Styling is always subjective, what one finds to be beautiful, the other will find to be beautiless – and that’s not limited to just cars. But that’s not really the point behind this 1965 Plymouth Barracuda so much as the transformation from this version into what many consider the pinnacle, the 1970 ‘Cuda – quite a metamorphosis in only five years! Some may find this version of Plymouth’s pony car to be a bit homely, but it’s an important part of dear, departed Plymouth’s legacy so let’s give it its due. Located in Westminster, Colorado, this hot rod Valiant is available, here on craigslist for $8,000. A tip of the hat is due to Tony P. for this tip!
The seller opens up with, “The original muscle car! Dual carbs, torqueflight auto, 74000 original miles“. I’d say that’s wrong on both counts, it hardly qualifies as the original muscle car, though some will argue that it’s the original pony car. As for the “dual carbs”, I believe he means a dual, or two-barrel carburetor sitting atop the 180 gross HP 273, CI V8 engine. The engine, in turn, is connected to a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission that is now actuated by a floor selector and not the cool Mopar push-button setup that was discontinued at the end of the ’64 model year. The seller adds, “Runs fine, drives smooth like 1965!“.
The seller claims this Plymouth to be 90% original though I’m not certain how that’s measured. Regardless, it still shows well in its hue that Plymouth called “Light Blue”. The finish is a bit faded but there’s no sign of rust or rot. As for body damage, the rear bumper is pushed in a bit but it’s minor. That huge rear window is supposed to be the largest piece of curved automobile glass produced at the time – and the seller has a spare that’s included with the sale!
The interior is said to be sun-damaged but it’s still in pretty fair shape. The dash pad is cracked, there’s a small split in the driver’s seat bottom and the carpet is showing some left foot wear but those are typical issues and not as problematic as what one often encounters in a 59-year-old car. The rear seat pass-through is a nice feature, (it’s a sort of early take on a hatchback) though the trunk lid looks like it needs some assistance in staying in the up position.
There you have it, I think this is a nice find as I haven’t been a fan of these first-gen Barracudas but I have to admit that they are growing on me. The front end is rather mundane but the back half, with that huge window, is a real attention-getter! Considering the Barracuda’s three generations, which one is your favorite?
One of my college roommates had the early version like this. I know I’m in the minority, but I preferred this styling over the later ones
The seller is including a spare rear glass? Why? An odd thing to have extra of , in my opinion. I understand that glass can bring good money, tho. It was always a dream of mine to throw a steel rim thru one of those Barracuda back windows at my local wrecking yard, way back in the day. Not something I would ever do, tho
And never did.
You answered your own question.
The glass manufacturing process included creating a thin but even layer of a metal alloy to create the safety temper. If this layer was not perfectly even, on a hot day the alloy would expand at an uneven rate and cause the window to shatter. As a kid growing up in Massachusetts I remember seeing a few back windows broken in a parking lot on a hot, sunny day. For those old enough to remember the John Hancock tower in Boston when it turned into Plywood Ranch, it was the same issue.
If the original rear window breaks, where else could you find a replacement? 😐
If I had one of these early Barracudas, I would definitely snatch up any rear windows that I could.
impossible to find that rear glass now I’ve seen people ask $2k for a nice one
I to like this style, could be the similarity to my first car , a ’64 Valiant with the 1st year optional 273 v8 and push button auto.
Seems like a pretty good price for an early pony car. Always loved these early Barracudas. Had a promo model of this exact car (even same color) as a kid. Wish I still had it.
Could the readers please explain the difference between a Pony and a Muscle car?
Raw power? Suspension? Accessories?
For example, I assume a Mach 1 is a muscle car, but a Judge is a Pony car?
Pony cars are not necessarily a muscle car . Mustang, Camaro , Firebird, Javelin , Barracuda and Challenger are pony cars, regardless of engine size .
Muscle cars can be Pony cars, but not all of them are – basically a compact or mid size model with a performance engine. For instance , a Dart Swinger or a 70 Malibu are just cars , but a Dart Swinger 340 and a SS 454 Chevelle are muscle cars
I think of pony cars as ones that were designed specifically to be a sporty car – think Camaro, Mustang, Barracuda.
A muscle car is a powerful version of a normal passenger car – think Chevelle (SS), Torino (Cobra), Satellite (RoadRunner).
Thanks to all who commented on Pony vs Muscle cars.
Now I get it.
My Mom had a gold 65 with black racing stripe, three speed on the column and the slant 6
I never, not once ever took a date to the drive-in with it and parked backwards facing the screen while laying down in back. Not once did I do that.
Muscle car, or super car as they were called then was a lighter weight midsize car with a big high horsepower engine. Defined by many by the GTO. Pony car is the long hood short deck compact based car with a full compliment of drivelines. Most feel this was created by the Mustang, hence Pony car.
Reply to LCL. How does this sight jump around?
