When Burger King launched its now legendary “Have it your way” campaign in the 1970s, the slogan struck a chord with a generation hungry for individuality. For Dan Reggie of Harveys Lake, Pennsylvania, that same spirit perfectly defined his bond with his 1970 ’Cuda. Like many Mopar faithful, Dan dreamed of owning a Hemi, but reality, and a tight budget, steered him elsewhere.
Undeterred, he carved his own path, landing a modest ’70 Barracuda equipped with a 318 and three-speed manual. What it lacked in brute horsepower, it more than made up for in presence. Drenched in Moulin Rouge, one of Chrysler’s rarest and most electrifying High Impact hues, the car commanded attention louder than any option sheet ever could. From that foundation, Dan began crafting his true “have it your way” build.
By 1970, the Barracuda had outgrown its Valiant roots, reemerging on Chrysler’s all-new E-body platform. Wider, lower, and more muscular, it featured an engine bay capable of swallowing everything from the humble Slant Six to the fire-breathing 426 Hemi. With its low stance, broad quarters, and aggressive fenders, the ’Cuda radiated menace. Dan’s vision was clear: transform his humble 318 into the Hemi-powered dream car he had only fantasized about when new.
Dan purchased the Barracuda in 2011 and quickly began laying the groundwork for its revival. Over the years, he tracked down and restored countless components, from the radio and speakers to the wiper motor, power steering unit, alternator, radiator, and even fresh seat covers.
From March 2020 to July 2024, the full makeover came to life through false starts, late-night garage sessions with friends, and Dan’s relentless hours in the basement at the workbench.
Bringing the ‘Cuda to life meant tackling some serious metalwork along the way. The front fenders, one inner fender, firewall, and both front and rear floor pans were replaced. Dan meticulously replicated the factory look, even mimicking Chrysler’s famously “sloppy” seam sealer and spot welds.
The best example of the original FM3 paint was found on the backside of the sheet metal panels that fold over the wire harnesses running from the front to the rear between the driver’s seat and door sill. These panels were removed and photographed by a paint supplier, Jacob’s Auto Supplies, to recreate the exact 1970 hue, with a close friend handling the metal and paintwork.
With the body ready, it was time to tick the right boxes on the imaginary order form. First up: the legendary 426 dual four-barrel Hemi. In 1970, this option alone added $871 to the base $3,164 price of a BS23 two-door hardtop ’Cuda and required a collapsible spare.
Dan’s modern take on the Hemi began with a 2018 Mopar Performance block, fortified with a K1 crankshaft (4.500-inch stroke, eight-bolt pattern), K1 7.1-inch connecting rods, and CP custom pistons. Stage V aluminum heads and a matching intake wore twin Edelbrock 650 cfm carburetors.
Billet rocker assemblies, roller rockers, and solid roller lifters ensured durability at high rpm. Spark was managed by a Mopar Performance billet distributor paired with an MSD Digital Ignition box, while a mix of NOS and restored OEM accessories preserved an authentic look. Tim Banning of For Hemis Only assembled and dyno-tested the engine, which belted out an earth-shaking 758 horsepower.
Backing the monster was the Super Track Pak, featuring 4.10 gears in a 9¾-inch Dana 60 axle with a Sure Grip differential, ordered new from Strange Engineering to exact E-body specifications. Dan had the 4-speed transmission rebuilt by Jamie Passon at Passon Performance.
The package also included a seven-blade Torque Drive fan, 26-inch radiator with shroud, Hemi suspension handling upgrades, and power front-disc brakes, features originally available only with four-speed 440s and Hemis.
For the inside, Dan ordered the Rallye Instrument Cluster, adding a 150-mph speedometer, tach, trip odometer, oil pressure gauge, woodgrain applique, and a heater control floodlight. The Light Package brought courtesy, trunk, glovebox, ignition, and ashtray lights, plus fender-mounted turn signal indicators and a headlight-on warning buzzer.
Tracking down the correct housings and wiring to make it all work was a labor of love. Finally, the Basic Group tied it together: power steering, chrome remote-control driver’s mirror, three-speed variable wipers with washer, and a solid-state AM radio.
If we could peek at the two (imaginary) fender tags, we would find the following:
Key Options & Packages
• A01 Light Package
• A04 Basic Group
• A34 Super Track Pak Package
• A62 Rallye Instrument Cluster
• C13 Shoulder Belts Front Left & Right
• C55 Bucket Seats
• D21 4-Speed Manual Transmission Floor Shift (A833)
• E74 426 V8 “Hemi” Dual 4 Barrel Carburetors HP (8 Cylinder) 425 Horsepower
• F13 60 Amp Alternator
• F25 70 AMP Battery Heavy Duty (Series 27 with RED Caps)
• F81 Deck Lid Release Remote
• G36 Painted Racing Mirrors: Driver Side Remote Adjusting / Passenger Side Manual Adjusting
• G41 Prismatic Rear View Mirror
• H11 Front Heater
• H31 Rear Window Defogger with Blower
• J11 Glove Box Lock
• J15 Cigar Lighter
• J31 Dual Horns
• J42 Pistol Grip Shift Handle
• J45 Hood Tie Down Pins
• J81 Rear Spoiler (Wing)
• L06 Dome / Reading Lamp
• L34 Road Lamps
• L74 Headlamp Switch Lite w/ Timer
• M21 Drip Rail Moldings
• M25 Body Sill Moldings (fish gill)
• M83 Rear Bumper Guards
• N23 Electronic Ignition System
• N41 Dual Exhaust
• N42 Bright Tip Exhaust
• N96 Carb Fresh Air Package SHAKER
• R22 10-Watt Radio AM w/ Stereo 8 Track
• R31 Dual Rear Speakers w/ R22 & R35 RadiosS83 Steering Wheel – Rim Blow
• V1X Full Vinyl Roof Black
• W34 Collapsible Spare Tire
• FM3 Moulin Rouge in Plymouth (HIGH IMPACT COLOR)
According to Dan, the most difficult parts to acquire were original Chrysler components, not reproduction pieces. Among them were the front grille and headlight bezels, master cylinder, brake booster with offset bracket for a Hemi, space-saver spare tire, correct jack components, 8-track trim bezel, fader knob for rear speakers, alternator, a usable shaker hood bubble, rear defrost components with two rear speakers installed, radiator, and power steering fluid cooler.
When the ’Cuda debuted in August 2024, Dan took it to two multi-manufacturer car shows. The first Mopar show, Mopar Muscle of Central PA at Kaiser Brothers Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep, Ram, initially made him anxious about the ‘Cuda’s reception, but the positive responses exceeded his expectations.
He was relieved not to have to explain that the car was not originally a Hemi, or that he never altered a 340, 383, or 440 car, knowing most enthusiasts could read the fender tag and realize the car was once “only” a 318 Barracuda.
Dan’s Barracuda may not have rolled off the Hamtramck line as it appears today, but it represents the ultimate realization of what could have been. Built with painstaking authenticity, period-correct details, and a Hemi that makes modern challengers sweat, his Moulin Rouge ’Cuda embodies the timeless Mopar ethos: have it your way.
