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Highly Optioned: 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Fastback

Launched in 1967, the Second Generation Plymouth Barracuda remained in production for three model years. Our feature Fastback rolled off the line in 1968, and its overall condition is pretty respectable for an unrestored classic of that age. Increasing its desirability, its original owner ticked the boxes beside some of the best options on the Order Form that allow it to combine looks, creature comforts, and excellent performance. The time has come for the Barracuda to find a new home, so the owner has listed it for sale here on eBay. You will find the Plymouth located in Denver, Colorado, and with nine bids on the table, the price sits at $15,400. That figure remains short of the reserve, although the owner offers a BIN option of $21,000 for those wanting to skip the auction action. A big thank you has to go to Barn Finder Larry D for spotting this brilliant classic for us.

Finished in Turquoise, this Barracuda presents quite nicely. It is worth noting that it rolls on wider steel wheels and that a previous owner has fitted a Formula S rear valance. Otherwise, the car appears to be essentially unmodified. The paint holds a decent shine, although the seller quickly points out that it isn’t perfect. Its flaws seem relatively minor, and if considered purely as a driver-grade classic, it would need nothing. A perfectionist might choose to treat the car to a repaint, but this would not be essential. The panels look very straight for a vehicle of this age, and there is no visible evidence of rust. The owner mentions nothing in his listing, which is pretty encouraging for potential buyers. As always, I would recommend an in-person inspection, but the impression is that this won’t turn up any nasty surprises. The chrome remains as presentable as the paint, while the glass appears flawless.

When we turn our attention to the Plymouth’s interior, we begin to see where the original owner splashed some cash. He equipped the car with bucket seats, a console, an AM radio, and Rally gauges with a factory tachometer. That may not seem a lot by today’s standards, but it was considered pretty good in 1968. The owner indicates that the radio is currently out of the dash, but he will rectify this. He also states that the car rolled off the line trimmed in White vinyl, but a previous owner swapped this for high-grade Black vinyl. Unless the buyer is fixed on originality, this shouldn’t need touching. There is no evidence of wear or other issues on the upholstery, while the dash, pad, and console look excellent. Viewed as a whole, this interior exudes class and style.

The smallest V8 Plymouth offered in the 1968 Barracuda was the 318ci version that produced 230hp. The original owner selected that option, along with a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, power steering, and power brakes. If the owner pointed this classic at a ¼ mile, it would romp through in 16.1 seconds. There are a few things to consider with this motor. While it appears to be numbers-matching, it does wear a few cosmetic enhancements. Somebody has also upgraded the carburetor, intake, and exhaust, suggesting that a few additional horses could be available from this engine. That may not thrill purists, but sourcing the date-correct parts to restore things to factory specifications should not prove difficult or expensive. The seller says that the electrical system works as it should and that the Fastback runs and drives well. It appears that it is a turnkey classic that needs little beyond a new owner.

This 1968 Barracuda Fastback isn’t perfect, but that could be its greatest strength. Owning a flawless classic is a rewarding experience, and I would never try to convince you otherwise. However, a driver-grade car can offer a more enjoyable and involving ownership experience because its owner can drive the vehicle without thinking that an occasional paint chip from an errant rock will mar its perfection. Current market trends suggest that the bidding must be getting close to the reserve, and I suspect the action will probably heat up once this goal is achieved. That may prompt someone to hit the BIN button, and if that happens, I won’t be at all shocked.

Comments

  1. Avatar stillrunners

    Buyer beware – saw this already listed and it’s not so original but a pieced together to sale car – nice color though.. .

    Like 11
    • Avatar MoPar Mike

      First thing that caught my eye was the 67 trunk trim.

      Like 4
    • Avatar PatrickM

      What would you do if you got it in its original/previous condition?

      Like 1
      • Avatar MoPar Mike

        Turn it into a street freak with a tunnel ram, side pipes, jacked up with N50s on the back and a Pioneer 8 track under the dash for starters.

        Like 0
  2. Avatar Boatman Member

    You missed the electronic ignition conversion, Adam.

    Like 2
    • Avatar Boatman Member

      And it does not have power brakes.

      Like 5
  3. Avatar Car Nut Gig Harbor

    Beautiful looking car. I’ve always loved this generation Barracuda. I hope it goes to a good owner, one who will enjoy it and care for it. Given its condition, I’d pay in the neighbourhood of $15,000.

    Like 5
  4. Avatar Grog

    Pricey. As the economic climate goes up, the cost of ownership becomes less desirable to buy a classic vehicle for me. Nice looking but, not worth the asking price. Good luck!

    Like 3
  5. Avatar Ed Casala

    I got a buddy at work that owns two of these. He put a 440 in his wife’s car and is dropping a hellcat in his current one.

    Like 4
  6. Avatar Robert S

    Yeah, I think I’d be tempted to go the 440 route with this one.

    Like 1
  7. Avatar space

    I had a built 69 318 in my 1973 road runner with a 4sp and ran a 14 second 1/4 mile.

    Like 1
    • Avatar TinCanSailor

      I have a 78 D150 Utiline (Stepside) shortbed pickup with a 318 and a 4 speed. I have a 440 engine to put in it, but before I rip the engine out, I am tempted to see if I can liven it up a bit. I have a set of 360 heads, 4 bbl intake, and a Sniper EFI sitting in my shop, so that would certainly help.

      I know I will have to change the cam to get any sort of major bump, but I have a soft spot for the 318 as it was in one of my first cars and I learned a lot about tinkering on cars by keeping it going while I was in high school and college.

      Like 1
      • Avatar space

        Don’t use the 360 heads you’re better off probably finding some 273 heads for a higher compression

        Like 0
  8. Avatar Boatman Member

    Aren’t the turn indicators supposed to be on the fenders?

    Like 0
    • Avatar Johnny Cuda

      Boatman – If you are referring to the hood-mounted indicators – those are correct. I have an unrestored 68 Barracuda.
      And to MoparMike – good catch on the 67 trunk trim!

      Like 1

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