Most started out as pony cars, (Barracuda, Mustang, Camaro, Firebird) and then morphed into muscle cars.
That’s funny because that is exactly what I did with my 65 cuda! A very fun car indeed, though I broke everything on it including rear axles. Fun times eh?
Do you remember what was playing on the drive-in movie outside the car?
Jim ODonnell – will you please source an early 1964-66 Barracuda for a drive and then make comments. I’m thinking you’ve driven a 1964-66 Mustang….it would help if you’ve driven a 2+2 base.
This looks to be pretty much 100% corrected – optional dash pad – steering wheel – V/8 – auto – wheel covers and it’s a later built with the left side trunk rod that does get weak vrs the early right side bar they used.
Not a bad buy….with parts !
Why? What would I supposedly discover?
If I had to drive everything that I cover, I wouldn’t be doing this job, it’s not possible.
JO
Not asking much since there are plenty of these around vrs what the others are – you’ve driven an early Mustang – correct ?
I’ve never owned one and don’t recall ever driving one, though I don’t know what that has to do with reviewing a ’65 Barracuda.
JO
Some of these and also yhe Dodge darts had a commando 273 4 barrel with 4 speed and dual exhaust eith lne big square outlet under the rear bumper. 13inch wheels and were quite quick off stop signs and in slower traffic. I ran the hell out of one once on a test drive, yellow dart gt lots of fun but I did not but it kind of udly and frumpy looking back yhen, they all had that nerfy Valiant looking heritage styling from the early 60’s
This one looks exactly like the one I had for many years. Lordy, I miss that car! I was teaching auto mechanics in a trade school, and one of my students kept bugging me to sell it to him. I bought a new Dodge crew cab and sold it to him instead of trading it in. That was nearly 40 years ago, and my student, who later became my teaching assistant, STILL has the car! He still drives it daily! To me, it’s almost as good as still having it.
I’ve always liked the look of these. It was such an imaginative step up from a Valiant.
My friend had a 64. Nice car. Remember when we were young we put the back seat down, laid him out with a pillow,blanket and flowers on his chest and parked in the uptown business district. We sat on some benches away from the car and watched people’s reactions.
I’ve always admired the Formula S V8 4 speed in this model Barracuda, they had a different sound.
I’ve been a “car girl” since day one. I remember in 1964 I was 11, and at the 4-H Fair, held every August there was a Plymouth exhibit which had a new Barracuda I loved playing in. It had pushbutton automatic, bucket seats, a fold down rear seat and a carpeted “trunk.” Fun to play in.
There was also an AMC dealer exhibit and I also pretend drove their Rambler American convertible.
Hey, I’m from Joisey, whata you expect?
Nice looking Barracuda. I had a 65 like it with slant six, automatic, and hang in a/c from Montgomery-Ward. The a/c was in it when I bought it and it was a necessity here in Georgia due to the amount of glass the car had. The /6 performed well even with that big York compressor going. Mine was copper with black interior, and it got pretty well beat up due to my using it as my work car calling on customers here in the Atlanta area. The $8K ask on this one is a lot more than the $400 I paid for mine in the early 70’s but time and the value of a dollar has changed since then. I’m not sure what he means by saying that this one has two carburetors but good luck and I hope it goes to a good home..
I drove a 65 dark maroon red with red interior for 11 years. Loved that car and would love to own one again. I now live in Sunny Arizona so that rear window would be tough to deal with.
Limo window tint.
A must for desert living.
Good price, Good condition. Good way to get me in trouble with the better half if I bought it and had it sent across the country. I’d definitely drop a 4 bbl and dual exhaust on her. The 273 liked to rev. I would definitely enjoy this little car just as she is… but not yet.
I liked the early Barracuda. I thought the restyle of the front end for 1966 made it look homely.
I have 6. My favorite is the Formula S. with AC and front rally disc power brakes. Ivory with black interior. 13.9 in the quarter at 101 mph. It is called the fooler.
Blast from the past, I purchased one of these cars back in the early 90s for $200 bucks. A previous own had installed a cassette player and it caused a fire in the dashboard. So the dash, windshield and headliner needed replacement, the car would start and run fine from the engine bay. This of course was pre internet so tracking down parts was a lot harder. The car sat in my back yard a few months as I tried to figure out what to do. Then one afternoon I was going to the theater at the Everett mall and happened to park next to one that someone was obviously trying to hotrod with nice bigger tries in the back and nice wheels but it had a lot of cancer in the quarters and fenders, i left a note on his windshield and sold it to him and his dad for $400 bucks don’t know what they ever did with it. Thinking now I wish I had fixed it.
I bought a 65 Barracuda from the original owner in 1971 for $100. Had 273 Commando with 235 hp, 4 sp with Hurst shifter. Had a couple of small rust spots but was a fun car for a high school kid. $100 was what they offered the guy trade in on a new Gremlin so that’s what I got it for.