MOPAR Muscle - Barracuda, Dart & Valiant 1960-1980

At the dawn of the 1960s, Chrysler Corp introduced a new kind of sophisticated family car called the Valiant. The Plymouth Valiant, and its cousin the Dodge Dart, travelled Detroit's path from economy car to high-performance machine in style. Snazzier still, were the subsequent Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Challenger relations that took on all comers in the pony and muscle car wars.By the mid '70s a change of pace saw Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare meet the blend of economy, sports and luxury that buyers wanted. All through the years, and underpinning all models, was Chrysler Corp's engineering excellence. Such excellence was apparent on racetracks and drag strips across the country, so too were the exploits of racing heroes that became Mopar legends. Through hard times and corporate change, Chrysler returned with the modern Hemi V8 motorvated 300s, Chargers and Challengers. The Demon still lives at Highland Park.

“From the earliest days, the vehicles built by Chrysler Corporation earned a reputation for advanced design and fine dynamics (think of the 1928 Plymouth's hydraulic brakes and high-compression straight-six engine), and those traits found new relevance in the 1960s, when even Chrysler's economy-minded platforms were engineered to offer better-than-average performance from the start. The innovative Valiant spawned the compact and sporty Barracuda -rapidly eclipsed by the Mustang- but this A-body fastback would evolve to contain ever-more-powerful V-8 engines, and in E-body Barracuda, 'Cuda, and Challenger forms, would peak with the legendary 426 Hemi. The Dart, which graduated from "senior compact" to midsize B-body, would spawn the sporting 340-powered Swinger and Demon, and even the F-body Aspen and Volar”

Those who are diehard Mopar fanatics have a new book to buy. It focuses on the rise and fall of Mopar's golden age of high cubic inch, high horsepower muscle cars, and the economy-focused era that followed it. In addition to featuring all the muscle cars you would imagine such as the mighty E-bodies, the book is the first to cover the Chrysler F-body cars, namely, the Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volare; and is the only current book that covers the A-Body Barracuda and Valiant in detail. It also takes a look at the Chrysler Corporation's business from 1950 to present, examining its renowned engineering and styling innovations. Additional chapters cover the Mopar Missiles & Dodge Hemi Colt, as well as putting the A-Body Demon and modern LC-Body Challenger Demon together. A 176-page hardcover behemoth, with over 250 previously unseen pictures, new Mopar artwork, and text written with the assistance of Mopar legends Don Gartlis, Buddy Martin and Mr. Norm, this book is an absolute must for those whose mantra is "Mopar or No Car." - Street Muscle Magazine. This is a very good book, 170 pages plastered with evocative images and outlining in some depth how cars like the Plymouth Barracuda, Dodge Challenger and Dart, and even the economy-chasing Plymouth Valiant, powered their way to success. - Retro Speed. Molar is a concept in the racing world and during the golden sixties and seventies, Chrysler (but that also applies to the other American manufacturers) shot sharply: the Muscle Cars were if the, until the insurance companies and the environmental rules changed the rules of the game. From 1964 on, Chrysler interfered with his Mopar division and produced some Muscle Car jewels, the Barracuda, the Challenger and just go on. Today they even treat us to a lot of fun again with the hot and hot Hellcat versions! This book you want to initiate in the world of fast Chryslers, Dodges and Plymouths. - Old-timer Magazine/Dreamcar Magazine. In the US the extra thick and sporting versions of their car brands are rapidly gaining in popularity. Prices are rising. This book responds to this by describing the Mopar versions of the Plymouth Barracuda and Valiant and the Dodge Dart and Challenger. It starts with slender Barracuda from 1965 and ends with the absurd CO2 canines Dodge Challenger Hellcat and Demon. In between, the unknown models. Such as Dodge Aspen R/T. In the back of the link with Monteverdi that used the Mopar engines and technical data of the most important models. A rare book with a lot of information that the Mopar does well. -Klassiek & Techniek. Marc Cranswick's new book on the history of Chrysler's compact cars, from their inception in 1960 to the final death rattle circa 1980, is said to be the first book dedicated to the smaller Plymouth and Dodge economy cars. Copious pictures, a knowledgeable and involving text results in a great read! - Classic American. This is an enjoyable book that covers a fascinating but difficult period for US car manufacturers, from the days of unbridled horsepower to the fuel crises of the 1970s, issues around insurance cover and federal emission rules, changes of company ownership, and a return to power being more acceptable! Chrysler's marques were in the thick of this, and Cranswick's book provides a neat journey through those years. - Classic Driver (monthly). Readers will enjoy Cranswick's detail and specifications-packed text, his inclusion of notable characters, and this book's wealth of period and modern illustrations. It is a great historical overview worthy of your shelf. – Hemmings Muscle Machines.

Marc Cranswick has written about and drawn the cars and trucks of the Big 3 and independent automakers for over 15 years. He writes enthusiast-directed model-related history books, and has involvement with many car clubs. In the Mopar world he is known for the reference book The Cars of American Motors - An Illustrated History, as seen on NBC's business channel CNBC. His other books include Ford Midsize Muscle - Fairlane, Torino & Ranchero; Mazda Rotary-Engined Cars and Pontiac Firebird - The Auto-Biography.

At the dawn of the 1960s, Chrysler Corp introduced a new kind of sophisticated family car called the Valiant. The Plymouth Valiant, and its cousin the Dodge Dart, travelled Detroit's path from economy car to high-performance machine in style. Snazzier still, were the subsequent Plymouth Barracuda and Dodge Challenger relations that took on all comers in the pony and muscle car wars. By the mid '70s a change of pace saw Dodge Aspen and Plymouth Volar

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