This captive whitefish is a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda and it’s on Craigslist in Marianna, Florida, about 70 miles NW of the capital city, Tallahassee. The seller is asking $7,500 for this one.
The body on this beauty of a Barracuda (try saying that ten times in a row) looks pretty nice, and the seller says that it’s been redone at some point in its history. It’s also been stored in a barn for 38 years, so it only has about a dozen years of use on it so far. The odometer shows 5,166 miles, which I would bet is actually 105,166, but I can’t be sure. One thing I can be sure of, you do not want to break that rear glass! Hagerty lists a #4 “fair” car as being worth $9,100 so maybe this isn’t a bad deal? This first-generation Barracuda (1964-1966) is by far my personal favorite, just in case any of you win the Powerball and.. (crickets)..
It looks like whatever bodywork was done on/to this car is beginning to rear its head, or was that rear its ugly head? But, for being 51-years old it looks like it wouldn’t be as much of a nightmare to get the body back into shape as it would have been with a car that has been driven for those 38 years that this one was stored in a barn. I always think of Florida, and California (as in, the Chevy Sprint post), as being spots where people can usually count on rust-free vehicles because they don’t really get snow. But, the salt air can wreak havoc on metal almost as much as salty roads in the north can.
The interior, on the other hand, looks great. There’s a glitch on the corner of the driver’s seat but just about everything else looks good to me. A thorough cleaning would do wonders for this car and I always wonder why sellers don’t clean things as much as possible before listing them for sale? Wouldn’t that bring more money, in general? Hmm.. The rear seat looks great, other than that dirty-line which I automatically think is a water line, but it can’t be. I’m not sure what that is. And, the rear area even comes with a roll of drawings showing the plans for your new living quarters above your garage, which is where you’ll be spending the rest of your life if you drag yet another project home!
This is a 273 V8, not the six-cylinder that I assumed would be in there. This 273 is known as the LA, or, “Light A”, engine due to it being around 50 pounds lighter than the previous A engines. The seller says that this engine will need plugs and wires to run, but I’m guessing it’ll need more than that after sitting for 38 years. It turns over, which is a good sign. And, you can see the single-reservoir master-cylinder which a lot of folks would recommend switching to a dual-cylinder for safety sake. This one should have had 180 hp when it was new. This looks like a pretty solid car for hopefully what wouldn’t be a back-breaking restoration, but with no undercarriage photos, who knows what shape the bones are in. Is anyone else a fan of the first-generation fastback Barracudas?
My first car, in 1972, was a ’65 slant 6 with three on the tree and white just like this one. I had it for a year. the rust had already begun to creep in..The engine needed a ring job ..at least. and I was just 19 an couldn’t afford it. Then again I should have kept the car as my next one was a ’68 Bel Air…talk about a change in direction!
When I was 16 or so, a friend of mine’s father bought a new 1965 in what I remember as a gold color. It had the automatic and the 6 cylinder engine. I thought it was cool then, but I have to say that my older self sees it as a Valiant with a bulbous glass hatch…not the most attractive of cars IMO. On the other hand, it was miles better looking than the earlier Valiants. The 1965 was a nice car to drive, but it really wasn’t the sporty car Mopar was striving to produce in comparison to Ford’s Mustang. Their later versions did a much better job of that, but by that time Camaros, Firebirds, Challengers, AMCs (what am I leaving out) were there as serious competition.
Front end is so high I assumed there was no powerplant until I saw the photo. Broken rear spring or two? Or have they ratcheted those rear tiedowns one time too many?
Rear end is tied down. These will always remind me of the Hemi Under Glass. Check out the Youtube where Bob Riggle takes Jay Leno for a spin and rolls it !
For $7500 I would expect that a seller could at least take it off the trailer, wash it, and spring for a set of plugs and wires to get it running. But hey…that’s none of my business.
I have to say, I’m surprised a #4 is worth that much. I do like these, just didn’t realize the value.
That car is not a 4 .the condition it’s in maybe 4500.
I had a 65 as my first car. Went though 3 rear ends in 2 years. The good thing is that Valiant parts were interchangeable and always in stock at the boneyard. Loved that car.
I’ve owned my ’64 cuda for 30 years, I show it, and I think this is way too much money for this car. A year or so ago a guy would show up at a major cruise nite in the area trying all summer to sell his very nice ’65 Formula S for around $12,000, as I recall. Don’t think he sold it until he dropped the price to $9,500. And that was a turn key car that was spotless inside and out.
First generation Barracuda’s are fun, reliable, great running cars, well received by most everyone who sees them, and there are actually enough reproduction parts available to get you underwater if you bought them all. Even the suggested $4500 is a stretch – it’s got rust in the left side front and rear fenders at the wheel openings, and it looks like the right front fender wheel flare is crimped. Good start, but not for that money.
With you guys…..owned a bunch of these – among them two S car’s a 65/66…yes he’s high on the price…the barn find red 4 speed that was listed here was a buy !….think it was in Tenn….that center grill is on hard piece to come buy in nice condition….does it run ? Maybe a $3500 car….remember it’s not a Ford or Chevy…..
lawrence
I like the first gen barracuda’s, the 68 / 69’s were much more attractive and not so tied to the Valiant’s. This could be a nice car and I like the fact that it’s a factory V8, but I agree with still runners, it’s a $3500 car.
Price is insane. These 1st gen barracudas weren’t worth half the asking price 4-5 years ago.
“A thorough cleaning would do wonders for this car and I always wonder why sellers don’t clean things as much as possible before listing them for sale? Wouldn’t that bring more money, in general? Hmm”
For some reason as the lazy rat rod mentality that has invaded the hobby, people think the dirtier, rustier and groadier it is the better. Looking at the rat rod programs on TV their shops are disaster areas and the peoples personal hygiene looks to leave a lot to be desired. And the prices they want for junk are absolutely insane. Like I really want to buy what they are selling.
There is something about these early Valliant Cudas I like. 7500? Meh!