to add further clarification to the "cuda" nameplate-
yes mine is not technically a cuda but is a barracuda. i only list it that way because it is easier. they shortened the name in 69 because nobody bothered to say barracuda every time and so the factory caught on and started making actual cuda nameplates. also, yes there was a simultaneous barracuda and cuda model. as far as engines are concerned, the only a-body year that had the 440 was 69. however, the only a-body year that had the hemi was 68. it was a special order option that included a fiberglass front end and acid dipped panels with extremely thin glass. these cars were insanely quick. they could run a mid 10 sec quarter with a good set of slicks bone stock. also, to call only e-body cudas real muscle cars is a huge slip up. the a-bodies are definitly muscle cars and are in many cases much quicker and more nimble than the e-bodies which had become quite plump by the time of introduction for the 1970 model. some may argue that the first generation a-body cudas (64-66)were not real muscle cars because they were simply warmed over fastback valients. to argue that would also be a faulty point. i dont think that anyone would say that the roadrunner was not a real muscle car and it was simply a warmed over family car(for simplification sake).
