Chrysler entered the pony-car market with the capable but unlovely Barracuda in the early 1960s. The car was refined over the years, becoming a true muscle car, and a rather handsome one at that, but it wasn’t until the advent of the E-body pony cars from 1970-1974—Barracudas, the Dodge Challenger, and Plymouth ‘Cuda—that Chrysler became a true player in the pony-car market. This book tells the story of Chrysler’s pony car series, from the advent of the original Barracuda in 1964 to the final days of the smog-motored Challengers and ‘Cudas of the mid-1970s, focusing on the series’ heyday in the early 1970s.

Revive the muscular good looks and horsepower of your E-body! This helpful guide contains hundreds of detailed photos, factory illustrations, and helpful data tables covering everything from decoding VIN tags to applying the correct finish to virtually every part on your car. All the information you'll ever need to authentically restore your monster-engine musclecar to show-winning perfection!

Designed as Chrysler's tandem answers to the Ford Mustang and Chevy Camaro, the Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Challenger went on to become two of Detroit's most revered muscle cars. Profiling special engine options and drive train packages, Newhardt gives the lowdown on the finest Barracudas and Chargers in existence. 85 color photos.

An in-depth look at the very desirable pony cars from Plymouth and Dodge that managed to beat the Ford Mustang to the dealerships and went on to become one of the most sought after classic cars of all time.

“Just what is a Muscle Car?” Road Test magazine asked in June 1967. The answer: “Exactly what the name implies. It is a product of the American car industry adhering to the hot rodder’s philosophy of taking a small car and putting a BIG engine in it. . . . The Muscle Car is Charles Atlas kicking sand in the face of the 98 horsepower weakling.” Unconcerned with such trivial details as comfort and handling, the vintage American muscle car was built for straight-line speed and quickly became the ride of choice for power-hungry racers and serious gearheads. In a country where performance was measured in brute force, a quarter mile at a time, the muscle car was the perfect machine. In the intervening years, these down-and-dirty, high-performing beauties have earned their place in the automotive pantheon. As prized by collectors and aficionados as they are by denizens of garages and drag strips, classic muscle cars now fetch upwards of a million dollars at auctions and feature in any story of America’s automotive glory days. The icons of muscle car art—including Camaro and Chevelle SS, the Hemi and 440-6 ’Cuda, Challenger, Roadrunner, Super Bee, GTX, Super Bird, Daytona Charger, Super Cobra Jet and Boss Mustang, Talladega Torino, Buick GSX and W30 Oldsmobile 442, and AMX Javelin—are all here, on full display in this lavishly illustrated volume, each described in a detailed essay followed by a gallery of portraits and special gatefold presentations that capture the art of the muscle car at its finest.

Although the Barracuda was introduced a few weeks before the Mustang in 1964 the earlier models lacked muscle. The 273 helped sales but not for long and in 1967 Plymouth redesigned the car and the engine options included the 383. The 1967 sales figures, however, would never be equaled. For 1969 buyers could have the 440 V8 and body styling was again changed. Despite this and a limited incursion into racing the sales slide could not be halted. As with all other muscle cars the early 1970s emissions and safety regulations killed them off. This is a book of contemporary road and comparison tests, specification and technical data, driver's impressions, new model introductions, history.