While muscle cars continue to be all the rage, and in many instances out of the reach of mere mortal men, the non-muscle (weakling? well, not exactly) versions are often either overlooked or are outrageously over-priced under the assumption that a rising tide lifts all boats. Anyway, today’s find is a non-muscular, though one with potential, 1968 Plymouth Barracuda. It is located in Marysville, Washington and is available, here on Facebook Marketplace for $7,500. Thanks to Jay B for this tip!
By 1968, the Plymouth Barracuda was in the second year of its second-generation and offered in three body styles, a coupe, or notchback, a fastback, and a convertible. Total production numbers were about 45K copies, a respectable volume, but lagging far behind Ford’s Mustang and Chevrolet’s Camaro. In addition to the standard models with six or eight-cylinder engines, there were two different “Formula S” performance variations available too.
The body of this Baracuda is fair, the finish is worn but the body looks to be free of crash damage though one image does illustrate a slight depression in the driver’s side quarter panel, right behind the door. There is some rust starting in the lower driver’s side quarter, and perhaps in other places as well. There is evidence of chipped-out Bondo so it’s likely that this Plymouth is no stranger to a body shop. The seller makes an interesting claim as he states, “This beauty has irreplaceable rear windshield and front grill intact among other things“. The hard to replace backlight is a signature trait of the first-gen, ’64-’66 Barracuda, I have never read or been told that it’s an issue with the ’67-’69 variation – does anyone have any insight on that matter? And as for the grille, there’s a big piece of it knocked out of the driver’s side half – so much for being intact.
The seller of this Baracuda states that it is powered by a 273 CI V8 engine, but if it is, it’s a transplant. The standard Barracuda V8 in ’68 was a 230 gross HP, 318 CI V8 engine. The 273 CI motor would have been appropriate for the nearly identical 1967 Barracuda. Regardless, this engine does not appear to have run in many moons. It’s attached to a TorqueFlite, three-speed automatic transmission.
The only image of the interior is this one of the odometer, attesting to what the seller claims are 133K miles of use. Inside, there should be vinyl-clad bucket seats, and maybe a center console, that was an option. One nice feature is a fold-down rear seat which helps with hauling the kinds of stuff you usually can’t fit into a pony car. As to the overall interior’s condition, it’s anyone’s guess.
While not stated, this Barracuda sounds like a recent find that the seller has discovered and he now wants to move it to a new home. His suggestion of this Plymouth being a “great restoration project” may have some truth to it – it would be good to know about its underside integrity and overall engine condition, however. It would be nice to see this Barracuda being “helped” into solid driver status, one that could be enjoyed as originally intended, but I’d pass on the urge to go full muscle car or hot rod with the build, how about you?
I like these early Barracuda’s, and this looks like it might be a good project, but I would like to see more close up pictures and some pictures of the under side before plopping down $7500.
1967 Formula S, IIRC, featured a solid lifter, 275 hp 273 engine.
1968 Formula S, featured either the new 340 or 383 engines.
The 273 commando motor was rated at 235 hp. The only 275 hp in the 273 was the 1966 D Dart,
’68 Formula S 340 would be the perfect muscle car for me, a very cool and capable car while most are focused on 70+ models. No telling whether this car is viable or not from the ad.
Had a new one back in the day, Dark Green fastback over black, 4-speed w/Hurst linkage, fast ratio manual steering, limited-slip… Been watching for one like it for 50 years.
For about 4K it would be worth a crate motor, new interior, a big ole hood scoop & painted bright red. Few if any care much for this car in it’s original state.
Its somewhat of an urban legend about the “irreplaceable ” rear glass on the first gen Barracudas . The truth is junkyards that saved old cars or is strictly old cars always saved Barracudas because of the rear glass, even though its not something that breaks easily . Some of those cars have been sitting for decades and the rear glass still hasn’t been sold .
I always thought this was a nice body style. Much nicer than the notchback body style of the same generation Barracuda.
S – I disagree. I own a 68 Barracuda notchback. All original 56,000 miles. I prefer the notchback styling over the fastback.
While working for the Chrysler Dealer in 1967 I bought a new 1967 Barracuda Formula S with a 383 and auto. There were only a few 383 Barracudas that year.
Kinda like the ’71-’73 Buick Riviera, huh Bones? Now there’s a piece of glass
Exactly !
The statement that the “hard to replace backlight is a signature trait of the first-gen, ’64-’66 Barracuda” is a myth. I have owned my ’65 Barracuda since 1978. Back in the late ’70s and early ’80s, when I spent many hours pillaging in junkyards, I often thought that I should buy a “spare” rear glass and keep it–you know, just in case. I’m glad I didn’t; I can still buy them for a couple hundred bucks, and I would have spent much more than that storing and moving a “spare” around for 40 years–especially a spare that I have never needed.
Had a Midnight Blue with White interior Form S 383, 727 trans posi rear. Had full hub caps. A real sleeper Guys with 396 Chev. Nova’s and Chevelle’s learned the hardway. Those were the good ald fdays>
It’s wearing a ‘period correct’ license plate, and I’m pretty certain it’s an ‘89 tab (same as on my wife’s car), so this car hasn’t seen the road in awhile…