I may be one of the few who actually prefers the second-gen (’67-’69) Plymouth Barracuda over the third (’70-’74). And it’s the convertible and notchback body styles, such as this 1968 resident of Waconia, Minnesota, that float my boat! The fastback? Not so much so. Claimed to have been “well cared for and garage stored,” this Mopar pony car is listed here on eBay, where it’s available for a BIN price of $26,500, OBO. A tip of the hat to Curvette for this discovery!
Offered in three different bodystyles, as referenced above, total Barracuda production reached 46K units in ’68, with the notchback, such as our subject car, accounting for 20K copies. To put this in perspective, let’s look at the fish’s ’68 competition:
- Ford Mustang: 317,404
- Chevrolet Camaro: 235,137
- AMC Javelin: 55,124
It’s easy to see why Barracudas of this generation are the seldom-seen of the group.
Anyway, this example looks great! The main image shows what appears to be mismatched paint between the door and fender, but it could just be the lighting, too. The finish (UU-1 Frost Blue Poly) has nice depth, and the white vinyl top appears to be sound with no indication of deterioration. The stainless/aluminum trim and chrome bits garner no complaints, and I’d suggest the Torque-Thrust wheels are perfect for an era-correct day-two look.
The blue vinyl interior is in fine shape with just a bit of normal upholstery discoloration noted here and there. The carpet is fine, as are the door panels and headliner. I’ll admit to being a minimalist, and that’s what I like about this Barracuda’s instrument panel. It has a full complement of engine gauges, as Mopars of this era did, but the arrangement is right to the point, with no extraneous distractions. I have to admit, with this car, I appreciate the lack of a center console.
Behind the distinctive split grille, we find a 230 gross HP 318 CI V8 engine mated to a not-commonly-encountered four-speed manual transmission. The engine has been modified with an aluminum intake manifold (painted perhaps?) and is wearing an open-element air cleaner and chrome-plated valve covers, while exhaling through a header-fed dual exhaust system. Nothing is stated regarding running and driving characteristics, but stopping should be solid with the inclusion of front disc brakes. The mileage is recorded as 93K miles, but there’s no authentication of that reading stated or provided.
So, do I like this one? You bet! I appreciate the other ponies from that magical automotive time, 58 long years ago, but the Barracuda stands out due to its relative rarity today – I can’t remember the last time I encountered one at a car show. As stated, I prefer the notchback body style over the fastback, but how about you? What’s your preference?
Beautiful car! Love the stance and the color!