When the Plymouth Valiant grew up, it became the Barracuda. Produced from 1964 through 1974 in three generations, and serving as a template for three stylists (Elwood Engel, John Herlitz and Milt Antonick), the Barracuda was Chrysler’s attempt to outmaneuver Ford before it introduced the Mustang. But Chrysler was pouring resources into developing its Turbine car, so funds were scarce. To cut costs, the Barracuda used the Valiant’s hood, headlamp hardware, much of its glass, its quarter panels and its doors. Even the engine options were identical to the Valiant – two slant sixes and the 273 cu. in. V8. The fastback design and the big rear window – largest installed to that date on a production car – were new. This first gen – my favorite of the three – 1966 Barracuda is advertised here on craigslist with an asking price of $26,995. The car was built in California at the Los Angeles assembly plant and resides nearby, at Laguna Beach. It’s represented by a dealer; more information can be found here. Thanks to numskal for the tip!
The factory 273 V8 still resides in the engine bay, which has recently been detailed. By 1965, the 273 could be optioned with the Commando package including a four-barrel carb, a hotter cam and a higher compression ratio. This example is equipped with the Torqueflite three-speed automatic. Its brake system has been completely rebuilt and it rides on new radials. Early cars were situated on the compact A-platform with a 106″ wheelbase, so while the Barracuda’s handling won’t embarrass a Ferrari, it’s not dead to the road. By 1970, the car would grow, utilizing the mid-sized B-platform.
The interior is said to be original, with a few tears and seam separations in the seat upholstery but a sparkling dash and clean carpets. The gauge set includes a “performance indicator” to the right of the speedometer. The courtesy lights appear to work, the headliner has a few wrinkles, but overall, this car has been very well kept. The original owner’s manual comes with the sale.
The big backlight is the car’s most distinctive feature. Developed jointly by Pittsburg Plate Glass and Chrysler, its production hiked costs; it was designed out of the car by the time the second generation Barracuda arrived in 1967. Replacements can be difficult to source. In terms of sales, the first Barracudas couldn’t shake the frugal, family car image of the Valiant. Meanwhile, the Mustang was taken up by scads of youngsters looking for performance, outselling the Plymouth offering five to one. I’ve always loved these early Barracudas; thankfully for prospective buyers, prices for these early pony cars remain reasonable. Formula S cars with uprated suspension and the Commando option sell in the mid $30k area; cars similar to our subject car sell in the high teens to low twenties.
The add says Original bright red color paint. I believe they mean original color – not original paint.
Good point. I’ll make the correction. Thanks.
I love this car, I just wish it wasn’t 3000+ miles away from me, I won’t buy a car I can’t look at first (and my wife says no more cars until we remodel the bathrooms).
In 1965 my mother decided she wanted a “baby blue” 65 Barracuda. One night my parents went out to buy the Barracuda…and came back with a maroon Fury I wagon? I didn’t go with them that night. I was 10 at the time and have no idea now why they bought the wagon instead of the Barracuda, but ever since then I’ve had a soft spot for 65-66 Barracudas.
I love red cars (my garage is full of them), but I’m not sure red is the best color on a 65-66 Barracuda? Still this looks like a nice car at what appears to be a fair price. If it was somewhere on the east coast I might be tempted to go look at it…and risk a divorce.
They were never on the B body it was the E body 1970 to 1974
Pittsburgh Plate Glass is in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, not Pittsburg, Ca.
Nice looking original fish. Surprised it is still listed.
I am surprised that I see a lot of these b-cudas out in So Cal given all the bright sun and that huge rear window. I almost never saw them in New England when I was growing up, yet there were plenty of Valiants and Darts around, so the A-bodies were popular here, particularly the Duster and Demon-Dart. Nice rig and nice write-up! Happy Holidays, all!
Has anyone ever taken appropriate Barracuda parts and applied them to a Valiant convertible to make a one off Barracuda drop top, before Chrysler did? Sure conversation starter at Cars and Coffee! Sorry, my mind works in perverse ways sometimes. I could show you pictures of my bogus, Lotus Focus, or my Canadian six cylinder Cyclone Mustang.
I always wondered why Chrysler didn’t do that. I remember in ’72 my brother looking at a ’65 Valiant conv. It was a cream puff, 273 w/auto., bucket seats, console. He wouldn’t buy it because it was a Valiant. He bought a ’67 Dart for the same money with nasty paint and an even nastier white interior. I always said if that Valiant had a Barracuda badge on it….
The 1964(?) we owned had a different grille, I believe. White, with gold nauga skin seats. The 273 was quite fast as I recall, and the pseudo fog lights in the grille seemed exotic to 12 year old me. As usual, the price is shocking.
You spelled Pittsburgh wrong it’s spelled with an h at the end.
The formula S had a square tailpipe extension and I believe it had a Carter AFB.Some were quick.
two yr only…
I remember an older guy trolled the high school p.lot at quit time with one of these stogie 3rd place merican cars. I was too young to figure it out but hada flutter in the stomach (“bad news” it sent to my brain). The world seemed to turn ’65 to 6 (the old re-created into the new). Next time I saw him I knew what it was about and saw him now – ina 2nd gen beauty a real pony car. Silky shirt open to belly, gold chain, different haircut… same purpose.
The world DID change in that yr or two, not just an impression. Less than a decade later it was gone. Has been marchin back the ol way ever since – politically, musically (pop), race’n gender relations, economically, international relations, etc~
I see the world thru ‘the car’, no? Anyway this model seemed to represent that historical phenomena…
I was in the National Guard in the 1960s. Weekend warriors. One of the guys showed up in his 1964 Barricuda. Total stripper. Only option was auto trans. He let me drive it. It rode like it had square concrete tires. Roughest ride ever, and my daily driver was a 1958 tr3
Say Greekboy,
Were you still wearing your hump pack and your combat boots? Maybe you forgot to check the tires?
Unless there was a mechanical issue with the car you were in I always thought they rode okay.
They are definitely not a twistys lover. Nor a drag strip winning performer.