Jeremiah 29:11

The Return of the 'Cuda?
Chrysler considering resurrecting the Barracuda

Posted Today 10:08 AM by Kirill Ougarov


Chrysler is considering resurrecting the famed Barracuda, if comments made by Chip Foose at the New York Auto Show are any indication, reports The Detroit News. The new Cuda would be based on the upcoming Dodge Challenger.

A few issues stand in the way, however. First, the Plymouth brand that the original Cuda was sold under is dead, so it would have to be badged a Chrysler, which may upset some purists. Then there is the question of will it sell.

The retro-themed muscle car market may be reaching a saturation point. It seems there's a new Mustang variant every week, the new Chevrolet Camaro is just around the corner, as is the Challenger, and Pontiac has been hinting at another GTO.

Add to that rising gas prices, which may hit $4/gallon in some parts of the country this summer. The muscle car era of the 60s was ended in part by rising gasoline costs. The current renaissance may suffer the same fate.

What do you think? Should Chrysler bring back the Barracuda or would doing so be a big mistake?



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ED1971PA

Thank you for posting this and I pray it is true and we hear more good news soon.

McDonald

There is no way it would be a mistake as long as they do it right.

Cuda340

If they offered a 'Cuda, I would definely buy it over a Challenger.

I wonder, however, how DCX would market it so as not to siphon sales away from the Challenger?

I suspect that it may appear as a limited edition (high cost) 6.4 Hemi.

Cuda340

I just read the entire post about the 'Cuda rumor. While, it would be fantastic if it happened, it doesn't sound encouraging. Read:

"We think the rumor has pretty weak legs to stand on, considering it originated from a guy who doesn't even work for Chrysler. Though Foose has partnered with DCX on a number of projects, there's no reason they would release such sensitive information to him. It could be the case that Foose wants a Chrysler Cuda to be developed and sold, but that's an entirely different story.

Plus, the New York Auto Show has been done and over for about three weeks. The possibility of a new Cuda is pretty hot info, so as a fellow publisher we're boggled why The Detroit News would sit on it for so long. As for the rendering that appears with the source article, while tastefully done by our friend George Achorn, is clearly just a tweaked version of a Challenger pic with a new color and different wheels. If Chrysler ever did decide to build the 'Cuda again, hopefully it would be differentiated by more than that."

All I can say is keep your fingers crossed. If DCX decides that it will be a money maker, it may happen!

Paladin06

No, I don't think so..

deranged

Nope, why bother. They'll sell as many Challengers as they can anyway. I don't think that too many people interested in an American muscle car from Chrysler would pass on the Challenger because it's not a Cuda.

TechmanBD

Even if they didn't. I am sure someone out there will make a Cuda body kit for the Challenger. I am not saying I would do that, but I am sure some will to have something look different.

McDonald

The way i see it is as long as it has no Chrysler emblems on it anywhere it would be just fine. 'Cuda on the back, Barracuda on the dash, Hemi billboards on the side and 392 call outs on the shaker .. Ok so we only wish that last one would come true. But please has a straight cuda body line on the quarter and not the challenger lines.

davecpa

i think it is a definite possibility.. I am sure it all depends on demand.