When Ford’s Mustang debuted, no one could have imagined just how incredibly well the car would do, but other manufacturers knew Ford was working on a new sporty compact. While Chrysler was on a tight budget at the time, they knew they needed to get something to market to compete. They introduced the Barracuda in 1964, within days of the Mustang’s debut. The name would stick around into the ’70s and morph from a pony car to a muscle car. These early Barracudas are truly unique and a very different take on the Pony car. This example has been parked for a long time and needs restoration, but it’s an interestingly optioned car that surely deserves attention. It’s located in Statesboro, Georgia, and is being offered here as a Barn Finds Auction.
In the world of American Classics, options are just about everything. This one isn’t optioned the way you might expect though. Under the hood, you’ll find Plymouth’s 225 Slant Inline-6 (aka The Leaning Tower of Power), which is paired with an automatic transmission. While that might not sound terribly interesting, someone optioned it with A/C and power steering. Finding a V8-powered car with A/C is rare, but isn’t all that unusual, but finding a budget-friendly base-engined car with pricy options is rather rare. Unfortunately, the car has been parked outside, and believes the engine could be seized. They have put Marvel Mystery oil in the cylinders in hopes of getting it moving. On the upside, the car is complete.
The interior is also nicely equipped, with bucket seats, a floor shifter, and a center console. The seller notes that the floors are rusted, but believes the frame is solid. All the dash parts are present to make it and the glovebox complete. Restoring it would be a big task, but not impossible. The fact that there are lots of good parts here means it could also be a good parts car for another restoration project.
Here’s the original grille, which has been stashed in the trunk with two sets of hub caps. It would be great to see the grille back on the front of the car, just so you can see how it will look put back together. While style is subject to each person, these first-generation Barracudas look good in our book and this one deserves to be rescued, even if it’s just as a parts donor.
While it never sold in the kind of volumes as the Mustang, the Barracuda was a success for Mopar. Over 38k Barracudas were built in ’66, the bulk of which were equipped with a V8, making this a surprisingly rare find. Add in the fact that it’s equipped with A/C and you have something you really don’t find often. The question is, will you be the one to save this Mustang fighter?
- Location: Statesboro, Georgia
- Mileage: 63,436 Shown, TMU
- Engine: 225 Inline-6
- Transmission: 3-Speed Automatic
- VIN: BP29B26970034
- Title Status: Bill Of Sale (Georgia doesn’t issue titles for older cars)
Bid On This Auction
- 3AVTO3KrAZ3 bid $1,000.00 2023-08-06 10:14:12
- BriFi2112 bid $900.00 2023-08-04 23:35:04
- Alan bid $300.00 2023-08-04 19:31:52
- 3AVTO3KrAZ3 bid $200.00 2023-08-04 13:56:34
A/C and power steering are nice, but they’re certainly not something a slant 6 needs, it’s all they could do to get to 60mph as it is. Personally, I prefer the first Barracudas over the later ones, with the 66 being my favorite of the three. I don’t understand why somebody pulled the grille, and tore the dash apart, needed something to do I guess. A lot to do on this one, wonder what the winning bid will be. Looks like a much nicer one in the background
Had a 70 318 with air. Went she kicked in, you could really feel a decrease in power. Bet it took 15 or 20 HP to run it. I can not imagine a slanty with air. Without air, though, they ran really well, esp in a small car like this. Mid sized cars, not so much.
The engine size also matters, my 66 with slant six came with air, and power steering and power brakes and runs fine, but it is the 225 engine not the 198 that orginally was in the car.
I have to disagree with you. I had two Plymouths equipped with the “Leaning Tower of Power” One had air and the other didn’t. They both ran great with or without the A/C on.
we had a dodge 330 station wagon when I was a kid. No AC but the slant six. would easily run 90 or better. my dad was in a car pool with a fellow who had a 440 with the six. he put in an after market AC. ran fine.
yblocker you must have had some really poorly geared slants. i never had that problem with any of mine. were they 340 rockets no but highway speeds no problem any and every day including the 2 that were in long wheelbase vans.
could i have wished for a bit more in the mountains? sometmes.
this is a good 1st gen project as long as the reserve isn’t out in “drive it away land”
for my self i always liked the last gen of a-body barracudas.
