rear, and the 225 six was dropped, with the 318 and 340 V8s being the only engine choices. For late production 1973 cars, and for 1974 a slightly more powerful 360 V8 (245 E bodyhp) replaced the 340. As since 1970; optional was a four-speed manual transmission (equipped with a Hurst shifter) mated to a performance ratio (3.55 to 1) rear axle for the 340 and 360 engines, though as many as three cars (in both 1973 and 1974) were built with the 318 engine and Hurst 4-speed thru special orders or factory errors. As with other American vehicles of the time, there was a progressive decrease in the Barracuda's performance. To meet increasingly stringent safety and exhaust emission regulations, big-block engine options were discontinued. The remaining engines were detuned year by year to reduce exhaust emissions, which also reduced their power output. There was also an increase in weight as bumpers became larger and, starting in 1970, E-body doors were equipped with heavy steel side-impact protection beams. Higher fuel prices following the 1973 oil crisis and performance-car insurance surcharges deterred many buyers as the interest in high-performance cars waned. Sales of pony cars were on the decline. Sales had dropped dramatically after 1970, and while 1973 showed a sales uptick, Barracuda production ended April 1, 1974, ten years to the day after it had begun. Engines Engine choices by Chrysler for the 1970-73 Barracuda included the following: B: Slant 6 I6: 1970–71 SAE gross, 1972 SAE net C: Slant 6 I6: 1970–71 SAE gross, 1971-72 SAE net G: LA V8 (2-barrel carburetor, single exhaust): 1970-71 SAE gross, 1971 SAE net, 1972-74 SAE net H: LA V8 (4-barrel carburetor, dual exhaust): 1970-71 SAE gross, 1971 SAE net, 1972-73 SAE net J: LA V8 (3×2-barrel carburetor): 1970 SAE gross, used in AAR Cuda L: LA V8 (4-barrel carburetor, dual exhaust): 1974 SAE net L: B V8 (2-barrel carburetor, single exhaust): 1970 SAE gross, 1971 SAE gross, 1971 SAE net N: B V8 (4-barrel carburetor, dual exhaust): 1970 SAE gross N: B V8 Magnum (4-barrel carburetor, dual exhaust): 1970 at 5,000 rpm SAE gross and at 3,200 rpm of torque, 1971 SAE gross, 1971 SAE net U: RB V8 Magnum 4-barrel Holley AVS-4737S carburetor: 1970 at 4,600 rpm and at 3,200 rpm of torque SAE gross, (1971 SAE gross, SAE net only in Satellite GTX and Plymouth Sport Fury GT) V: RB