Last week I opined about the definition of a “pony car”. Traditionally, and I didn’t think it up – I just echo the established definition that I have seen so many times before, it’s a long hood, short deck, compact-based platform with 2+2 seating – V8 engine or not. The first thought is usually the Ford Mustang, perhaps due to its horse association, but others include the Chevrolet Camaro, Pontiac Firebird, Mercury Cougar, AMC Javelin, Plymouth Barracuda/’Cuda, and Dodge Challenger. But, hold on a minute and back up to that Barracuda. It was actually first to the dance in April 1964, besting the behemoth Ford Mustang by a couple of weeks. And today, we have a first year, 1964 Barracuda for your review – and this one’s a real looker! Located in Rancho Cucamonga, California, this pony is available, here on craigslist for $27,000.
The Barracuda’s Valiant origins are obvious, at least via the front clip. It’s the rear portion of the car with its outsized rear window that establishes and reinforces, its identity. Offered in fastback-only form, Barracuda’s first-year sales were approximately 24K copies – OK for a mid-year introduction but about a fifth of what Ford’s newly minted Mustang managed. The Barracuda would remain largely unchanged through the ’66 model year.
Said to be wearing a repaint, this fastback’s black finish just gleams. It appears to be free of nicks, dings, dents, scratches, creases, panel damage, and rust. The perfect chrome and stainless trim is befitting a car of this quality. The red stripe tires are a bit premature for ’64, but they are a fabulous addition. The doggie-bowl hubcap routine seems done to death these days but in this case, it works fine. The underside images reveal a very sound-looking platform.
One of the best aspects of this vintage Barracuda is the fold-down rear seat – it adds great functionality to a car with sporting intentions. The seller claims that the interior is original and it is certainly in excellent shape – all of it, the upholstery, door panels, carpet, and the rear under-glass area. It’s safe to say that it needs no attention. Research indicates that this first-year Barracuda is the last year for ChryCo’s push-button actuated automatic transmission.
At one time a 180 HP, 273 CI V8 engine called this Plymouth’s front clip, home. Not anymore, the original “LA” small block has been replaced with a 360 CI mill. Without going into engine specifics, we’re told, “Car runs and drives great, lots of power“. I bet!
It’s unfortunate that Plymouth got short-shrift over their new Barracuda. They used the same formula that Ford applied to the Mustang but Ford’s pony was an unmitigated, massive sales success while the Barracuda just muddled along. Too bad, if all Barracudas had presented like this example, perhaps they would have sold better, wouldn’t you agree?
I only 1965 valiant that had the identical tail lights on it versus that that came on the 64 valiant with the rectangle reflector beneath the vertical tail light lenses. My question is did somebody put a 64 front end on a 65 barracuda?
Your wrong. This is a 64. My mother had one and they were called 64 and a half model year.
But it isn’t adorned with 64 taillights and it does have a 64 grill.
What makes you think this is a 64 grill, looks just like my 65 was.
And that’s my concern, as to why it looks like a 65 instead of a 64.
The 64 and 65 used the same grille and tail lights. The only difference was the dash, push buttons for 64, floor shifter for 65 and the dropping of the valiant emblem under the trunk
The 64 and 65 Barracuda had the same grille and taillights the 66 Barracuda(and valiant) had the rectangular taillights
and only the 64 had dash mounted automatic controls
I’ve owned my ’64 Barracuda since ’86 and my sister owned a ’64 Signet convert in the late 60’s, so I have some history with these A bodies.
Another external difference between the ’64 & ’65 is the length of the tail of the “a” on the front fender ‘Barracuda” nameplate; all ’64’s had an extended tail on the “a” where all ’65’s (or maybe except some early ’65 cars ) had a short tail. I did see an original gold ’64 Cuda at a Papa’s Dodge MoPar show in Ct in the 90’s that also did not have the Valiant script on the tail panel (no patched holes in the trunk, either). BTW – that Valiant tail script first appeared on the front fenders of the ’60 Valiant.
64 1/2 models usually had a “Valiant”
emblem above the bumper on the rt
rear. The 64 had a smaller inst. cluster, push button auto trans to left of steering wheel on dash. Tail lights were the same 64 to 65. 64 valiant had rear rectangular lenses, as well as 66
barracuda bezels we’re squared off
Love it, want it
They made a 1964 and a 1965 dealer brochere using the black with red combo with the difference’s.
Owned both a 1964 and 1965 in the black/red combo and kudo’s to all for the correct replies.
This’d have to be a midnight rider for me.
A black car with no air and a huge bubble of a back window would parboil me within a couple of hours in my neck of the woods.
You got that right. I had a copper colored 65 Barracuda with black interior, with a hang in a/c. I live in the Atlanta, Ga. area and I couldn’t have used that car without a/c in the summer. When it sat in the sun I couldn’t hold the steering wheel until it cooled down some. It had a/6, automatic, and it had enough power.
“Parboil”? Is that like “charbroil”? Just curious
Throw in the all vinyl upholstery you’ve got a 4 wheel microwave!
I would be tempted to call this an early “Muscle car”
Those were nice cars. I was a Dodge guy and owned a 65 Dart Charger 273 V8. Little did I know they were kinda rare at a 150 copies or so. I sold mine in 1973 and the kid crashed it into a tree or telephone pole? I saw it at a local salvage lot about a year later. It was totalled. ☹️ It was pretty quick. It ran 14.70s and actually was the National Record holder in AHRA KOA.
