If someone takes it upon them self to name their car after a mythical creature that can destroy literally whatever it feels like, then you better get your camera and start paying attention.
That was my thought process as soon as a random Instagram tag brought me to my new friend, Aman, and his 1970 Plymouth Barricuda that he has affectionately named: Kraken Kuda. I was so awestruck by the Destroyer Grey paint job and the slammed stance of the car, I just knew that this would be something to behold in person.
The day we met up to shoot, I could hear the car long before it rumbled down into an empty parking lot outside Delta, British Columbia. I felt nervous as if a monster was making its way towards me, but my nerves subsided when I saw just how beautiful this car was. We quickly exchanged ‘hellos’ and after I wiped the drool from my sweater, we began to wander around and take in some angles on the beautiful ’70 Cuda.
The Magnum 408 C.I.D. stroker V8 sounded smooth and healthy idling around the yard, and it easily fired to life whenever we moved the car around for a new shot. The motor was blueprinted and built at Motor Works in Spokane, Washington, and sent to Aman here in BC.
The V8 is backed by a built TorqueFlite 727 transmission and a Mopar 8 ¾-inch rear end. Feeding the beefy powertrain air and fuel is a Holley 770 carburettor atop an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake and Performer cylinder heads. All that air gets slammed together with fuel and spark above a set of Icon forged pistons and Eagle connecting rods. Once that glorious combustion occurs, there is an Eagle forged crankshaft to handle the rotation and horsepower.
While the drivetrain had my head in a daze of glorious Mopar affection, the body and chassis of the Cuda left my eyes watering with absolute delight.
When it came time to do the suspension of the car, it was opted to go for an air ride setup from Ridetech Suspension. Aman wanted the feel of an old muscle car but with the ability to stand out and have the car lay its headers down at any opportunity. He left the interior of the car in fairly stock form to keep the ’70s vibe intact with modern day refinement and reliability.
Asides from having the motor built, Aman did most of the work on the car in his spare time at his home garage. He bought it in 2014 on a rotisserie, after the ex owner had hit a dead spot in the project and left the car alone.
Still attending university at the time, he happened to find the ad for the bare hulk of a car. Once he saw it; the goal was set, the car was purchased and it came home and work began on what is now his dream car.
One of the coolest parts of our shoot was a moment of crackling revs echoing off the shop walls before the hiss of the air ride letting the car settle onto the floor. The car handles corners well and rides pretty comfortably with the air setup and can be adjusted to be more or less aggressive depending on the situation.
Putting power to the ground and rounding out the look of the car is a set of Bassett steelies wrapped in Hercules tires. They give the car the perfect look and accent the stance just right with that ’70s racecar flair.
For now, Aman is leaving the car as is, mostly because it is exactly as he had pictured it the day he first saw it in bare metal on the rotisserie.
This car bares the name of a mythical monster that would instill a similar level of awe and amazement on the general populous, and it’s all due to his hard work and un-wavering dedication. Aman created a gorgeous and incredible beast from a car that otherwise was a forgotten and lonely fish.
Maybe at some time down the road we all will hear the legend of the little Barricuda that became the Kraken.
Andrew Ritchie
Instagram: ridic_u_loose
Follow Aman and the Kraken Kuda on Instagram @Kraken_kuda
How to join the IATS program: We have always welcomed readers to contact us with examples of their work and believe that the best Speedhunter is always the person closest to the culture itself, right there on the street or local parking lot. If you think you have what it takes and would like to share your work with us then you should apply to become part of the IAMTHESPEEDHUNTER program. Read how to get involved here.
