When you reflect back upon the cars that Plymouth produced during the 1960s the first generation Barracuda is a shape that has become both readily identifiable and iconic. This 1966 Barracuda Formula S is for sale here on eBay. Located in Velva, North Dakota, this beauty comes complete with a clear title. The seller has listed it with a BIN of $7,000 but there is an option to submit an offer.
There is so much to recommend this Barracuda, but I’m not being blind to the flaws in this car. It has rot that will need to be dealt with, as well as the obvious damage to that expansive rear quarter panel. This rust is present in the trunk drops/rear quarter bottoms and trunk floor. The paintwork is an older repaint, but at least it was done in the original color. All of the external trim and chrome appears to be present and in good condition. Likewise for the glass, especially that massive rear window.
The rear window was the defining characteristic of the external appearance of the Barracuda. So many photos of the first generation car feature a shot taken from the rear of the car so that the expansive glass is easily visible. I included this shot because it made a nice change to view that glass from the inside. Nice, isn’t it?
The interior isn’t perfect, but thankfully virtually everything is present. The only thing that appears to be missing is the factory radio and the armrests of the doors. The rear seat is in excellent condition, but the new owner faces some work and some cost in bringing the rest of the interior up to scratch. The door cards may be able to be salvaged, but as I’ve already noted the armrests appear to be missing. This Plymouth will also require new carpet, a new headliner, a new dash pad and both front seats will require new covers. So the list is quite extensive.
I love looking under here. This is the punchy little 273ci V8 that was the defining mechanical feature of the Formula S. Everything appears to be complete and in decent order under here, but I’d like to know whether the air cleaner has been removed for photographic purposes, or whether it is missing completely. The 235hp from this engine then finds its way to the rear wheels via a 4-speed transmission. The seller states that the car runs and drives but that the brakes don’t work.
This Plymouth Barracuda Formula S is in need of a full restoration. It isn’t going to be easy, and it certainly isn’t likely to be cheap. In 1966 Plymouth built 2,970 Barracudas equipped the same as our featured car. The vast majority that is for sale now are equipped with the automatic transmission. The few that are equipped with the 4-speed seem to be priced around the $20,000 region. The greatest attraction of this car as a project car is that all of the rare and potentially expensive parts that define it are present. Besides, once it is completed it’s going to be one seriously fun car to drive.
Needs too much rust repair alone for $7,000 ask, and that’s before the interior (everything from headliner to carpet), add’l body work (not terrible, but those add-on side marker lights have got to go), paint (bare metal to remove two paint jobs) and any mechanical (brakes at least, upgrade to discs while you’re at it). $4,000 would be generous for this, but after a lot of work (and $$) you’d have a pretty cool car at the back end.
$4000 is being generous. This will need lots of work from the tires up. To me a longtime moparian, too many red flags, exhaust manifolds, intake and carb, may indicate hard engine use by someone not to careful, rear springs indicate same thing, along with other things already mentioned I believe there are better restorable examples out there for the kind of money they’re asking.
My question is whats up with the white colored 64 bonneville in the back ground…..never really cared for the big back glass of the early mopar fish…..always thought they was tryin to knock off the look of the vette….i always loved the look of the notch back/trunk style bodys….
Any Volvos for sale in Velva, lubricated with Valvoline? OK, Ive used 3 of 5 vowels..one wouldn’t make sense and the other I’m avoiding..at all costs..
I do like the looks of the earlier ‘Cuda’s and that 273 is sweet. I do think I would want to upgrade to power brakes. I work with a fellow who’s from ND and he likes these. I’ll show him tomorrow
I wonder if Chrysler/Plymouth knew how much of a home run they’d hit just by taking their compact offering and putting a different roof on it? It worked the same way on the Dodge Coronet. Pretty smart move I’d say.
A high school friend of mine owned 3 of these. First a 64 with a 225 and push button auto, then a 65 with a 273/2 and floor shifted auto, and lastly a 66 with a 318 (not original) and 4 speed. I always liked the looks of the 66 the best. Brakes on these were terrible even when they “worked” so yeah, definitely need an upgrade there. I would feel comfortable in this car at about half the asking price. As mentioned it requires a lot of metal work.
I have had 3 of these also. I wish I still had the last one I owned. (A 1965 that I sold in 1979 to buy a Dodge van for a tow vehicle for my pro rally car) And upgrading the brakes on one of these can not be stressed enough.
I am grateful that my guardian angle could fly as fast as the car!
We called these “Valacudas” in reference to the obvious Valiant body
Maybe its just me but it looks like it has a different exhaust manifold on the drivers side..
That is the factory manifold to make room for the steering column.
Wonder why they added a ’68 side marker lights where the ‘Barracuda’ emblems should be, shaved the ‘P L Y M O U T H’ from the deck lid, and also added the nasty rectangular side marker lights??
Well if this is a true Formula S doesn’t it come with disc brakes on the front with dual-piston calipers I had a 67 Formula s and that’s what it had but mine did come with a 383 4 on the floor I wish I still had that car
Disc brakes were an option starting in 1965 as well as a power brake option with the drum brakes – few were ordered this way. This one’s pretty sad except for the four speed.
Funny my 1969 340 S car came with those same Dodge mag caps. Plymouth did offer ones like them….kinda rare there.
Price maybe a little high considering I paid less for my 64 with no rust. My interior does need an overhaul but good overall condition for a 54 year old.
Its rare S model.
273 with 4 speed
Offer him half that, and get to work.
Love it