High quality Swiss made A - Bodies
- Thread starter - Marvin -
- Start date
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AMAG OWNER
Dusternut72
Hi here is a survivor 1972 Sport Coupe'
AMAG OWNER
Dusternut72
Hi Marvin would you sell 72 brochure i own same car
cliff guinand
71&72 Cdn 340 Specials
Hey Sandy, you just posted your '72 Sport Coupe - sorry, I'm a little confused (easily done, haha), but is that an export car of some sort? Fill us in if it is - I see your in Canada...
AMAG OWNER
Dusternut72
Yes if you search AMAG Switzerland you will get more info, i see there a few that made it to USA
AMAG OWNER
Dusternut72
This is the only one so far that I know of in Canada unless someone is got one hidden
AMAG OWNER
Dusternut72
Owned a 72 340 H Detroit/Hamtramck Assembly duster back in the day but this thing rides tight like a Mercedes in 70s and 80s
- Marvin -
Well-Known Member
Yes, that is true.
I have a 72 AMAG Demon and a 71 Hamtramck Duster for comparison.
And no, I don't sell the brochure...
very interesting info!!
cliff guinand
71&72 Cdn 340 Specials
Yes, too cool. Do you think any of the '71 & '72 Valiant 'Sport Coupes' got 340's?
- Marvin -
Well-Known Member
No, the Valiant Sports got slant/6 or 318's.
Only Barracudas (68-69) and 72 Demons could get the 340 in Schinznach.
And one (!!!) four door Dart Taxi Cab got the 340, but that is a very special story.
cliff guinand
71&72 Cdn 340 Specials
Marvin, very interesting, thanks!
So you say there were a number of Barracuda's (68-69) that were built at Schinznach and some with 340's? Wow. Would you know approximately how many got 340's?
And yes, we've chatted about the/your '72 Demon 340(s). And crazy on that 4 door Dart taxi with the 340.
So you say there were a number of Barracuda's (68-69) that were built at Schinznach and some with 340's? Wow. Would you know approximately how many got 340's?
And yes, we've chatted about the/your '72 Demon 340(s). And crazy on that 4 door Dart taxi with the 340.
- Marvin -
Well-Known Member
Above You can see, there were in sum only 216 Barracudas (2nd Gen) built.
I have seen some survivors; the '67's had either a 273-2bbl or a 273 Commando. I don't remember any slant sixes.
'68's and '69's I remember only 340 cars...but I will try to find out more about them...
They were all fastbacks, the only body style available then in Schinznach.
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cliff guinand
71&72 Cdn 340 Specials
Very interesting... thanks Marvin. That would be awesome if you could find out how many were 340 cars, vs 318 etc., of the '68 and '69's! It would be pretty wild if they were all 340 cars!!!
So, when I made that image/page large, it pixelated, so just want to confirm the numbers:
'67 - 24 made (273's)
'68 - 71 made (340's?)
'69 - 120 made (340's)
One of the reasons I'm asking about the 340's is that I've built a website for the '71 & '72 Canadian Swinger 340 Specials, and I've gone beyond that and made a page on the 340 along with production numbers, and when I found out about your/the Demon 340's (I put 20 made until we confirm closer to the real numbers), along with the '73 Dart Sport 340 that's here on this string - wonder how many of those were made with the 340?
Anyway, check out my site... www.swinger340specials.ca and with these 'Suisse' cars, we can get a more accurate number on how many 340's were produced and from where! Thanks again. C
So, when I made that image/page large, it pixelated, so just want to confirm the numbers:
'67 - 24 made (273's)
'68 - 71 made (340's?)
'69 - 120 made (340's)
One of the reasons I'm asking about the 340's is that I've built a website for the '71 & '72 Canadian Swinger 340 Specials, and I've gone beyond that and made a page on the 340 along with production numbers, and when I found out about your/the Demon 340's (I put 20 made until we confirm closer to the real numbers), along with the '73 Dart Sport 340 that's here on this string - wonder how many of those were made with the 340?
Anyway, check out my site... www.swinger340specials.ca and with these 'Suisse' cars, we can get a more accurate number on how many 340's were produced and from where! Thanks again. C
- Marvin -
Well-Known Member
I know Your website - very interesting and very well done.
I'm trying to collect more information on the 68 - 69 Schinznach - Barracudas. Alas the complete documentation of detailed production numbers (broken down to engine/transmission configuration) is lost.
They built also 1st generation Barracudas in Schinznach (their numbers are included in the Valiant numbers). Most of them seem to have 273-2bbl ((according to the surviving examples) but I know a surviving 273-4 bbl and a slant 6 also.
Yes, the numbers are correct. Here another production sheet:
cliff guinand
71&72 Cdn 340 Specials
Wow, they made a lot of cars there!
So, in your estimation, and you have said possibly all the Barracuda's got 340's for '68 and '69 - but do you really think that was the case? No 318 versions? Too bad those numbers have evaporated but let me know what you think. Thx.
So, in your estimation, and you have said possibly all the Barracuda's got 340's for '68 and '69 - but do you really think that was the case? No 318 versions? Too bad those numbers have evaporated but let me know what you think. Thx.
