Dodge Boss Says Chrysler is considering New Barracuda

Is there room in the U.S. market for an another retro-style muscle car? According to Ralph Gilles, Chrysler's chief designer and boss of the Dodge brand, the answer to that question is yes. At last week's SEMA aftermarket show in Las Vegas, Gilles told show-goers at the Mopar stand that he is "seriously thinking of how to revive the Plymouth Barracuda."

"There's a lot of pressure on us to bring the 'Cuda back," said Ralph Gilles. Speaking with reporters he added that "the customers have (been) stomping their feet for it."

Being that the Plymouth brand was phased out from the Chrysler Group's portfolio back in 2001, if the 'Cuda were to be revived, it would probably be marketed under the Chrysler brand. And like the original 1970s model, it would be based off the current Dodge Challenger.

This is not the first time that Chrysler Group has toyed around with the idea of bringing back the 'Cuda nameplate, but due to ownership changes and of course, last year's bailout, the company was forced to put all plans on hold.

Over the past years, we've seen a few concept models of the Cuda. At the 2007 edition of the SEMA Show, there was a custom-made build called the "BBP Project 'Cuda". That's the one featured in our photo gallery here.

The 'Cuda concept was handcrafted by Gaffoglio Family Metalcrafters, which coincidentally, was the same company that manufactured the original Challenger Concept that lead to the current production model.

Though many might think that it isbased on the Challenger, the 'Cuda study is actually built on shortened version of a brand new 2007 Charger SRT8. The design of the car was inspired by its 1970-74 "E" Body ancestors. It was auctioned off by Barret Jackson in 2008 for $159,500. Metalcrafters also created a convertible version of the 'Cuda concept, which you can check out here.

Source: USA Today , Concept photos: Barret Jackson

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http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/11/dodge-boss-says-chrysler-is-considering.html?m=0

eBay Find: Giugiaro's Plymouth V8-powered 1967 Ghia 450 SS Spyder

Back in the 1950s through the 1960s, a great number of Italian coachbuilders unleashed a parade of automotive classics that have withstood the test of time and continue to excite today. One of the lesser known-examples of that period is this here 1967 Ghia 450 SS Spyder, which is currently being offered for auction at eBay.

It was designed by the great Giorgetto Giugiaro and manufactured by the renowned Italian design studio and coach builder, Carrozzeria Ghia, exclusively for the American market. The 450 SS Spyder features a custom ladder-frame with power coming from Chrysler's 273-cu.in (4.5-liter) V8 engine with 235HP used in the Plymouth A-body cars of the era.

The 450 SS Spyder was unveiled at the 1966 Turin International Auto Show. Production lasted until 1967 with only 52 examples of these handmade beauties leaving the factory. All of the cars were sold exclusively through a Beverly Hills importer.

The red Spyder seen here comes with the optional factory hardtop and is listed on eBay with a starting bid of $50,000.

Link: eBay

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2010/07/ebay-find-giugiaro-plymouth-v8-powered.html?m=0

From Fantasy to Reality: Plymouth Road Runner Concept Based on '09 Dodge Challenger SRT8 Up for Sale on eBay for... $950,000

A little over a year ago, we showed you some conceptual designs for a modern day successor to Plymouth's 1971-1975 Road Runner based on today's Dodge Challenger. The concept was penned by Michael Leonhard and featured in the August/September issue of Mopar Enthusiast magazine. Then, it was nothing more than a vision of what the car would look like.

However, Leonhard got in contact with Carscoop to inform us that he has put the design up for auction on eBay with the intent to build a one-off model that if all goes well, will be displayed and delivered to its owner at next year's Los Angeles Auto Show.

Leonhard's proposal, which looks pretty neat in the computer generated images, is essentially a reskinned 2009 Dodge Challenger SRT8 that takes styling cues from the '71-'72 Plymouth Road Runner.

The designer's plans also include a modified interior with new seat covers, door trims, headliner and rear-quarter trim while maintaining the Challenger's dashboard and console.

Underneath the skin, it is proposed that the one-off 2010 Plymouth Road Runner will get a turbocharged version of the SRT8's 6.1-liter HEMI V8 engine with 620HP and 650 lb-ft of torque for an estimated 0-60mph time of around 3.8 seconds and the quarter mile sprint in 11.9 seconds - all in theory of course.

It all sounds very nice until you read the eBay Motor's 'Buy it Now' price of US $950,000 (for the completed vehicle) combined with the fact that Leonhard has not revealed the name of what is described as, "the world leading and renowned company specializing in coach building and concept car manufacturing" that will handle the build of the car on the auction page.

Not to generalize, but even if we were passionate enough to spend the same amount of money as it would cost us to buy, let's say, a new Lamborghini Murcielago LP640, (around $350,000), a Porsche Cayenne Turbo S ($132,000), a Maserati Quattroporte Sport GTS ($133,700) and still have enough cash left around for half a dozen of 2010 Corvette Grand Sports ($55,000 a piece), for a car that's in essence, a rebodied and modified $44,000 Challenger, we would like to see it in the flesh, let alone know every single detail about its build.

Naturally, those interested, may contact Leonhard for more information directly through his website here.

All the same, since we really like the project, we'd like to wish him the best of luck in his attempt to make the 2010 Plymouth Road Runner Concept a reality.

Link: eBay

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2009/11/from-fantasy-to-reality-plymouth-road.html?m=0

eBay Find: Chrysler Prowler Stretch Limo with Lambo Doors

We always wondered what a Prowler would like if someone had the audacity to convert the retro hotrod that began its life in 1997 as a Plymouth and ended its career in 2002 with a Chrysler badge, into a six-passenger limousine. And at last, our prayers have been answered! Nah, we're just pulling your leg but if you find stretch Hummer limos sooo 2000, then you may want to take a look at this "one-of-a-kind" Prowler limousine that can fit two passengers up front and four at the back. The car comes complete with a hard top incorporating a sliding ragtop, Lambo-style front doors and suicide rear doors.

Link: ebay

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2009/05/ebay-find-chrysler-prowler-stretch-limo.html?m=0

2010 Plymouth Road Runner Concept by Mopar Enthusiast

More of a result of pipe-dreaming than actual inside info, the 2010 Plymouth Road Runner Concept that’s featured in the August/September issue of Mopar Enthusiast magazine is based on the new Dodge Challenger using styling cues from the ’71-’72 model year Road Runners. The folks at Mopar Enthusiast beleive that if the car were to be produced today, it should be powered by a HEMI 5.7L V8 as standard with 6.1L and 7.0L V8 HEMIs being offered as optional equipment. -Continued

Via: Autoblog.com , Source: Mopar Enthusiast

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2008/07/2010-plymouth-road-runner-concept-by.html?m=0

eBay: Plymouth Prowler Go-Kart

Being the adolescent car nuts that we are, we couldn’t resist posting this Plymouth Prowler look-alike go-kart that we found for sale on e-bay. True, you’d probably have a very hard time trying to fit in that miniscule cockpit –well, unless you look like Twiggy that is, but if anything else, you’d offer plenty of chuckles to anyone that happened to be around. -Continued

Link: ebay

http://carscoopcar.blogspot.com/2007/11/ebay-plymouth-prowler-go-kart.html?m=0