The two 1985 Plymouth Cudas. Yes, 1985!

[Alaskan_TA]

The two 1985 Plymouth Cudas.

Thanks go out to Mike Wolterman for sharing part of his past & his involvement with these two cars so that the history & photos could be recorded forever.

Link to story & his photos at http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/vintageRacing/1985Cuda/1985Cuda-01.shtml

Thanks Mike!

Barry

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Dig it 

[Ghoste]

Interesting, thanks for that.

[Fred]

Very interesting. 

[thedodgeboys]

Sweet mother of history 

[kab69440]

Not to belittle the guy or be a prick... Neat story and all... But the best a team of engineers  fresh out of college could come up with was to slap a sticker on a sister model car? Come on now, I have no more than a basic high school education and even I would have fought for something more unique for my debut pet project. Beyond that, Chrysler FRESH HIRED a team of engineers fresh out of college and specifically told them they were only allowed to slap a sticker on an existing sister model car? Are you kidding me? There wasn't one designer with a few minutes of spare time willing to draw out a sketch of a unique optional sticker? I have GOT to get a job as a new model designer/ engineer!

[Ghoste]

In 1985 Chrysler was just walking out of the hospital after their near death experience, they were lucky they could dedicate a "sticker" team to a project liket that.  For that matter, badge engineering was hugely popular at the time among all of the manufacturers anyway.

[nvrbdn]

thats a neat story.im kinda glad it didnt go through. i guess things can grow on you, but the cuda name on that body just doesnt look right.

[Fred]

thats a neat story.im kinda glad it didnt go through. i guess things can grow on you, but the cuda name on that body just doesnt look right.

I absolutely agree with you. Never liked that body shape full stop, no matter what the car.  for me it was a horrible era for cars.

[aussiemuscle]

thats a neat story.im kinda glad it didnt go through. i guess things can grow on you, but the cuda name on that body just doesnt look right.

yeah, as bad as milking the charger nameplate that they DID do, the cuda name didn't get cheapened by 80s corporates, which was a good thing. (although word has it they may bring the nameplate back in the new few years).

[moparstuart]

 

  my little shelby charger i owned for  over 20 years 

[TUFCAT]

I've owned two L-bodies (1983 and 1986) back in the day. They were fun affordable cars for a young mid-eighties kid like me.

Now they look extremely out dated, cheap, and small.  

Thankfully, high performance vehicles and safety standards have come a LONG way in 25 years since the Shelby Charger Turbo.

[stripedelete]

They were fun!

[chargermike]

just a crappy omni. the charger was also a joke then. ugly uglu ugly car. cuda my ass. looks like some kid just slaped a sticker on his parnets car to look cool. wouldnt give a dime for it.

[ACUDANUT]

How can it be a Plymouth , when it has a Chrysler badge on it. ?...A Chrysler Barracuda...What a Joke of a car...I think i will drive a K-Car Jimmy. 

[spoolinhard]

This is old news in the world of turbo mopars. The white one is rumored to still exhist. Not so sure of the other one.

[moparstuart]

my next FWD turbo project it will run some day   86 XT t-top car   

[Ghoste]

What was the XT?  I'm having trouble recalling that one.

[moparstuart]

What was the XT?  I'm having trouble recalling that one.

it was the luxury or upscale turbo laser  , they are pretty rare   

[irish_in_ny]

thats a neat story.im kinda glad it didnt go through. i guess things can grow on you, but the cuda name on that body just doesnt look right.

I absolutely agree with you. Never liked that body shape full stop, no matter what the car.  for me it was a horrible era for cars.

Couldn't agree more with the two of you.

[TUFCAT]

If I'm not mistaken, the 1986 Chrysler Laser XT was only available as a performance package (equivalent to the Dodge "Daytona Shelby Z) with the same performance and suspension package.  After that, "XT" nomenclature began to get watered down, so you could essentially get an XT without the turbo II engine and Shelby Z "go-fast goodies".

[thedodgeboys]

my next FWD turbo project it will run some day   86 XT t-top car   

I'll take the red car behind the xt to help you clear some space Stuart.

[moparstuart]

my next FWD turbo project it will run some day   86 XT t-top car   

I'll take the red car behind the xt to help you clear some space Stuart.
[/quot         any time scott   just awaitng that check  i can even deliver it

[skip68]

Calling that car a Cuda is about the same as Ford calling the escort gt a mustang in my opinion.      
I really hate this kind of crap they do.  Just like the new Charger was really a 300.  
I can dress my daughter up as a boy and call her my son and she will be just as much a boy as that car is a Cuda.  I hope they quit messing with the gender confusion and new cars.  

[spoolinhard]

For anyone interested knowing that the white one is still around:

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?64544-1985-Cuda

Oh, and I LOVE my shelby charger to death!

[moparstuart]

For anyone interested knowing that the white one is still around:

http://www.turbo-mopar.com/forums/showthread.php?64544-1985-Cuda

Oh, and I LOVE my shelby charger to death!

[Ghoste]

X2