1969 440 'cuda
This Car Was Built For One Thing Only,
To satisfy the NHRA Drag Rules.
This is, simply put, a stupid car. It is an 'evil handler', and can hardly
steer or stop. It is, a straight line only car.
The 1969 440 'cuda was built to satisfy the NHRA Stock Class rules, which was at one time a {50 of 'em Rule}.
Now to be homologated into the NHRA, 1000 of these A-Body Missles will be required in 'regular production'. The 440 'cuda is to have 360 built, and the 440 Dart is projected to have 640 produced.
This 'nose-heavy' Barracuda weighs in at a comfortable #3279 lbs. {Shipping Weight, but is has a horrible 61/39 Front-to-Rear weight distribution.
To put it simply, it is an under-steering beast, even with Super Heavy-Duty Suspension.
In initial Road Tests, the car does not handle well at all, other than a straight line. The steel-rims {14" x 5.5"} are fitted with E70 x 14 Tires. Traction is unheard of, and you can 'destroy' the rear tires at will.
In early March 1969, and on a cold Saturday, we took the 'missle' to Westhampton Dragstrip out on the far end of Eastern Long Island.
In our first test runs, we simply rolled up to the line at 'idle', left the Shifter in 'Drive', and put our foot on the brake pedal.
Next, was to gun it as soon as the Chrondek Christmas Tree ran down the string of lights.
We smoked the tires right into 2nd-Gear. It was 'a hairy ride', as the 440 screamed down the track and flew thru the Traps at 104 MPH.
This Car Was Built For One Thing Only,
To satisfy the NHRA Drag Rules.
This is, simply put, a stupid car. It is an 'evil handler', and can hardly
steer or stop. It is, a straight line only car.
The 1969 440 'cuda was built to satisfy the NHRA Stock Class rules, which was at one time a {50 of 'em Rule}.
Now to be homologated into the NHRA, 1000 of these A-Body Missles will be required in 'regular production'. The 440 'cuda is to have 360 built, and the 440 Dart is projected to have 640 produced.
This 'nose-heavy' Barracuda weighs in at a comfortable #3279 lbs. {Shipping Weight, but is has a horrible 61/39 Front-to-Rear weight distribution.
To put it simply, it is an under-steering beast, even with Super Heavy-Duty Suspension.
In initial Road Tests, the car does not handle well at all, other than a straight line. The steel-rims {14" x 5.5"} are fitted with E70 x 14 Tires. Traction is unheard of, and you can 'destroy' the rear tires at will.
In early March 1969, and on a cold Saturday, we took the 'missle' to Westhampton Dragstrip out on the far end of Eastern Long Island.
In our first test runs, we simply rolled up to the line at 'idle', left the Shifter in 'Drive', and put our foot on the brake pedal.
Next, was to gun it as soon as the Chrondek Christmas Tree ran down the string of lights.
We smoked the tires right into 2nd-Gear. It was 'a hairy ride', as the 440 screamed down the track and flew thru the Traps at 104 MPH.