The third-generation Plymouth Barracuda is the kind of classic muscle car that can make grown men cry at auctions and/or send them running across deserted fields for a rescue. So while this E-Body Mopar commands all the respect in the world, a YouTuber marrying a 1971 Barracuda to a Cummins first-gen Dodge Ram truck might make you wonder what respect means on social media these days.
The Cummins Cuda 4×4, which is a tentative name, is much more than a 4×4 dually chassis with a Plymouth body riding on top of it. So while you may be head over heels for this build or find it sacrilegious, you can’t ignore the high-tier hardware installed on this wacky hybrid.
The contraption was put together by Muscle Rod Shop, while the heavy work on the first-gen 12V Cummins motor was done by Holden Bros Diesel. And since the project is being completed for vlogger Matt Carriker, whose Demolition Ranch is among the top gun-related YouTube channels out there, this bad boy has to be capable of all-terrain hooning.
Sure, this is a Franken-car, but the thing does keep the most important bits in the Mopar family (i.e., body, chassis, and engine). So, to fit the ’71 Barracuda body, the frame had to lose about four feet, while this was also framed. And, to make sure those dually wheels at the back don’t cover everything around the vehicle in mud, the vehicle now sports custom overfenders.
Big power for a big muscle rig
The twin-turbo setup involves a 64mm S300 and an 80mm S400. And with the engine still featuring the stock bottom end and standard internals (save for one replacement piston), it should be good for about 700-800 horsepower. The car’s 48RE four-speed automatic features a full manual valve body, meaning the driver can instantly select and maintain any desired ratio.
The Texan affair (think: owner’s state) that is the Cummins Cuda is currently with the Holden Bros Diesel for some tech adjustments, such as having the headers and the axle gearing changed. And you’ll get to see a walkaround of the nearly-baked project in the video below, which kicks off with a brief drive that easily highlights the surreal nature of the vehicle.
Now, until the high-riding muscle car is 100% complete, we’ll remind you of another build the bros are currently handling for Matt, namely the Ranch Tang we discussed last month. In another extreme take on a classic muscle car, this brings a pickup truck version of a 1965 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 tribute, but call it a UTE if that’s how you like it.
