Dodge Challenger & Plymouth Barracuda

There’s a continuing mystique surrounding Chrysler’s sibling muscle cars, the Dodge Challenger and Plymouth Barracuda, reflected in their sometimes astronomic prices on the classic car market. What is it about Morpars pony cars that commands such enduring loyalty to the marque? You can find out in Peter Grist’s comprehensive history of the development of the two cars, recently reprinted in paperback form. Its 192 pages are full of photos, many from Chryslers archives and contemporary advertising. Grist has clearly done his homework, interviewing many of the people who worked on the designs of the cars. As with most of the great muscle cars, success did not come overnight. The Barracuda concept started in the late fifties ad the compact Plymouth Valiant, a direct competitor to Fords Falcon, Chervolets Corsair and AMCs Rambler. Dodges Challenger was a latecomer, as by the late sixties they needed something bigger than their compact Dart, yet smaller that the Charger. The resulting rivalry between the Plymouth and Dodge styling houses, racing to produce a sales-beaitng body on the E-Body chassis, is quite a story. Despite the increasing Establishment resistance to muscle cars, their efforts bore fruit with the stunning 1970 Challenger and Cuda, designs destined for immortality. This should be essential reading for all Mopar muscle fans. – Classic American.

Peter Grist has been writing about American automobiles for over 15 years. After a tenure in the military, Peter started writing for the Chrysler Corp Club UK, which he ran for more than 10 years, editing its monthly magazine, TalkFlite. This led to writing for high street magazines, and his first books: a history of Dodge performance cars and a biography of American auto designer Virgil Exner.

He has owned a succession of American built cars, including a 1955 Buick, a 1959 DeSoto, 1967 Coronet, a Shelby Charger, Jeep Cherokee and an R/T Neon. He currently owns three Dodge vehicles, is married to Catherine and has three children.