To borrow from a 1969 Plymouth ad: “Introducing the car you wear.” Again borrowing, for “anybody with a penchant for the different” I present this 1969 Plymouth Barracuda Formula S Mod Top. It’s available here on craigslist in Westminster, Colorado for a firm price of $45,000.
The Mod Top option was available on a variety of Mopars for the 1969 model year, then really pared down for the 1970 model year. The Barracuda was the 2nd most common Mod Top model for 1969, with 937 examples being so equipped. The seller of this one says less than 10% of the 325 1969 Formula S Barracudas had the Mod Top option. Total 1969 and 1970 Mod Top production for all models was 2,876.
How about that top? We’ve covered its target market and rarity, but do you think this style has held up well after 50-years? I think it has. The yellow/green/black floral top certainly catches the eye and makes quite a statement. It blends well with the Sunfire Yellow paint. The top looks to be in good shape, but the seller says the paint is in poor condition. The wire wheel covers and redline tires feel like a good fit with the Mod Top, but I’d be interested to see some other wheel/tire combinations on this.
If the floral top isn’t enough to whet your flower appetite, you’re in luck – the interior features the yellow/black/green floral inserts on the seats and door panels. Everything inside appears to be exceptionally well preserved. There’s clear vinyl covers on the front seats and the back seat looks like it’s never carried a passenger. Black carpet looks clean and unworn. A full-length center console divides the front bucket seats.
A 340 cubic-inch V8 powers this Barracuda. Power is sent to the rear wheels by a console-shifted automatic transmission. The seller tells us they “pickled the engine for storage years ago, and it worked, she fired up and ran great.” The drivetrain is described as being in great shape.
The Mod Top cars are uncommon and not often on the market. The seller believes “this is the best of the non-restored.” It looks to be pretty well-preserved and is a great color combination and has the matching interior. The seller makes their case, but do you think this one is worth the price of admission?
smashing baby, yeah!!
Red wins. Let’s go ahead and lock the comments. ;)
Rex (Damn you autocorrect!)
When we were at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN) 3 years ago, there was a booth with small and large purses, etc for sale in (reproduction) mod top material. My wife bought this pattern in a small purse. She loves it, and lives showing it off to car people and asking them what the material is from. Then she shows them a picture of this car.
My point? Even though this car is unique, the purse looks better, and is way more affordable.
The beloved purse…with black accents.
Oh my, who vomited all over the Barracuda?
It’s BUFF UGLY, I would rather be seen in a Yugo…
No, I don’t think this is a $45k car. It is cool and it is rare but there are a lot of cars I would spend that kind of money on before I would buy this one. Maybe someone else will feel differently but I don’t see it being worth more than $15-18k in it’s condition.
It’s groovy, man.
I don’t know – it’s rare and cool, and is packed with a 340.
340s are fun!
340s may be fun but you could buy a faster car for a little more then half the price brand new. That would be fun too. Then take what you save and treat the wife to something nice. Maybe go on a nice trip together. You only go through life once and you will never regret spending quality time with your lady.
Say that’s my line!
A better “unrestored” ’69 Barracuda probably wouldn’t have a pop riveted fender tag
I love Mod Tops, but this Model and Color selection is my least favorite. The next generation of Barracuda was much better styled IMHO. It is surprising the variety of Mod Top and Floral Top cars there were, even if it was just a few. 45 large is quite a lot and in spite of the rarity, I believe this car to be overpriced. Best of luck to the seller.
What variety? Yellow was used on the Plymouth and a blue version was used by Dodge. That’s it.
Plymouth also used blue and green on their Mod Top cars, it was not Dodge exclusive.
The only Mod Top I ever saw was on a roached out ’69 Satellite parked at our local race track in the early 80s. I never knew these tops existed -I thought someone put bathroom wallpaper on the roof !
This is one of those cars that could lose its value quickly. Imagine you suddenly split the upholstery on the seat….or get a cut in the vinyl roof. Neither can be replaced and thus, the vehicle’s value plummets. A risky purchase.
This vinyl IS reproduced. SMS Auto Fabrics has this and the blue mod top material used on Dodges.
I love old mopars but that’s a lot of money to have people point and laugh at stoplights!
I had a ’67 Barracuda convertible in that color, 318, that car was bulletproof. This one, Too much money by ay least 1/2 since it needs paint..
I’m happy to admit that I don’t know enough about the market to comment on the $ 45k price tag, but I absolutely love the Mod Top cars! They’re a product of their time and as such, they’re super cool nowadays. They’re also pretty rare. It’s great to see a real one for sale…
A year and a half ago, we actually published an article on this funky piece of US automotive history over on ViaRETRO. Not pretending to be an authority on the Mod Tops, but hope you might enjoy the article nonetheless:
https://viaretro.com/2019/02/the-funkiest-of-sales-gimmicks-the-mod-top/
Price is too much for this car and even though it has the 340 where is the Formula S emblem?
I had a 1971 Imperial LeBaron, white, with a maroon interior and a maroon paisley vinyl top.
Angel, that sounds like an awesome car. I’ve been thinking about the paisley top for my Newport…why not?
Now that’s a beautiful car! I love these old barges. The Imperial was a fun car. And pretty. I loved the dashboards on the late 60s early 70s Mopars.
I think your Newport would look great with a paisley top
You could get the P / E55 code 340 engine on a non – Formula S car. Would like to see more pictures – like the green tag to the right of the fender tag – why not just pan out and include that ? Interior dash would have been nice….and maybe some suspension underneath pics ? The S emblem they don’t produce should be on the tail panel like the one in the article but the rear valance panel looks good. At the price I’d expect more…..