Few race cars have achieved the level of competitive success as the 1970 Plymouth Barracuda that recently sold on eBay. The historic Super Stock drag car is believed to be the last surviving car campaigned by the legendary Ramchargers race team. It racked up an impressive series of wins and awards over 12 years before retiring from racing in 1988.
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This R-Code Hemi ’Cuda was built, raced, and later painstakingly restored by Ramchargers’s Dean Nicopolis. It’s no mere replica or tribute car. Nicopolis was one of several Chrysler engineers on the factory-sponsored team formed in 1959. He helped the Ramchargers become a dominating force in drag racing in the 1960s and 1970s.
From Grocery Getter to NHRA Champ
The Ramchargers Hemi ’Cuda is one of just 666 Barracudas to leave the assembly line equipped with a 425-horsepower, 426-cubic-inch Hemi V-8. Dodge-Plymouth built a total of 49,000 Barracudas for the 1970 model year.
The car’s impressive resume includes 37 wins in the National Hot Rod Association’s Super Stock D Automatic class. It also claimed top honors twice in the NHRA Summer Nationals Super Stock Eliminator class, won the 1980 NHRA Division lll Super Stock Championship, and has been featured in numerous magazine articles.
Here’s what makes its history even more intriguing: This Ramchargers Hemi ’Cuda did not start as a race car. It was sold new in Michigan and spent the first several years of its life as a daily driver and grocery-getter.
Then, the Ramchargers Hemi ’Cuda was taken off the road and modified for competition, with its mighty Hemi cranking out 691 horsepower and the original TorqueFlite automatic transmission modified with a B&M racing torque converter - opens in new window or tab.. That yielded a record-shattering 10.63-second quarter mile at its 1975 NHRA Gatornationals debut.
Not Your Typical Race Car
This one-of-a-kind ’Cuda was never cut or “tubbed,” a procedure involving cutting out the wheel wells and part of the back seat area to fit larger racing slicks - opens in new window or tab. and rear wheels. That leaves it with a more desirable stock appearance and practicality.
The Ramchargers Hemi ’Cuda's factory look continues inside the cabin, where the original bucket seats - opens in new window or tab., door panels - opens in new window or tab., dash, wood steering wheel - opens in new window or tab., and carpets remain. A full roll cage is the only obvious modification.
Ten years after being retired from racing, the Ramchargers Hemi ’Cuda was restored to its former glory in a two-year restoration, reinstating its candy apple red and white striped paint and bold graphics on the sides. Since its restoration, it has won numerous awards at car shows and spent time on display at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum - opens in new window or tab..
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.