Well, my negative attitude towards slant 6s dates back to when I was about 8 years old, yeah I know, a little kid, what did I know. A friend of my dad’s had a 63 Dodge 440, 4dr sedan, slant 6, pushbutton auto, taking off from a stop, was like watching grass grow. One day my dad asked his buddy’s older son how long it took that Dodge to get from 0-60, the son replied, “from now on” lol. It was pretty funny at the time. Actually, I’ve never owned one myself, but I know they’re good little motors
Ba-ba-ra-ra-cu-cu-da-da!
//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4dBjjGeAWA
A friend had one the same year as this one. It had the slant 6, auto, power steering but no a/c. He did not take care of the car. Since I’m not a gear head, I don’t know what was wrong, but in 1971 driving in the Iowa hills between Clinton and Dubuque it could barely manage 45mph.
one of the more common slanty failures was intake leaks. especially if the outer support for that oh so wide intake was missing. huge powerloss once it got bad. also the slants were solid lifters till almost the end. so if it was clattering bad, valves weren’t opening far enough and losing power
Georgia most certainly does issue titles for older cars…or rather they transfer them if you have the title from another state. I get so tired of reading that misrepresentation.
No title means no title. Just because you can easily tag a classic with registration and a bill of sale doesn’t mean that you couldn’t get a title for it. Someone along the line didn’t care and lost the title.
Tis a shame because a titleless car is like property with a quit claim deed and 1000 ancestors. Not worth putting money in.
My first car was a 273 1965 barracuda. Good times.
Titles, can be acquired with very little effort! I have been in this classic car industry over 40 years, never had a problem. Worse case scenario, a bonded title will suffice in most locals, with very small risk of anyone trying to lay claim to a 50 year old car plus without legal documentation, very very rare. Take care.
I know, I know. I’ve got a guy with over 5,000 titles. But that involves replacing vin tags and that’s not very honest. A bonded title is indeed an option.
I just hate the whole “Georgia doesn’t issue titles for older cars” spew because it’s simply not true. 🤙🏼
I had one for a bit, bought it to flip and did. It had a built 273 with fenderwell headers. It was pretty fast.
So I really don’t understand some of the comments on this Auction. I had a 1972 Plymouth Valiant Scamp with the slant 225 and Air conditioning that I bought for $500 a few years ago. It had apparently sat for many many years however just a few drops of gas down the carb and she fired right back to life! What an amazing and reliable engine! She would do everything I needed and even more. True, she wasn’t burning a tire off the rim but she did get up to 105 mph. When it came time to send her down the line, I had a guy fly in from Texas to Atlanta to pick her up and drove her the 14 hours home. Apparently she made it just fine and was able to get 20+MPG.
Now as far a “Georgia not giving titles to old cars” This is incorrect however they probably meant that you don’t need a title because a bill of sale will get you a tag and insurance. You can apply for a title if you want to go that route.
Lastly: this is a project car and what an amazing project it is! Just try and find that back glass! I think that the owner probably bought this as a parts car for the other one in the back and it turned out to be too nice. Could make someone one hell of a nice ride IMHO.
The next owner will need to source a proper Barracuda grille; it’s got a trunk full of Valiant parts.
Correct and good eye…..the grille color in the trunk matches the other Barracuda in the back ground. Guess this was bought and the good parts stripped off of it.
Yep…a court bonded title would be your best option. Especially if the title holder isn’t around anymore. I’m going through the exact thing with my 63 Grand Prix. Guy I bought the car from had “a title” but it was in the what I believe the second owners name in Washington state. Well that fella sold it to owner 3 in S. Florida…who never titled it in his name and he sold it to owner 4 with a bill of sale as well. Owner 4…who I bought it from never titled it either..lol (called a floating title) which of course is illegal..😉 but who hasn’t done this. So who knows is owner 2 is still alive in Washington. I know owner 3 died 2 years ago. I researched that and advised the seller. So owner 4 is getting a court ordered title for me. I have a case number and copy of the documents he filled. Real stand up fella, glad he did that, because it can be a daunting task to acquire one.
Especially in the state of Florida. Folks were using the “Vermont loop hole” , but Fl DMV caught on. Can’t do it here anymore.
What a nightmare dude.
Yea, that Vermont loophole was great until the internet turds ruined it trying to be cool and telling everyone. 🙄
Time to put it out of it’s misery. Loved my 73 but this one needs put down.
Those are not barracuda grills those are for a valiant!!!