Fans of the Plymouth Barracuda were probably thrilled to learn the car would be redesigned for 1970 and receive a new platform, the E-Body, one that it would share with the new Dodge Challenger. In the process, the Barracuda lost the lineage it had to the Valiant since its launch in 1964. The Barracuda was a distant seller compared to the Ford Mustang, but that would change, at least for one year. This 1971 Barracuda is a project car or donor car, depending on your goal. It’s missing a lot of parts, including the front end and drivetrain. Located in Bulverde, Texas, the car is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $9,000, putting the reserve in the rearview mirror. Thanks to our buddy, Ikey Heyman, for bringing this tip our way!
As an all-new car, Barracuda production would increase by 50% from 1969 to 1970. Helping sales was that the redesigned automobile had an engine bay large enough now to accommodate big-block engines, all the way up to the 426 Hemi. Ironically, muscle car sales started to cool off after 1970 and that apparently rubbed off onto the Barracuda as sophomore sales in 1971 were down by about a third. From a total output of 33,000 cars for ’71, more than 5,600 of them were the basic Barracuda that came with the 225 Slant-Six, as was the case with the seller’s car.
This Plymouth left the factory with either Amber Sherwood Metallic or Sassy Grass Green paint, as both were similar. Besides the inline-six, this Barracuda came with a column-mounted TorqueFlite automatic transmission, factory A/C and a vinyl top. None of those things are still present, as well as the front-end sheet metal and trunk lid. It’s strictly a project (or parts) car and does not come with a title (it was lost, but the seller also uses the term “salvage” to describe the status of the title).
While the door panels are missing, the seats, dashboard, and steering column are still there. The seller apparently pulled this Barracuda out of a shed in Texas where it must have been sitting for years, given the amount of dust, dirt, and grime. As the car has evolved, it’s a rolling shell at this point (with air in the tires), with all the suspension components still intact. While it’s not shown in some photos, the factory hood is there to accompany the car to its next stop. We’re told the radiator support, front frame rails and aprons are all good, but the floors and trunk will need patching, along with the rear frame rails in the backseat footwell area. There is a crunch in the back corner of the passenger side of the car.
Practically any car can be rebuilt or restored. Time and money are the primary factors. Is this a car you would buy and, if so, what would you do with it? Round up some parts and an engine and do a restoration or pluck some things off for your own project?
I see dollar signs and not being worth what you put into it (if that is your goal). If you are going to spend this much, buy a repo body and build a truly brand new car.
Looks like a Duster to me.
Looks like its dusted to me.lol
gotta’ stop slingin’ crack in my Hood! buy three scrap Mopars. and i’ll be on easy street!
Missing title, no engine, rust…What’s not to love for $9k
No thanks.
I actually saw this one in the flesh while it was still in the shed a couple months back. I passed on it for a fraction of the current e-bay price. The rust is even worse than the photos reflect; the roof looks like swiss cheese, and the internal structure has largely rusted away. The thing that seemed odd to me was that it was supposedly a slant six car, but it has disc brakes which I’ve never seen on a Barracuda or Challenger (of the era) with a six. I guess it’s possible someone might have swapped them out over its life.
I love old mopars, but I really can’t understand the crazy money people throw out for these rusted out Barracudas, Challengers, Chargers and Roadrunners.
There are only so many, and as they say, ‘Mopar or no car’…
I have never heard anybody say that.
No, it is not the Mopar fanatics, it is the speculation of potential windfall profits. A simple bubble of stupidity, nothing more. Hopefully soon it will burst and eyesores like this can go to the crusher and be reborn as soup cans and the like. At least then they would be useful, not health hazards.
Never argue with a fool and his money…
PASS!
There’s a car under that dirt?
I can’t justify 900 let alone 9.000 for what most of the car is missing and no title leave it sit for another 20 years
9k and you get a steering column! But it’s a mopar what a deal?
Not that it matters too much , but this is definitely Amber Sherwood green .Sassy Grass green is more like Sublime green.
SOLD for $21,300 !!!?