My brother had a 65 Dart Charger in 1972 with a 4-speed. I had a 65 Dart GT at the same time with a 225/4-speed. He was never happy that I could beat him in short races. His car was pretty beat but still had the Cragar mags that were offered on them.
Best looking body style to wear the Barracuda nameplate
My mom had 64 Valient wagon, The exterior of this one appears to have a 65 front clip, and taillights. The interior is very 64.
Four words……Hurst Hemi Under Glass. The baddest barracuda ever. Gets my vote. This black beauty also gets my thumbs up!
This is a debate that seemingly will go on forever. Granted, the Mustang got its underpinnings from the Falcon, but aside from that, it was a completely new and different car, and every car ever made, had a cousin with the same underpinnings. The original Barracuda was simply a fastback version of a Valiant. I’m not knocking it, I’m just saying. But I’ve always liked the first Barracudas, especially the 66. I’d rather have this than a later “Cuda”
I hated this car. It was so ugly and slow.
Not so sure about the slow part, my 65 with Commando 273. 325 hp and 4 speed ran pretty darn good. Problem was front end got light around 110 mph.
Always liked the early Barracudas
My dad had one with the under dash a/c and 273. Had valve clatter real bad but ran ok. A/c was marginal at best
Not if you dropped a 69 model 340 with a A833 4 speed with an 8/34 positrac and 3.55 gears like the one I’ve had since 87. Then all you could say was that my tail lights were ugly!
I owned a 64 valiant back in the 2000s.it had red interior and a 225 slant six,push button auto.i had put 8.75″posi in it w/3.55 gears and had 14in rallye wheels.did this in prep for a 340 swap,but ended up selling the car to finance other projects
I just purchased a 64 cuda for my wife. It was a roller, no engine but did have the 4 speed trans. I put a 8.75 posi and a 360. It’s not completed yet, I just found the ultra rare exhaust manifold that fits on the drivers side. A little wiring and an exhaust system and it’ll be road worthy. I hated these cars for years but, I’ve learned to love it now. I have no idea why, maybe because it’s the 1st muscle car ever made.
I’m not a Mopar guy, but wow what a fantastic looking car!
As to all the comments above about 64 vs 65 taillights and front grill, a quick Google search shows pics of dozens of 64’s that have these exact same taillights and grill. One example here — https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1964-plymouth-barracuda/
Then Google 65, and they look exactly the same as the 64 examples.
According to this website: https://www.streetmusclemag.com/features/car-features/at-a-glance-how-to-spot-differences-in-1964-1966-barracuda/
“The first three years of the Plymouth Barracuda Fastback are 1964 through 1966, however, in 1964 the model was actually a Valiant with the Barracuda option. In 1965 the Barracuda became its own model, and was visually identical to the 1964 model,” and “Other than the Valiant script on the rear, these two cars are virtually identical (1964 is on the left, 1965 is on the right).”
Inside dash gauges were different though. And this car has 64 dash.
And the rectangular lower taillights mentioned above apparently are on the 66’s only.
Either way, beautiful car!
And the black Barracuda does not have the Valiant script on the trunk rear end.
Keep in mind, the Commando 273 Four Barrel wasn’t introduced until the 1965 Model Year. The 180 HP 273 2 barrel was as good as it got on these in 1964.
Very cool! The rear windows are worth more the the cars sometimes.
The rear end kind of reminds me of the AMC Pacer, no?
no
And don’t forget about sporting intentions with the fold down back seat
And the fold down Partition between the interior & the trunk. 16 yr old me thought it was great…
“The red stripe tires are a bit premature for ’64”. I don’t believe so, as IIRC, the 64 GTO had the red line Tiger Paws.
64/65/66 came with 273 v8 or slant 6 273v8 with 4 bbl 4 spd or 273 2 bbl tork flt or 3 spd col no other v8 was offerd
The 273 offered in 65 had a bump up commando
Option. 273 solid lifter cam and adjustable rockers 4 barrel.
All 273 engines were solid lifters
Yep, if it looks like a 318 and sounds like a slant six, it’s a 273!
I mowed alot of lawns to buy my dads 65 formula S in 1974 fun car lousy brakes and got squirrely as you got up into 100mph back glass ate thru carpet and realistic speakers sounded good with thrush pipes, traded it for a Coronet. Good times!
Bought my 65 Commando 4 speed in 1970 for $100, great shape but needed a paint job. Corvette yellow looked great on it and a JC Whitney dual exhaust kit and chrome reverse rear wheels. Pretty good ride for a sophomore.
My first car was a 65 4 speed 273 ci the front grill had the two parking lights in it the 64 did not therefore it looks like a 65 to me mine was white with black interior. Only seen one since.mine hit a tree 54 years ago .I still miss it
My dad has a sweet low mileage(89000) 66, real pale yellow with od green interior, all original. Under dash air, column shift.
The yellow of that era went pale I believe
My first car was a ’64 Valiant with the 273 push button tranny. So naturally I wanted the cooler looking barracuda
I’m a GM guy.
But I love this car, and all Baracudas and Cudas.
Very nice!!
Jay Leno flips over barracudas
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVlBuP7aVUw