1974 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA

PAUL SONDAY SR

“MY FATHER, Paul Sonday Sr, purchased his 1974 ’Cuda in northeastern Pennsylvania at the age of 19 in November 1973; it cost him $4500 cash, and he still owns it today! After he bought it, he spent the next 8-10 years customising it to the 70s street machine era. He purchased the 340 Six-pack block and heads out of a wrecked 1970 AAR ’Cuda for $50, and heavily beefed up the engine’s internals and engine bay. The 727 Torqueflite auto was beefed up by Sepanek Racing Transmission decades ago, and an 8¾-inch diff with 4.11:1 gears completes the drivetrain. The Cragar SS mags were installed in 1977, while the paintjob was done in 1981 by legendary metalflake artist Hank Z. Inside, it’s got the full Naugahyde interior, floor mats and velour headliner, with true 70s blue fur on the rear deck – this was all done in the early 1980s. The car has just under 38,000 original miles on the clock, and has never seen any inclement weather, including rain. The factory wiper blades have never even been turned on, let alone replaced! It retains all its original body panels, glass, door/ window trim, body mouldings, vinyl top (painted in diamond-dust white metalflake), fuel and brake lines, power steering box, head- and taillights, dashboard, centre console and shifter. It even has the factory eight-track player, which still works and sounds great!. The paint has never been wet-sanded, buffed, re-cleared or altered in any way since it was completed over 42 years ago. It’s arguably the finest surviving example of an unrestored, original-owner, rust-free, 70s street machine-era muscle car on the planet.” Words: JJ Sonday