When it comes to pony cars, Plymouth often gets short shrift in spite of releasing their Barracuda about a week before Ford unleashed their vaunted Mustang in 1964. Part of the issue is that the Barracuda looked like a Valiant with a big rear window while the Falcon-based Mustang had a signature all its own with nothing Falconesque in its bearing. Well, things changed in 1967. Chevrolet, Pontiac, and Mercury got into the pony car biz (Camaro, Firebird, and Cougar respectively), and rising to the new competitive challenge, Plymouth’s fish got a whole new set of sporty duds. Today’s find, courtesy of T.J., is a fine-looking ’67 fastback that can be found in Godfrey, Illinois and it’s available, here on craigslist for $21,000.
Plymouth’s newly redesigned ’67 Barracuda was a success story, mustering 62K copies spread across fastback, notchback, and convertible body styles – a 63% improvement over the ’66 model. Still, Plymouth had their work cut out for them as Ford’s established Mustang knocked out 472K copies and upstart Chevrolet managed 221K units in its ’67 inaugural year
Our subject car claims 77K original miles and it’s in spectacular original condition. The finish and white side stripes are strong as are the chrome-plated bits. There’s no sign of crash damage or rust and I’m hard-pressed to find anything out of order with this car’s exterior presentation. Styling is always subjective, but I believe that this second-gen Barracuda is a major step change over the first-gen. Plymouth designers John E. Herlitz and John Samsen really nailed it! Of note are the wheel covers – one of the nicest designs that I have encountered and they fit the character of this car perfectly.
The white vinyl split bench seat interior is even more amazing than the exterior thanks to its ultra-clean condition – no mean feat with white. The upholstery, dash, instrument panel, door panels, carpet – all of it is just so right and needs nothing. And, this Barracuda is air-conditioned, hopefully it works.
The engine room is in possession of a 273 CI V8 engine which does its thing via a Torque-Flite automatic transmission. My thought is that it’s a 180 HP variant though there was a 235 HP version available too but the seller doesn’t elaborate as to which. He does state, “runs great“.
The listing refers to this well-documented Plymouth as a “barn find” but I’d suggest that if that were the case, it was a very carefully kept, and watched barn find – I’d actually call it a fine survivor. Most people seem to go gaga over the performance version of ’60s pony cars – Mopars in particular; but I believe, as the more pedestrian versions go, I’d rather have this Barracuda than a corresponding Mustang or Camaro, how about you?
What a nice “Bananacuda”, I mean, “Baccaruda”! Mom, it’s a Barracuda! Showing my age, as well as anyone who remembers that commercial, LOL! At any rate, although I never really cared for the early models, this is an exceptional one and should make the next owner very happy! GLWTS!! :-)
Ba-ba Rah-rah Cu-cu Dada-Dada!
I say Baccaruda because I can’t say Barracuda!
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED THAT COMMERCIAL……THE BANANACUDA!
Your sister’s got A Volkswagen bettle; youa brotha gets A Ford falcon & YOU get a ” bananacuda”…… Barracuda, Mama.
I’d take this over a Mustang any day. If you’re so inclined, the 273 can be turned into a little screamer with a little investment.
273’s would really rip!!!….short stroking…high revving….like a 283 Chevy..
It says commando on the air filter
I think it has the 273 Commando engine, 235 HP. The chrome air cleaner and valve covers were standard on that engine. The 180 2bbl version had a black air cleaner and painted valve covers.
Very nice example!
No….it’s a base 273 with the wrong valve covers and a Commando air cleaner covering the base 2 barrel carb – would also have the Commando emplem down at the bottom of the fender…..and the BIG single exhaust cut out on that lower left valance…..
Very nice! I have a 68 notchback survivor with 56,000 miles.
ALL of my Cuda’s are survivor’s reguardless of mileage…..
Actually,whilst the Barracuda was announced and in print a week or so before the Mustang,the Mustang went on sale to the public weeks before the Barracuda.To me the big problem was the original Barracuda’s rear looked too bulbous,it wasnt really a cohesive design like the Mustang thus was crushed in sales.On the other hand…i love the 67-69 Barracuda’s it’s a really tasteful nicely balanced design..very clean.
Also it’s the higher power version,the air cleaner gives it away..the 2bbl had a plain black with snorkle air cleaner.
look at that carb…..it’s a 2 barrel and NOT a AFB…..
