That’s a rather handsome Plymouth, isn’t it? Looks more like your grandfather’s Cadillac, you say? Yes, there’s some interesting handiwork gracing the grill of this 1965 Plymouth Barracuda. I’ll probably get stoned for saying this, but it’s better looking than I’d have imagined if you told me there’s a Barracuda running around with a Cadillac grille. The seller notes that he bought it to part out, but the body’s too solid for that kind of fate; the Slant 6 needs some work but it’s cheap. Find it here on eBay with a $2K Buy-It-Now and $500 opening bid.
Barracudas of this generation were among my favorites, with that huge rear window and slightly pissed off front end. Granted, the nose sports a different vibe altogether now, but it’s still intimidating. Now, the seller notes the six-cylinder mill “has a knock” and is not original; Slant 6s have a reputation for durability and cheap operating costs, so finding another one shouldn’t be a problem. The body does look fairly sound, so kudos to the seller for not cutting up a non-rusty example.
The interior isn’t bad either, with decent door panels, a cracked-but-complete dash, original steering wheel and blessedly no obnoxious 90s stereo in the dash. The seat covers are likely hiding some damaged upholstery, which somehow seems better than sitting on filthy sheepskins. The seller has made some improvements inside and out, including: “New master cylinder, new fuel line & sending unit, gauges operational. Also comes with new headliner in box.”
Looks like some new underhood insulation should be ordered as well. More than anything, if the seller didn’t convert the front end, I’d love to know who did – and where they got the inspiration to swap on the Cadillac lights and grille. Of course, after so many beers, just about anything looks good if you need headlights to drive after dark (most of us do), so this could be a case of necessity being the mother of invention. If the reserve is set below $1K, does this look like a worthwhile project?
Caddicuda? Cudacaddy? Barrillac?
Barracadda
Cudaddy.
For that blasphemy, there’s only one punishment: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ny4a-oxOndo
At least the mods could be reversed…
NO! Not Detroit!
As long as they didn’t HACK anything up in the process, it’s definately worth sourcing the correct parts, and saving this ol’ jewel
Not too bad a job putting on that caddy grill. But I am sure that whoever gets this will have getting rid of it as a top, first priority.
Looks like a ROADKILL car
Floor shift with the slant – must be rare…..that front is an effin abomination
Also first year the auto transmission shifter on Chrysler Corp cars went from pushbuttons to a lever, either column or floor.
After looking at the Cadillac grille on the Barracuda, I have but two words to say that were first spoken by Charlie Brown,
“GOOD GRIEF”
That is one nasty contraption.
I don’t think there could be any modification you could do to this body style Barracuda that could make it any uglier than when it rolled off the line. IMO.
This could be the dinghy for that “Creation One” Ranchero woody.
Thats hilarious… Ahoy…permission to com aboard!
I’ll bet you could get $500 for the rear window alone. Secure correct headlights and grille, replace, problem solved.
It may be worth more than that. I would think that back window is hard to come by. The price could be worth a back window for someone who needs it badly.
It was July 14th, 1985. Dad and I were driving from Minnesota to Ohio after a family reunion. My dad asked me to drive the Cuda ! I was 13 years old and dad had a few too many !
I Bumped into the back of a newer Caddy seville parked on the street in EuaClaire Wisconsin. Tried to find the owner of the Caddy to let them know. No such luck, so we decided we would borrow the front of it to get home…Needed headlights and a grille.
Fit well, looked great ! …right(?)
Dont take me too seriously, Have a sense of humor . May be the real story !!!
I was in Eau Claire WI. That beautiful sunny 14th of July day in 1985. I was leaving Shooters dance club and found out I didn’t have any headlights, so I had to stay all night. I’ve been wanting to thank you for years !! ( It’s about time you fess up too)
Do love the car by the way ! Appears pretty serviceable for restoration. Pretty much a Dart/Valliant with new sheet metal to rival the Falcon/Comet sheet metal of the Mustang (64/65) Great start to great era in automotive history. Hats off to the 409/283 Chevy/GM with great motors that preceded these.
If someone on here gets it, I have cuda fenders nd grills for sale… along with a 65 Valiant convertible to go with ‘em. Cheaper in bulk. ;-)
Imagine my surprise to find a beautifully restored ‘65 Barracuda in front of the American Hotel in Atlanta. Not exactly what I anticipated to find when I walked up to my hotel just a few days ago. If you’re in Atlanta and like 1st gen Barracudas, Check it out.
After I bought my ‘65 Valiant Convetible many years ago, I wanted to convert it to a Barracuda (they never made Barracuda convertibles of course), so I bought a running Barracuda for parts. Thankfully I pulled the front sheet metal off before the barn fell on it, smashing the back glass. It still ran well after I finally pulled the barn off it two years later. But losing that glass hurt.
I saw that Barracuda in Atlanta a few weeks ago; like you, I was shocked! I have had my ’65 over 40 years.
“I’ll probably get stoned for saying this” ??
You were probably stoned when you said it!
I don’t know about that; but someone was stoned when they did this, for sure.
Cudillac Kustom? Too bad…………….
Who would do that to this car?? But if you are going to desecrate a car, then by all means go all the way: ugly spoiler on the rear, misplaced racing stripe, mismatched rims, at least one panel to have only primer. Sidepipes? Oh, a hood scoop should do it. Plus an after market sun roof. Mud flaps. Purple, bubbled window tint. CB antenna. Last but not least, coat hanger radio antennae.
Another tasteless attempt. If you buy this at $500.00 get with Beemoe and bring this one back to life.
Imagining a Cadillac running around somewhere with a Barracuda grill and headlights……….
Reminds me of the evil neighbor kid in the movie “Toy Story” that grafted weird heads and bodies together on toys…
Imo 64 and 65 barracuda’s had the nicest grilles here is mine
I have a 63 Signet and think the 65 is the best of the 2nd Gen, Albert. No pointless hair pin pressing on the front fenders, the best tail lights, best grille and still has the 63-65 rear window shape [squared off for 66].
If this thing weren’t so far away, I’d take this ugly duckling for a resto-mod project that would do well with a mid 60s shell. Good luck to whoever ends up with this. I don’t think reversing the abominable grill should be too tough.
adding a grill mod like that is like desecrating a grave. The rear glass alone is worth $500.00
There aren’t enough “R”s in wrong to describe how unright this is. This hideous piece of crap needs to go to the crusher ASAP.
Whoever did this to the front end obviously has been living by a nuclear waste site! It probably still looks like the original cuda to him. LOL!
So I ended up buying this car as a project. I didn’t know it was on eBay since I bought it from my local ads lol. The guy who I bought it off of did not install the front end and said a guy who does body work did. I personally don’t like it and have already removed it. My husband didn’t mind it for some reason…don’t ask. It might have been okay if the work was done well but the bondo on top just fell apart as I was taking it off.
The front end came from a 1982 Cadillac (model I’m not sure). Now I have the unfortunate task of fixing the front end but I don’t mind the challenge!
Sara, thanks for chiming in and be sure to keep us updated! Can’t wait to see it when done!
Will do! Here’s how it looks so far. On the lookout for new fenders since it looks like they were cut.