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72 thru 74 cudas

Posted By: harborracer

72 thru 74 cudas - 04/28/12 11:35 PM

What are some ways to tell the difference between 72-73-74 Cudas?
thanks a lot!
Posted By: Pacnorthcuda

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/28/12 11:52 PM

Easiest way? Check the 6th digit of the VIN
Posted By: harborracer

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/29/12 12:00 AM

Theres no vin. Its just a general question so I know how to tell the 3 years apart from eachother. grills ? headlights? tail lights?
thanx !
Posted By: BS27R1B

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/29/12 12:06 AM

72 fugly grille, round tail lights.

73 fugly grille, large rubber bumper guards, round tail lights.

74, fugly grille, huge rubber bumper guards, round tail lights.
Posted By: biginchmotor

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/29/12 12:24 AM

73 - 74 Barracudas had a larger trunk lock cylinder in the tail light panel held in with a large threaded nut, 72 had the 70 - 71 style trunk lock cylinder held in with a clip. Seat belts are different also. If the glass is there check out the date codes. Do you have some pictures? Especially of the grill area as I like the grill on those year Barracudas.
Posted By: harborracer

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/29/12 01:20 AM

Thanks gentlemen.
I dont like to go by the bumper guards because they can be removed.
Biginch,that was helpful. Any differences in the grill between the three years?
Posted By: biginchmotor

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/29/12 01:43 AM

The 72 grill will not have the screw holes for the bumper filler strip that was used on the 73-74 models. I think 73-74 model year front bumper brackets had 3 bolt holes in each front frame rail. My 72 has 2 threaded holes in the front frame rails for the bumper brackets. Also the 73-74 cars had screw holes in the body by the tail light panel for the rear bumper filler to be attached with.
Posted By: harborracer

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/29/12 02:10 AM

Sounds like if one is driving down the highway its not so easy to determine the exact year unless your really close to it.
I was thinking the center portion of the grill where the 6 slots/vents are (3 per side) was different thru the 3 years. However, based on what all you are saying they are all the same.
thanks alot for your help.
Pete
Posted By: 72blubird

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/29/12 05:00 AM

if it has stripes on the side each year is different.
Posted By: Sunroofcuda

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/29/12 05:03 AM

Quote:

if it has stripes on the side each year is different.



I know the '72 is a one year only type stripe, but always thought the '73&4 was the same??
Posted By: Evil Monkey

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/30/12 06:31 AM

72s are easy to tell apart from 73s and 74s. 72s have the bumpers close in to the body, like the 70s and 71s did, and they used the same thin chrome bumper guards that hang below the rear bumper like the 70s and 71s did. For 73s and 74s the bumpers stick out about 2 inches further out from the body front and back due to the "5 MPH Bumper" federal regulations, and they came with the big ugly rubber bumper guards that many people removed over the years. You can see those bumpers sticking out away from the body from a long way away.

You could tell the difference between a 73 and 74 if its got the "340-4 barrel" or "360-4 Barrel" emblem on the hood, since 73 was the last year for 340s and 360s were available in 74 only, but that also could have been changed out through the years, so it's not foolproof. Other than that, it's tough to tell the difference between a 73 and a 74 without looking at the numbers.
Posted By: Kern Dog

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/30/12 09:26 AM

Quote:

72 fugly grille, round tail lights.
73 fugly grille, large rubber bumper guards, round tail lights.
74, fugly grille, huge rubber bumper guards, round tail lights.



while I'll admit that the 71 Challenger and 71 Barracuda Grilles are the high water mark for both cars, the 72-74 Cuda grille looked much better than the same year Challengers.
Posted By: drew72

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/30/12 01:54 PM

72's had hardback seats and the 73/74 had softback seats.
Posted By: TC@HP2

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/30/12 02:09 PM

Quote:

72 fugly grille, round tail lights.

73 fugly grille, large rubber bumper guards, round tail lights.

74, fugly grille, huge rubber bumper guards, round tail lights.



Unlike the 71 Cuda that looks like it was designed by an engineer putting every double sidded tape stick accessory possible out of the 1970 JC Whitney catalog.
Posted By: GoodysGotaCuda

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/30/12 02:33 PM

Quote:

Quote:

72 fugly grille, round tail lights.

73 fugly grille, large rubber bumper guards, round tail lights.

74, fugly grille, huge rubber bumper guards, round tail lights.



Unlike the 71 Cuda that looks like it was designed by an engineer putting every double sidded tape stick accessory possible out of the 1970 JC Whitney catalog.



Posted By: DPelletier

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/30/12 03:16 PM

Quote:

Quote:

72 fugly grille, round tail lights.
73 fugly grille, large rubber bumper guards, round tail lights.
74, fugly grille, huge rubber bumper guards, round tail lights.



while I'll admit that the 71 Challenger and 71 Barracuda Grilles are the high water mark for both cars, the 72-74 Cuda grille looked much better than the same year Challengers.





'72 - '74 'Cuda grill looks good....challenger, not so much. From a strickly styling perspective, I think the '72 and up grill looks better than the '70. Instead of looking at the 5mph bumpers and the bumper guards as a big negative, I am reminded that they are 1000% better than what GM did to their cars to comply; we got lucky!








Dave
Posted By: DPelletier

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/30/12 03:21 PM



vs.

Posted By: DPelletier

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/30/12 03:26 PM



vs.



anyhow, sorry for getting a little off topic.

Dave
Posted By: DPelletier

Re: 72 thru 74 cudas - 04/30/12 03:30 PM

My ugly '74 survivor;



Dave
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