When Plymouth rolled out the redesigned third-generation Barracuda for 1970, it hit dealerships with bolder styling and a wider range of powerful V8 options, giving the model fresh momentum.
The 1970 model year marked a major update for the Plymouth Barracuda. The third-generation car arrived with sharper looks and stronger V8 engines available across the lineup. The changes paid off: sales jumped 34 percent year over year, reaching 48,867 units.
As before, however, convertibles struggled to attract buyers. Just 5.1 percent of total production came without a fixed roof, translating to exactly 2,501 cars. Most of them—1,387 examples—were basic Barracuda convertibles. Another 1,114 were split between the upscale Gran Coupe and the performance-focused Cuda trims.
The Gran Coupe drop-top proved to be a tough sell, finding only 566 buyers. Even rarer was the Cuda convertible, with just 548 units produced. Sitting at the very top of the rarity scale is the legendary Hemi Cuda convertible. Plymouth built only 14 of those, making them nearly impossible to find today—and staggeringly expensive when one does surface.
Choosing a Cuda convertible with the 440 cubic-inch (7.2-liter) Six-Barrel V8 didn’t improve the odds much either. Only 29 examples left the factory with that setup. The slightly tamer 440 four-barrel engine was barely more common, selected by just 34 buyers.
That doesn’t mean the other versions are easy to come by. Even the “base” Cuda convertible with the 340 cubic-inch (5.6-liter) small-block V8 is scarce, with only 262 produced. The widely used 383 cubic-inch (6.3-liter) V8 is hardly plentiful here either—only 209 convertibles received it. The FE5 red Mopar featured here is one of those cars, and more specifically, one of just 132 built with a three-speed automatic transmission.
This particular Cuda recently appeared on the American Steel Classics YouTube channel, and it’s a striking sight—especially if you appreciate unrestored survivors. The car looks very much like a barn find and appears to have been off the road for decades.
Despite its worn appearance, it’s far from a total wreck. The paint is tired, the convertible top is missing, but the body looks complete and largely free of serious rust. The once-bright white interior has clearly taken a beating: both front seats show heavy wear, and nearly every light-colored surface is stained and dirty.
It doesn’t seem like the car sat out in the open, but the soft top was clearly damaged or removed long ago. The amount of dust suggests long-term storage. Remarkably, as shown in the video, the convertible top mechanism still operates, which is impressive given the circumstances.
The original engine is still in place under the hood and doesn’t appear to have ever been pulled. The video doesn’t show the V8 running, so it’s safe to assume it doesn’t start at the moment. Hopefully, the engine isn’t seized after spending decades without fuel.
There’s no exact record of when this Cuda was last driven, but the license plate suggests it was on the road as recently as 1981. That means it’s been parked for about 44 years as of 2025. Interestingly, the fender tag looks almost new, hinting that it may have been repainted or removed around the time the car was stored.
According to the dealership, the car is currently for sale, though it hasn’t yet appeared on their website or eBay listings. With any luck, it will surface soon—because this rare Plymouth clearly deserves a second chance. What do you think it’s worth in its current, unrestored condition?