Isn't 'Cuda a model, not a nickname?

There is no real wrong answer. Technically all Barracudas from 1964 were at some point called Cudas by people on the street shortening the name. Eventually they did come out with a "Cuda" model as mentioned but it was a name that came from the slang term for Barracuda. The slang term was around before the model so for Mopar snobs to say that is not a real "Cuda" is just ignorant. If you are referring to a year model that actually has the Cuda as a model then the argument does hold some water. Just for differentiation purposes.

I hate Mopar snobs. They are worse than Corvette snobs.