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The Plymouth Barracuda is a two-door car that was manufactured by Plymouth from the to 1974 model years. The first-generation Barracuda, a fastback A-body coupe based on the Plymouth Valiant, had distinctive wraparound back glass and was available from to 1966. The second-generation 1967 to 1969 Barracuda, though still Valiant-based, was heavily redesigned. Second-generation A-body cars were available in fastback, notchback, and convertible versions. The 1970 to 1974 E-body Barracuda, no longer Valiant-based, was available as a coupe and a convertible, both of which were very different from the previous models. The final model year for the Barracuda was 1974. ==–66== |wheelbase = |length = |width = |height = |weight = as tested〔(【引用サイトリンク】title=Early Barracuda Production Specifications 2 )〕 |body_style = 2-door fastback coupe |platform = A-body |related = Plymouth Valiant }} Automotive trends in the early to mid-1960s had all the U.S. manufacturers making vehicles in the rapidly increasing sporty compact-size market segment. Chrysler's A-body Plymouth Valiant was chosen for the focus of the company's efforts in this direction. Ford's Mustang, which significantly outsold the Barracuda, gave to this type of vehicle its colloquial name "pony car", but the Barracuda fastback, released on 1 April 1964, pre-dates the Mustang by two weeks. Plymouth's executives had wanted to name the car ''Panda'', an idea that was unpopular with the car's designers. In the end, John Samsen's suggestion of ''Barracuda'' was selected. The Barracuda used the Valiant's wheelbase and the Valiant hood, headlamp bezels, windshield, vent windows, quarter panels, doors, A-pillar, and bumpers; all other sheet metal and glass was new. This hybrid design approach significantly reduced the development and tooling cost and time for the new model. The fastback body shape was achieved primarily with a giant back glass, which wrapped down to the fender line.〔 Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) collaborated with Chrysler designers to produce this 14.4 ft² (1.33 m²) backlight, the largest ever installed on a standard production car to that time.〔''Young'', p. 33〕 The Barracuda was able to return the Valiant's favor the next year, when the fenders and tail lamps that had been introduced on the Barracuda were used on the whole 1965 Valiant range except for the wagon. Powertrains were identical to the Valiant's, including two versions of Chrysler's slant-6 six-cylinder engine. The standard-equipment engine had a piston displacement of and an output of ; the option raised the power output to . The highest power option for 1964 was Chrysler's all-new LA V8. A compact and relatively light engine equipped with a two-barrel carburetor, it produced . The Barracuda sold for a base price of US$2,512. was not only the first half-year model for the Barracuda, but also the last model year entirely for push-button control of the optional Torqueflite automatic transmission, so the models were the only Barracudas so equipped. It also marked the first use of the smaller "TorqueFlite 6" (A904) transmission behind a V8. In 1965, the 225 slant-6 became the base engine for the U.S. market, though the 170 remained the base engine in Canada. New options were introduced for the Barracuda as the competition among pony cars intensified. The 273 engine was made available as an upgraded ''Commando'' version with a four-barrel carburetor, 10.5:1 compression, and a more aggressive camshaft, still with solid tappets. These and other upgrades increased the engine's output to . Also in 1965, the ''Formula 'S' '' package was introduced. It included the Commando V8 engine, suspension upgrades, larger wheels and tires, special emblems, and a tachometer. Disc brakes and factory-installed air conditioning became available after the start of the 1965 model year. For 1966, the Barracuda received new taillamps, new front sheet metal, and a new instrument panel. The latter had room for oil pressure and tachometer gauges on models so equipped. The 1966 front sheet metal which, except for the grille, was shared with the Valiant, and gave a more rectilinear contour to the fenders. Deluxe models featured fender-top turn signal indicators with a stylized fin motif. The bumpers were larger, and the grille featured a strong grid theme. A center console was optional for the first time. Although the first Barracudas were heavily based on the contemporary Valiants, Plymouth wanted them perceived as distinct models. Consequently, the "Valiant" chrome script that appeared on the model's trunk lid was phased out at the end of the 1965 model year in the U.S. market, and the large stylized "V" trim above the deck lid was changed to a unique Barracuda fish logo for 1966,〔 though in markets such as Canada and South Africa, where Valiant was a marque in its own right, the car remained badged as ''Valiant Barracuda'' until the A-body Barracuda was discontinued. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Plymouth Barracuda」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
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