With the “right” engine under the hood, the 1968 Plymouth Barracuda was a pretty potent package. This one was originally a competent performer, but the upgrade it now sports takes its performance to a higher level. Whipping it into shape will take deep commitment and more than a weekend of tinkering in a home workshop. However, this classic appears to be far from a lost cause. The seller has listed the Barracuda here on eBay in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They’ve listed this classic for $10,400 OBO.
Launched in 1967, Plymouth’s Second Generation Barracuda featured a more conventional appearance than its predecessor. Coke-bottle styling dominated the market, with the company embracing the trend to produce extremely attractive vehicles. This 1968 example isn’t an oil painting, with its Midnight Blue exterior dominated by cosmetic imperfections. They extend far beyond dents and scratches, as the listing images reveal areas of deteriorated Bondo. The buyer faces rust in a couple of areas, and these factors will likely prompt replacement of both rear quarter panels. The deal includes one good additional secondhand front fender, which most potential buyers will welcome. One big unknown is this car’s underside. I believe there is at least one hole in the driver’s-side floor, though the seller says the Barracuda is essentially solid. Since it appears to have spent its life in Texas, that seems plausible. Overall, I suspect the best way to tackle this build is to adopt a rotisserie approach to achieve a high-end result and effectively banish any existing tin worm.
Decoding the VIN confirms that this Barracuda left the line powered by an F-Code 318ci V8. It wasn’t a bad motor, delivering a respectable 230hp and 340 ft/lbs of torque. Those figures would have satisfied most people, although I’ve never heard an enthusiast wish that their classic had less power. Most crave more, and this Barracuda should deliver once revived. The 318 is a distant memory, because someone bolted in a 383 and an A-727 TorqueFlite transmission. The motor’s specifications are unknown, but the power and torque figures should be knocking on the door of 300hp and 400 ft/lbs. I’m sure you won’t be shocked to discover that the car doesn’t currently run or drive, and the missing intake system and accumulated dust suggest it hasn’t for a while. It is unclear whether the motor turns freely, which would be worth checking if interested parties negotiate an in-person inspection.
The original owner’s decision to team a Midnight Blue exterior with an interior trimmed in White vinyl would have been stunning. It remains stunning…but not in a good way. The Texas sun has done its worst, baking the vinyl and destroying the dashpad. We can keep it short and sweet: This interior needs a complete retrim. The basic hardware is intact and fit for purpose, but with so much beyond repair, a trim kit would be the most cost-effective solution. It won’t be cheap, but if treated respectfully, a restored interior should look great for decades.
The seller’s BIN for this 1968 Plymouth Barracuda isn’t pocket change, especially given the work needed to return it to its former glory. Replacing the quarter panels is a no-brainer, while only an in-person inspection will reveal how solid the floors are. The mechanical components are another unknown quantity, and an interior retrim will add to the project cost. It is far from a lost cause, but do you see enough potential locked away in this classic to consider giving it a fresh start?
Non-original drivetrain changes the whole math here. The VIN decodes to an F-code 318, so the 383 is a transplant, and a transplant means driver money, not numbers money, whatever the ask says. What you are actually buying is a Texas shell plus an engine nobody has heard run. Before bidding: get the casting number off the 383 block (a 383 and a 400 look the same from across the shop), find out whether it turns freely, and check that the K-member and mounts were done properly rather than made to fit. Then price it as a shell that needs quarters, a full interior, and a drivetrain of unknown health. At $10,400 OBO for a non-runner with Bondo showing through the paint, the seller needs to move a long way or those underside photos need to be clean. I read cars for buyers for a living, so my bias runs to what it costs to make one right, and this one costs a lot.
Lorenzo…I totally agree with you here. I notice over the years people ask a lot of coin for Mopars that need tons of work and money. The engine in question here looks like a 400 since its corporate blue paint on it. All that dust and dirt on that engine i would be amazed if it crank over…Also it could be a 383 2bbl L code engine. The 400 is from a 383 original that Chrysler made. This poor Barracuda needs ton of work. At this point it would be cheaper to make it a track car. Again thanks for your comment.. 🇺🇸🐻
Fair, but paint is the weakest tell. Blocks get repainted, and blue was the factory color on a lot of early-70s engines, Mopar included, so a blue 383 and a blue 400 look the same from the fender. The casting number on the side of the block and the pad stamp up front are what settle it, plus the bore if the heads come off. Either way it is a transplant, so the money call does not move: 383 or 400, it is driver money with a non-original drivetrain. And if it has been sitting open like that, assume it is stuck until you can turn it by hand.
Turquoise…..
stillrunners, turquoise is right, and it matters more than a color argument. A 68 383 came turquoise from the factory; the corporate blue showed up later. So a blue block sitting in a 68 body is either a later engine or a repaint, and for a buyer that changes the math either way. The casting number on the side of the block and the pad stamp by the distributor are what settle it. Everything else is a guess in good light.
strong money for what’s offered. pass it on.
Pretty bad shape,Over priced.
Nice looking car. This Cuda looks like it’s looking for someone willing and able to get it running. If it runs and drives safely under its own power, that would be great.
Beautiful looking car. I’ve always loved this generation Plymouth Cuda. As long as it runs and drives safely under its own power, I don’t care what it looks like. As long as there are no rust holes and the chassis is solid with no signs of accident, it can be cleaned up and repainted.
I had a 68 just like this. 318 and automatic with no reverse. Just put my foot into it, turned the wheel and 180 degrees around she went. All for $300..wish I still had it
There’s a point, where if you have to replace “everything”, you don’t get to call it original or even a restoration. This is one of those examples. Maybe it’s still a donor.
yes, even for a rest0sell they have to B ‘well bought’ (‘is 1/2 sold’ a whole business model).
WAY, WAY overpriced. It’s comical to me people actually ask that kind of money for something that would’ve been sent to the crusher a few years ago.
The 383 is not an upgrade over the 318, too unbalanced. You will be just fine until you decide to take a sharp corner too short. Judging by what ever is in the ditch will determine whether or not you will be concerned about your choices in life.
Careful with “unbalanced.” The factory put a 383 in this body. Formula S Barracudas ran the 383 four-barrel from ’67, so that engine is period-correct here, not a hot rod mistake. It is roughly a hundred pounds heavier than a 318, and the factory carried that weight with heavier torsion bars, bigger brakes and a bigger radiator, not magic. What sinks a swapped car is doing half the job. If this one still rides on the 318’s bars and brakes with the small rear axle behind it, it will drive like a nose-heavy pig and it earns the price cut. If the heavier front end and the 8.75 rear came with it, it drives like a 383 car because that is what it is. The casting number and the pad stamp say which engine is in there. What is under it says whether the job got finished.
I love ’68 Barracuda’s………..but not this one.
Lovely looking car. This looks like a fun resto project.
I have restored a 69 Formula S fastback and this is a $3000 car.