21. 1969 Plymouth Barracuda 440
The biggest news for 1969 was the introduction of the Barracuda 440 V8, a monster pony car with the biggest engine under the hood of a car in that segment. Plymouth wanted to be a dominant force in the stock class of the drag racing championships. So, they needed a proper weapon equipped with a big block and tons of torque.
The Barracuda 440 was exactly what they needed even if it was a handful to drive. Also, it required a complicated production process since the big 440 wouldn’t fit in the small Barracuda engine bay without extensive modifications.
The Barracuda 440 produced 375 HP and a massive 480 lb-ft of torque, which made it fast but also hard to launch due to loads of wheel spin. Because of the tight fit of the engine, there wasn’t enough space for a power steering pump. That meant you had to use your muscles to turn this compact but overly powerful car. Plymouth only made a handful of these models, which makes them highly sought after today.