| Chrysler-Plymouth
Division Chrysler Corporation Detroit, Mich. |
| Engine |
275-hp, 340
cu. in. V-8 |
| Transmission |
4-speed manual |
| Steering |
Power-assisted |
| Suspension |
Heavy-duty |
| Brakes |
Disc F, Drum R |
Check
list |
| Engine |
| Throttle Response |
Excellent |
| Noise Insulation |
Fair |
| Drive
train |
| Shift Linkage |
Fair |
| Synchro Action |
Very
Good |
| Steering |
| Effort |
Excellent |
| Response |
Very
Good |
| Handling |
| Predictability |
Very
Good |
| Evasive Maneuverability |
Very
Good |
| Brakes |
| Directional Stability |
Very
Good |
| Fade Resistance |
Very
Good |
| Interior |
| Ease of Entry/Exit |
Good |
| Driving Position |
Good |
| Front Seating Comfort |
Good |
| Rear Seating Comfort |
Fair |
| General |
| Vision |
Fair |
| Heater/ Defroster |
Very
Good |
| Weather Sealing |
Very
Good |
| Trunk Space |
Fair |
|
Hey, at long last,
the Barracuda-the sporty car that refused to die-has gotten
some, er, you know, brio, some guts, some cojones. After letting
it putter through life with a feckless 273 cu. in. V-8, Plymouth
finally stuffed the neat little machine full of its throbbing
new 340 cu. incher that acts and sounds like a junior varsity
Hemi. The Plymouth people
have known for some time that the Barracuda lacked the rough-and-tumble
personality that would endear it to the enthusiast market,
and several abortive corrections have been tried. First they
installed a noisy muffler that succeeded only in infuriating
the cops, then last year they wedged in the big-car 383 4-barrel
V-8 engine, but it was so massive that power steering wouldn't
fit, and it took an NFL linebacker to park it.
But this year the 340 puts Plymouth
right into the program. Now the Barracuda has plenty of performance
(plus excellent handling), to run with the standard Mustangs
and Camaros. The standard 'Cuda mill is a 318 this year, but
forget about it; get the 340 or nothing.
The Plymouth stylists have managed
to cunningly disguise the notchback and convertible Barracudas
to look like Valiants, so only the original fastback has any
truly distinctive lines. |
