All American Racers 'Cuda

Year: 1970

Car: Plymouth AAR Barracuda

Where: Ace Cafe, Orlando

When: 01/01/2019

The matte-black fiberglass hood, through body-side strobe stripes and tri-colored AAR shield, this is no ordinary Barracuda. This is an AAR 'Cuda.

The AAR 'Cuda took its title from Dan Gurney's All American Racers, the track barracudas ran full-race 440-bhp 305-cid four-barrel V-8s and were lowered.

Whereas the street AARs used a 290-bhp 340-cid with three two-barrel Holley carbs on an Edelbrock aluminum manifold. A more subtle difference between the regular and the AAR Cuda were the special shocks and recambered rear springs raised the tail 1 3/4 inches.

Unlike the track 'Cudas which were built for twisty-course combat, the street 'Cuda was plagued by understeer. But the AAR 'Cuda was strong in a straight line, and an eyeful anywhere.