What happened to the chrome around windshield and rear window?
Thats a plastic lock strip thats missing on both the front and rear glass . when they got old, they tended to yellow and get brittle . A car with this low mileage should still have it, and its still available. I kind of wonder if this has been repainted ? it could be a trick of the light ,but the underhood shots look lighter than the outside paint, and the interior, while nice, is not as clean as the outside of the car –
James … Good catch… I guess the windows or the mouldings were replaced. it should be chrome. 🐻🇺🇸
1968 and 69 would get actuall chrome strips……
You definitely won’t see many of these around. Wow that interior! Some folks have opened on these pages that they like bench seats. Me, in a full sized car yes, but the split bench is the way to go in a pony car. Don’t love this twenty one large though.
Super Commando 273, 235 factory rated. This motor was just a few steps away from the 340.
Adjustable rockers steel crank hd rods a bumpy cam and a 625 cfm carb. The thing that I liked was the high revving the motor would pull 6800-7000 rpm the HP was far closer to 270 then 235.
I once had a ‘67 Barracuda. 1/25 scale model. Painted it burgundy. Cute little car.
Having had all of these Cuda’s starting with many a 1964 at one point…..I’m just not liking the “barn find ” virgin verbage or the “dress up” when you see things that don’t add up……nice car though…..
I use to drive a 67 barracuda with the 273 it had chrome valve covers and air cleaner also had one issue with it front end bounce at 55mph till I removed and rotated the front tires till I found the heavy spot and counter balanced them with a heck of a lot of lead. The np more bouncing at any speed above the 55 mark.
Love it, love everything about it… Exceptional…!!!
What was the Formula S package? I thought that one had 235 hp engine and some suspension upgrades
Yes – the S package did have a lot but you could order the 273 Comando with out the S pacage…
Well done!!!
I feel compelled to comment on the engine. I had a 1967 Dart GT with the 235 HP 273 4-barrel V8. It had the chrome unsilenced air cleaner like this car, but it also had ribbed die-cast aluminum crinkled black valve covers, not the chromed ones this car has. I suspect that this is in fact a 2-barrel car that has had some mild updates done to it. Those original style valve covers are nearly impossible to find. I’m not a fan of chrome valve covers either, I would go with a set of Mopar Performance die-cast aluminum crinkled black valve covers to sort of complete the look. Also, as much as I like Mopar SB V8’s, the factory stamped steel valve covers tend to leak. The stamped steel chrome plated ones aren’t any better.
All in all, this is a really sharp looking Barracuda. I like it, it’ll make a fine addition to someone’s collection. Buy it, enjoy it.
Didn’t pay much attention to details on Mopars, being a GM guy, but looks like the a/ c is a dealer add-on given the compressor looks like a Mopar factory unit.
Is this an upscale interior with the armrest?
I like the wheel covers and the exterior and interior colors, they go well with each other.
May have somewhat copied the Charger with the fold down rear seats, too.
That is factory a/c. A-bodies always used an underdash evaporator unit that resembled an aftermarket one.
I had an original 68 383 4sp formula S notchback barracuda where I blew up many 440’s and 383’s plus I ran automatics. I really did a number on that car..the right rear quarter panel had no curvature and was fattened out plus it was cracking between the body and top. Dr’s side floor board had twist markings and the left front sat much higher than the right. I drove the plate under the car where the pinion snubbed hit right up into the car. It resides in an old barn along with my old 67 notchback barracuda drag where I built a fuel injected big block for that and it ran 30% mixture of nitro methane. He wants a fortune for them and the 68 rear quarters are nothing but bonds and the wiring harness and fuse box are shot. $50,000 wouldn’t touch restoring that auto. But I had fun with the 4sp and slicks with 5,000 rpm launched which I had a STR-15-8 INTAKE o it if anyone knows what that was.on that intakes when you took of nitrous and gas lines were inside and come out the back on the lower half. I modified the tunnel and every thing was hidden. Had a momentary that I activated it the momentary switch was hooked up to activate the nitrous. SO here a 5000 launch and then as soon as it hooks I dumped nitrous to it and then from that point on nitrous never was turned off and my foot never come off the throttle. Barely touch the clutch and ram it into the next gear
I broke one of the mounting shifter bolts once and the car went to neutral.