Wednesday 10th November 2010

Chrysler Moots Plymouth Barracuda Revival

Classic muscle car could return - despite the death of its brand a decade ago

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A custom Barracuda concept from 2007

Dodge boss - and Chrysler's chief designer - Ralph Gilles hinted last week that the legendary Plymouth Barracuda muscle car could be set for a revival.

Speaking at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Gilles said that Chrysler is "seriously thinking of how to revive the Plymouth Barracuda."

"There's a lot of pressure on us to bring the 'Cuda back," Said Gilles at the recent Las Vegas custom car show. "The customers have (been) stomping their feet for it."

There's only one problem - the Plymouth brand was killed off in 2001. So if the 'Cuda were to make a comeback it would have to do so under the Chrysler brand.

The platform wouldn't be a problem, however; like its 1970s 'E-body' predecessors, a new Barracuda would almost certainly be based on the Dodge Challenger.

 

 

[Tyre Smoke]

Excellent!

Just because the brand was killed off in 2001, why can't they bring it back? They must still own all the intellectual rights to the Plymouth brand?

Chrysler or Dodge Barracuda wouldn't sound right.

[kambites]

What is it with the American car companies all releasing muscle cars in the last couple of years? If there's a market, why did they stop making them int he first place? I can't imagine why the market would have gone and come back.

[Mr Gear]

Ah yes, because what caused Chrysler a massive financial crisis was a LACK of silly, pointless cars that didn't sell outside of America! Of course, how could I be so silly.

[Ed.]

kambites said:

What is it with the American car companies all releasing muscle cars in the last couple of years? If there's a market, why did they stop making them int he first place? I can't imagine why the market would have gone and come back.

Didn't the emissions regulations and oil crisis kill them off last time?
Not saying it won't happen again but they seem to be selling plenty of other large v8 things at the moment.

[kambites]

Ed. said:

kambites said:

What is it with the American car companies all releasing muscle cars in the last couple of years? If there's a market, why did they stop making them int he first place? I can't imagine why the market would have gone and come back.

Didn't the emissions regulations and oil crisis kill them off last time?
Not saying it won't happen again but they seem to be selling plenty of other large v8 things at the moment.

Ah, emissions regulations would explain it I guess.

[LooseCannon]

A lot of these musclecar "comebacks" look so similar to the originals they could almost be tricked up foose customs, this Cuda being possibly the best case in point.

As the original was just about badge engineering and offering essentially the same product to marque-faithfuls (as were so many cars) it seems odd they want to bring memories of that back

Edited by LooseCannon on Thursday 11th November 13:30

[Fetchez la vache]

But I can't pronounce Bacarruda!

Looks promising, though rarely see any of the retro US cars bar the odd Mustang.

[Dagnut]

kambites said:

What is it with the American car companies all releasing muscle cars in the last couple of years? If there's a market, why did they stop making them int he first place? I can't imagine why the market would have gone and come back.

Oil crisis killed them off, then they just released junk, started losing sales to euro and jap cars, especially performance and now there back making um.That not intended to be patronising just my simple synopsis.

[gezkc]

Ed. said:

kambites said:

What is it with the American car companies all releasing muscle cars in the last couple of years? If there's a market, why did they stop making them int he first place? I can't imagine why the market would have gone and come back.

Didn't the emissions regulations and oil crisis kill them off last time?
Not saying it won't happen again but they seem to be selling plenty of other large v8 things at the moment.

The thing is, it's not exactly like they've relaxed the emissions regulations in the last few years. And you could argue that we're in the midst of another oil crisis at the moment - the world's in recession and oil's well over $80 a barrel again and likely to rise further. I know petrol's relatively cheap in the US, but it still seems strange that they're releasing these cars in the current climate.

[dvance]

I was under the impression this was the concept:

http://www.carbodydesign.com/archive/2008/02/13-ba...

If they actually make this, then would be awesome

Edited by dvance on Wednesday 10th November 15:34

[Motown Junk]

If I was Kowalski, I'd want at least a 4 on the NCAP rating before I'd deliver another...

[marshalla]

Fetchez la vache said:

But I can't pronounce Bacarruda!

Looks promising, though rarely see any of the retro US cars bar the odd Mustang.

BaBararacucudada

At least when the Americans revive a name, they try to maintain the image - unlike certain "British" manufacturers.

[p1doc]

sounds good-you can never have too many muscle cars!
martin

[VWNutta1985]

Dodge could easily revise the brand Plymouth, just like BMW did with Mini. Mini used to be the name of a small car, but now has become the name of a ever expanding brand.

The car could just be known as the "Plymouth Barracuda", so both names could be the cars name.

[Blue Meanie]

They all look a bit samey to me, if I'm honest.

[blackburn]

Motown Junk said:

If I was Kowalski, I'd want at least a 4 on the NCAP rating before I'd deliver another...

He drove a Challenger.

[Dog Star]

Blue Meanie said:

They all look a bit samey to me, if I'm honest.

Yebbut in a good way It's like moaning cos all women look a bit samey cos they look like someone fit and not Anne Widdecombe!

That orange pic above looks awesome!

[B.J.W]

blackburn said:

Motown Junk said:

If I was Kowalski, I'd want at least a 4 on the NCAP rating before I'd deliver another...

He drove a Challenger.

70' R/T 400

Although, it was in fact a Camaro that was used in the final 'crash' scene.

[qube_TA]

The Hemi Cuda was one of the best looking muscle cars ever made, in sublime please

[Twincam16]

VWNutta1985 said:

Dodge could easily revise the brand Plymouth, just like BMW did with Mini. Mini used to be the name of a small car, but now has become the name of a ever expanding brand.

The car could just be known as the "Plymouth Barracuda", so both names could be the cars name.

Agreed.

Actually, come to think of it, there are a lot of defunct American brands with perhaps one bona-fide classic to their name that could be revived in this way. I'm thinking Mercury Cougar (use the Mustang floorplan), Lincoln Continental 'clap-door' (rebody whatever rubbish they're making at the moment), AMC Javelin (IIRC Chrysler own the rights to AMC), Pontiac GTO, Firebird and Trans-Am (new bodies on the Camaro platform) - et cetera.

And - and I know I've said this before but here goes - if the American luxury sector wants to be taken seriously in Europe again, then there are plenty of defunct names out there with heritage to take on Rolls-Royce if executed properly - Auburn, Cord, Duesenburg, Graham, Packard, Pierce-Arrow, the higher reaches of Cadillac and so on.