- Marvin -
Well-Known Member
No, I think they have also built 318s and slant sixes. They offered in all body styles different motorization. But I have no evidence for this, because I remember no surviving Barracuda with lesser motorization.
I’ll try to find out more about it and will report here.
cliff guinand
71&72 Cdn 340 Specials
Awesome. You rock. Thx
Can anyone with a swiss car tell me if theirs has those weird rear shocks with outer springs on them. My car has them and the tag lists a heavy duty suspension option. Could be aftermarket but they sure look original. Does anyone know if this type of shock was available oem?
- Marvin -
Well-Known Member
Schinznach-Cars don't have tags - normally.
Please post a picture of Your tag.
All Schinznach cars and import cars to Europe had the heavy duty suspension (called rallye package on my 66 Valiant), but there were no 'weird shocks with outer springs'.
- Marvin -
Well-Known Member
I've got the information You're looking for - and it is very interesting:
Swiss-made Barracudas 1967 - 1969:
1967: 273 - 2bbl and 273 - 4 bbl, no slant sixes.
1968: 273 - 2 bbl and 340s
1969: 273 - 2 bbl and 340s
Obviously 273 engines leftovers were still sent to Schinznach in 68 and 69; the engines were still painted red. There were no 318s offered in swiss Barracudas. Nearly all Barracudas were fastbacks, but there are few notchbacks (only with 273 c.i.) known. Convertibles were imported - not swiss made - but sold by AMAG; these convertibles got the US-motorization: 225 c.i., 318 c.i. and 340 c.i. Only one big block Barracuda is known and this was a modified race car:
Most of the swiss Barracudas in 68 and 69 seemed to be 340 - Fastbacks. I think they outnumbered the 273 c.i. Barracudas by 4 to 1. I believe they built in these 2 years about 130 - 150 Barracudas equipped with the 340 in Schinznach - therefore the fame of the 340 is still big in Switzerland - nearly every even lesser car enthusiast knows this engine. But exact numbers broken down to motorization are not available; same story as with my Demon; also concerning the leftover engine story.
cliff guinand
71&72 Cdn 340 Specials
Awesome info Marvin!!! Thanks so much.
So, just to get it right, or as close as possible for my website production numbers - would you be good with me rounding the numbers to 140, but because I break them into years, 70 for each year?
Also, I had put 20 Suisse built '72 Demon 340's (like yours), do you think that number is close - more/less? And just out of curiosity, were there any '71 Demon's built at Schinznach? And if so, 340 numbers?
Then, as MoparMike posted here, with his '73 Suisse built Dart Sport 340 (in Maryland) - would you know how many 340 versions might have been built for '73?
Thanks again, it's great that you know so much about these Suisse Mopars, and for me, having a connection to Switzerland (with my cousin living 2 towns away from Schinznach in Birrhard), greatly appreciated. Cliff
So, just to get it right, or as close as possible for my website production numbers - would you be good with me rounding the numbers to 140, but because I break them into years, 70 for each year?
Also, I had put 20 Suisse built '72 Demon 340's (like yours), do you think that number is close - more/less? And just out of curiosity, were there any '71 Demon's built at Schinznach? And if so, 340 numbers?
Then, as MoparMike posted here, with his '73 Suisse built Dart Sport 340 (in Maryland) - would you know how many 340 versions might have been built for '73?
Thanks again, it's great that you know so much about these Suisse Mopars, and for me, having a connection to Switzerland (with my cousin living 2 towns away from Schinznach in Birrhard), greatly appreciated. Cliff
- Marvin -
Well-Known Member
I can only estimate, biut I think there were about 40/45 built in 1968 and 90/100 in 1969 with 340s.
In 1970 and 1971 were no cars with 340 (regularly) built in Schinznach. They built Demons only in 1972.
In 1972 I think up to 40 Demons should have got the 340, because I have seen more surviving 318 Swiss Demons than 340s.
I've never seen another 73 340 Dart Sport like Mopar Mikes; maybe the number of this few cars is included in the US-numbers, they were built in US.
Starting with 1970 the 318 was the prefered engine option in Swiss Mopars, I know quite a number of Darts and Valiant Sport with this motorization.
In three cars of the 72 line-up it was the only available engine, in two models an option:
- Marvin -
Well-Known Member
And the Swiss raced their Barracudas!
This text (and pictures) I stole from another thread in this forum - I think it suits well in this thread too:
New member with Early A! 1964 Barracuda... Rally Car?
In 1966, the Swiss importer (AMAG) of the Plymouth brand came up with something special to prove the suitability of the Barracuda for the Swiss everyday road.
Silvio Moser, Jochen Rindt, Joachim Bonnier, Joseph Siffert (all Racers) tested the first gen fishes at high speed.
"Their job was to hunt the Barracuda over bumpy roads, fast highways, and winding turns. They drove as sportily as the traffic situation allowed. Their superior driving skills allowed them to fully enjoy the possibilities of the Barracuda. It was a real experience to sit in the passenger seat. Striking was the lightning fast footwork, the full concentration, which also transferred to the rider and caused a crackling tension in the car. Also interesting is the fairness to other motorists. It was driven very fast, but safe. Advanced craftsmen were at work, you could learn something.
