional. It’s America’s Gran Touring car, Gran Coupe.” However, only 1615 were built for the year, and the model did not return for the 1972 model year.
Today’s gorgeous example was seen at the 2023 Des Moines Concours d’Elegance, a great event that always attracts many interesting cars. I attended with my friend Jayson Coombes, and this car was one of the first we really gawked at upon arriving. The color is Deep Burnt Orange Metallic, with a matching burnt orange interior. This is my favorite color combo on the 1970 Barracudas and Challengers—it’s just so ’70s.
At this concours, the cars are somewhat separated from the spectators from the front, but you can go around back to the sidewalk, so cars can be seen from both sides. Jayson and I were getting a little closer to this one because of its wonderful condition and color combination.
Sometimes this results in the volunteers being a little persnickety (I should probably get press credentials this year!), but in this case the owner was very cordial and said it was fine to walk right up to the car.
He was even kind enough to open the passenger door and pop the hood so we could see it up close. He was very nice, and we were very happy with his generosity. Isn’t that what the classic car hobby is all about?
The car is still owned by Mr. Cox, who bought it new! It is an unrestored car and was ordered by him on November 19, 1969. It had only 46,000 miles on it at the time. A beautiful example of a rare variant of the ’70 Barracuda! It was so pretty.
Holy cow! I’ve rarely seen Gran Coupes, but a four-speed pistol grip? A true unicorn.
My sentiments exactly. My eyes bulged out when I saw the third pedal. And let’s not forget the 383!
I nearly purchased a 1970 Barracuda Grand Coupe Convertible back in 1976. It was a 318 model, problem was it had all the indications of being a “Mud Bucket” so I passed. Keep in mind, these were just old cars back then. They weren’t collector’s vehicles at that time.
Great find(s), Thomas and Jayson – I didn’t know these models existed, and if I was of driving age then (I was 6), this is the model I would have bought! 383 with torque-flite. Congratulations to Mr. Cox for ordering and owning this gorgeous example since new.
Didn’t Mike Brady have a Gran Coupe on some episodes of the Brady Bunch TV show during the ’69-’70 season?
He had a 2 door Plymouth Fury. Same make – Plymouth – but larger and different lines.
Mike Brady drove a 1968 Dodge Polara convertible in the pilot; a 1969 Plymouth Fury III in years one and two; a 1971 Plymouth Barracuda convertible in year three; a 1972 Plymouth Barracuda convertible in year four (actually, a modified 1971 model) and a 1972 Chevrolet Caprice Convertible that same season.
I Love my Plymouth Muscle Cars! I have a 1972 Plymouth Roadrunner 400cid with the Rally Tach Gauges fully Instrumented with 727 Slap Stik Console! 4:10 83/4 742 Rear end! Man, this Roadrunner Runs, and it’s all Original Ordered Drivetrain and Equipment Strobe Over the Roof Stripe Black, the Car is Rally Red w/Power Steering/Front Disc Brakes! I love “The Fuselage Long Hood and Short Trunk Deck”! It’s Chrysler/Plymouth Design that very Aerodynamic and Futuristic looking! The Early 1970-1972 Plymouth Roadrunners and Plymouth Cuda’s were Ahead of Their Time in Engineering, Design, Aerodynamics, and Performance! The Aggressive Looking Fuselage Look with the long Front Cap and short Rear let you know these Chrysler Plymouth Mopars were Made For Racing! As a matter fact, They were the B-Body Plymouth Roadrunner Was Engineered and Designed to be the Second Generation Winged Car For 200 Plus MPH for NASCAR and NHRA and Track Racing as well as Super Street Cars! So was The Plymouth AAR Cudas’!
My dad had a 70 Gran Coupe 318 version. Pretty lightly optioned it sat on the dealers lot from mid 1970 till the spring of 71.( Court order) . He got it I believe May of 71 and kept it till 1978 , traded it in . I had a lot of fun driving it as a high school teen . A mechanic at the dealership bought it the day he traded it in. As far as I know it never saw the road again, went into a garage 20 miles away and sat.
Thanks guys. Nicely done.
WOW.. In June 1970 I bought a dealer demo 5k mile 70 Gran Coupe that hit the dealer’s lot in Sept of 69… Red with white vinyl top… 2 ring whitewalls on same rallye wheels… red mirrors and red elastomeric rear bumper. Chrome front bumper. Interior black and white insert houndstooth buckets… no console… just a carpeted drive tunnel. 318 column auto… A/C… a normal hood without the boy racer pins. It had the same straked rocker panel trims. it was VERY sharp in our little town.
Drove it for real in Ohio and Michigan winters for 120k more miles. By then it had gotten new front fenders but the rear was rusting out…. the body was loose on the rear spring mounts… The last night I owned it in 79 I took it out and it still did 115…. but the body was l o o s e !!!! Loved that car….
Yeah that car is gorgeous. Love the color outside and that interior looks great.
Great article about a little-known segment of the muscle car era – the luxury models.
I owned a 1970 Challenger SE model in High School and College with the 318 V8 and A/C. Challenger SE’s had the additional feature of a standard vinyl top, which had a special, tiny rear window. Was hard to see out of.
I would suggest that luxury muscle cars started earlier, with the 1967 Cougar XR7.
I think you left out that you could order one with the 340 barrel
That’s 340 4-barrel. It wouldn’t let me correct the spelling.
And that is the engine I would have chosen; it was a giant-killer.
Ahhh, I had a 70 Dodge Dart Swingers with the scat pack, 340 with 4 on the floor. It was capable, but Giant killer, not so much! Had a friend with a 70 Torino with a 351C. We were about equal. YMMV…
I think these were ment to compete with the Ford Mustang Ghia coupe, a pimped out Mustang hardtop.
It is interesting that Plymouth offered the Gran Coupe package on convertibles, yet Dodge’s equivalent upscale trim package, SE, wasn’t offered on Challenger convertibles.
The SE emblems were on the C pillars, the Gran Coupes were on the fenders. Was the emblem location the main reason no SE convertibles?
I have a Challenger convertible in the same color combo as this Barracuda. Much of the SE exterior trim pieces could be ordered as separate options, and mine has them, along with a lot of other power options like power windows and AC. Seems like someone was trying to order a Challenger SE convertible when speccing out the option sheet on my car.
I owned a 1970 Plymouth Sport Satellite which shared many of the characteristics of your Grande Coupe. Kind of a unicorn of sorts, as it had elements of a Road Runner, base Satellite, and GTX, along with the white vinyl top, wood grain on the dash and door panels, and beautiful white bucket seats. Factory FM radio and AC rounded out what was a beautiful car (also burnt orange exterior). Sadly the car rotted away but the memory lingers forever.
I had one of the 596 Gran Coupe convertibles. Burnt orange exterior and interior with white convertible top (manual). Automatic with a 318 2-barrel. Also optioned with air conditioning. Build sheet found behind heater core during a replacement in 1992.
Car was sold new in Alabama, then my father bought it from the original owner in the early ‘80s. I got it in 1986 in the Atlanta area and had it until the early 2000s as a daily driver for a lot of those years. I was last contacted by a subsequent owner in South Georgia who had it stripped down and was considering building a Hemi clone.
So many great memories-hope it is still being enjoyed somewhere.