How This Plymouth Barracuda Cop Car Went From Neglected Classic to Competitive Racer

The generational vintage muscle cars back in the days would essentially include MSD, Holley, B&M Racing and Performance Products, Comp Cams and Edelbrock. You can consider the Plymouth Barracuda as one of such vintage muscle kind.

Driving a Classic Car Gives You an Instant Sense of Cool

If you are a newbie, you need to realize that Plymouth produced the Plymouth Barracuda From 1964 through 1974. The vintage American muscle automobile came with an A-body platform and a hardtop fastback (shared with the Plymouth Valiant). Detailed observation will reveal the first-generation car had a distinctive wraparound back glass. 

Looking at the engineering, you will realize that the Second Generation Barracuda was significantly altered between 1967 and 1969- Although still Valiant-based. This was when hardtop coupé, fastback, and convertible variations of the Plymouth Barracuda body styles were available. Moreover, it is essential to mention that the Plymouth Hemi Cuda is now primarily considered a valuable collectible muscle car.

The History of the Previously Ignored Plymouth Barracuda Classic

There's no denying that auto restoration is a highly entertaining and satisfying recreational engagement for many. This has very much been the case for one Plymouth Barracuda owner - Scott Graham, a retired police sergeant. He has had come into the spotlight after remodelling the neglected classic to a high-function competitive racer. The man has shown off the second-generation Barracuda extensively on his Instagram account. 

Digging deeper will help you realize that the man rebuilds the car for the LASD Motorsports group (a non-profit concern). When asked previously, Graham has stated that the vehicle exists to spread awareness to the youth on the dangers of illegal racing, drug use, and gang involvement. You can find the car making multiple appearances annually, in community events and racetracks, with the same educational purpose.

As per some reports, Graham got his hands on this particular Plymouth Barracuda back in 2002. Initially, the car would remain inactive and remote as it belonged to a friend's father-in-law. However, the experts have recorded that the Barracuda packs a 318-ci V-8 engine under the hood. Additionally, it has a 4-speed gearbox and factory front disc brakes.

1967 Plymouth Barracuda with Race-Track worthy Mods

It is essential to mention that Scott Graham installed some special hardware to improve the racing performance of the Barracuda. As of now, the man has successfully developed the car in two different styles. At the first attempt, Scott replaced the 318ci V-8 with a 512ci component. Furthermore, it featured CarbB-1 aluminium heads from B.J. Kucharski. This resulted in the engine producing 950 horsepower at 7300 RPM and 759 lb-ft of torque at 5600 RPM. 

Later on, he decided to combine this sturdy engine with a Pro-Trans 727 Transmission. This eventually resulted in the car achieving a maximum speed of 152.8 mph in less than 8.82 seconds. Moreover, you can also find 35 Spline Currie axles, Groden Aluminium Rods, an MSD Ignition, and a Crower Steel crank as valuable additions to this car.

He took the call to replace the 512ci unit with a 440ci V8 for the second interpretation. The smaller engine produced 712 horsepower at 6800 RPM with Edelbrock Victor aluminium heads. The man returned to the same Pro-Trans 727 Transmission system and axle components as before to give the car some much-needed power. 

He also considered adding 175 Shot Nitrous Works, a factory steel crack, and stock rods with ARP Pro Wave Loc Bolts. Looking into the interiors, an AEM digital data acquisition dash display, JAZ aluminium seats, Auto Meter Pro-Comp Ultra-Lite gauges, and a grant steering wheel also made considerable improvements to the car. To put it simply, the second incarnation of the Plymouth Barracuda accomplished a peak speed of 148.7 mph in 8.94 seconds.

Neglected Classic to Competitive Racer

Finally, it only fits to admit that the car you choose significantly influences racing. Drag racing can be best defined as the interaction between the driver and the vehicle. So, if you are a newcomer who prefers the current muscle cars, you will be pleasantly surprised by the performance of some American vintage muscles. 

You must never forget that a few simple changes to your automobile can effectively trim down your lap time in half and turn any car into a track weapon. Moreover, you can also fine-tune your performance by choosing the best tires, superior brake system, and engine oil for upgrading. To put it simply, the Chrysler design on this 1967 Plymouth Barracuda is an excellent example of a modified classic.