A surprising conclusion came at the end of the whole action. The Barracuda withstands even the critical judgment of such spoiled professionals."
They alse raced the first gen fishes. Arthur Blank started with a stock Barracuda at Hockenheimring (Race Track):
"Of course I was surprised when the Barracuda was still competitive. [...] When braking the thing, it did not go to his knees, the suspension felt pleasantly taut, yes European. The Barracuda is not a rubber car.
American brakes have been criticized for years. They were outdated and did not meet the demands of braking from high speeds. That was my opinion, too, and I was almost afraid to slow down the 1.4 tons from 200 km/h (~124mp/h). However, my competitors soon made long faces, but I managed several times to slow down the lightweight Europeans. The infamous fading effect remained with the disc brakes even after several laps at the Hockenheimring.
Steering with servo assistance for racing? I clenched my hands over my head. People wanted to kill me, what use was all my steering skills when I had to rely on the reaction of hydraulics. The Chrysler power steering responded as fast as I wanted. My skepticism about the unfamiliar turned into enthusiasm for technical perfection.
In my Barracuda S I had a fully synchronized four-speed gearbox, which was very well graded. Fast times in racing depend not least on how fast the driver works and reacts. English-speaking, short gearshifts and a precise guidance of the stick allowed me here to act in the usual manner. I was quicker than usual.
But I do not want to forget the most important point, the engine. If I always had to keep my revs within a narrow margin on my previous competition cars, I could allow myself to go back 2,000 trips and accelerate fully without having to change gear. "
Here you can find the info in german:
Die hiesigen Rennfahrer und der Barracuda (Oldtimer-Blogartikel vom 10.01.2012) | Zwischengas
"Arthur Blank switched to a '66 Plymouth Barracuda production car with bucket seats and wins 4 more races in addition to Siders Montana and Kandersteg."
Arthur Blank 1967 at International Airfield-Race in "Olympiastadt" Innsbruck (Austria, Europe) in his Barracuda
This text (and pictures) I stole from another thread in this forum - I think it suits well in this thread too:
New member with Early A! 1964 Barracuda... Rally Car?
In 1966, the Swiss importer (AMAG) of the Plymouth brand came up with something special to prove the suitability of the Barracuda for the Swiss everyday road.
Silvio Moser, Jochen Rindt, Joachim Bonnier, Joseph Siffert (all Racers) tested the first gen fishes at high speed.
"Their job was to hunt the Barracuda over bumpy roads, fast highways, and winding turns. They drove as sportily as the traffic situation allowed. Their superior driving skills allowed them to fully enjoy the possibilities of the Barracuda. It was a real experience to sit in the passenger seat. Striking was the lightning fast footwork, the full concentration, which also transferred to the rider and caused a crackling tension in the car. Also interesting is the fairness to other motorists. It was driven very fast, but safe. Advanced craftsmen were at work, you could learn something.
A surprising conclusion came at the end of the whole action. The Barracuda withstands even the critical judgment of such spoiled professionals."
They alse raced the first gen fishes. Arthur Blank started with a stock Barracuda at Hockenheimring (Race Track):
"Of course I was surprised when the Barracuda was still competitive. [...] When braking the thing, it did not go to his knees, the suspension felt pleasantly taut, yes European. The Barracuda is not a rubber car.
American brakes have been criticized for years. They were outdated and did not meet the demands of braking from high speeds. That was my opinion, too, and I was almost afraid to slow down the 1.4 tons from 200 km/h (~124mp/h). However, my competitors soon made long faces, but I managed several times to slow down the lightweight Europeans. The infamous fading effect remained with the disc brakes even after several laps at the Hockenheimring.
Steering with servo assistance for racing? I clenched my hands over my head. People wanted to kill me, what use was all my steering skills when I had to rely on the reaction of hydraulics. The Chrysler power steering responded as fast as I wanted. My skepticism about the unfamiliar turned into enthusiasm for technical perfection.
In my Barracuda S I had a fully synchronized four-speed gearbox, which was very well graded. Fast times in racing depend not least on how fast the driver works and reacts. English-speaking, short gearshifts and a precise guidance of the stick allowed me here to act in the usual manner. I was quicker than usual.
But I do not want to forget the most important point, the engine. If I always had to keep my revs within a narrow margin on my previous competition cars, I could allow myself to go back 2,000 trips and accelerate fully without having to change gear. "
Here you can find the info in german:
Die hiesigen Rennfahrer und der Barracuda (Oldtimer-Blogartikel vom 10.01.2012) | Zwischengas
"Arthur Blank switched to a '66 Plymouth Barracuda production car with bucket seats and wins 4 more races in addition to Siders Montana and Kandersteg."
Arthur Blank 1967 at International Airfield-Race in "Olympiastadt" Innsbruck (Austria, Europe) in his Barracuda
Mine was built in the states and exported to Switzerland. The final assembly was done there including the bucket seats, headlight, etc that were unique on these cars.
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