The “pony car” market was starting to decline in sales by the time Plymouth redesigned the Barracuda in 1970. And the addition of the similar Dodge Challenger that year didn’t help much. Chrysler would exit that business in 1974, so the seller’s car was built when the end was in sight. This Burnt Orange Metallic project is numbers-matching (per the seller), but it’s not a ‘Cuda and has a 318 V8. Located in Mount Airy, Maryland, this former runner is available here on craigslist for $10,500. Another Mopar tip brought to us by Tony Primo!
Barracuda sales were also impacted by the declining demand for muscle cars. By 1972, the 383, 440 and 426 Hemi engines were no longer on the options list. And soon thereafter, no one wanted six-cylinder power, either. In the Barracuda’s last outing in 1974, only 318 and 360 V8s were left (with the latter only offered in the ‘Cuda, replacing the 340). Barracuda production was 11,734 units in ’74, and 57% of those were the “regular” coupes like this one.
We’re told this Plymouth has been sitting for three years. The engine will turn by hand, though no recent attempts have been made to get it running (the car does have 105,000 miles to its credit). A TorqueFlite automatic transmission is along for the ride, status unknown. It was a well-equipped car when new, including power steering and brakes, factory air conditioning, and Magnum 500 wheels. We’re told the machine is 99% complete (so what’s missing?).
The paint may be an older respray, and the car’s black vinyl top is long gone. The Barracuda has a white and black interior, which needs a makeover, including the headliner. Some sheet metal repair is in order, and we don’t know why the Plymouth leans so severely to the front. We’re told the seller has no time to restore the automobile and won’t send more details or pics to prospective buyers (that’s a clever way to eliminate your audience).
One good point is, it’s not completely rusted out. But it’s getting there.
And from the way it looks it looks like it’s rusting from the inside out
Yes, before painting, someone probably did a poor/cheap job of rust repair. Sanding & then Bondo to cover the holes. That will only last for about a year before you start seeing bubbling under the paint. Believe me I know.
I’m not seeing any rust. It’s still kind of high for a car needing all that interior work and engine status unknown. Call me contrarian bilut I like the older ones with the glass sport back, fast back? You know what I mean.
Either someone got carried away when lowering this car, or the chassis has rusted where the torsion bars attach. I think rust is the more likely culprit.
Yep, I scrolled down to say this. It’s almost positively the torsion bar brace that’s rusted through and needs to be replaced completely. Probably has a lot more rust on the rails. I think this one is very likely WAY worse than it looks at a glance, and it already doesn’t look that great.
That’s my thought as well. In order to get a car that low the frame rail where the torsion bar attaches is probably rotted out.
Given that the floors need replacement also, I’m guessing that the cowl area is rotted out and that’s what allowed the water to leak to the floor which subsequently allowed water to rot out the floors and then the water got to the frame rails and the torsion bar mounts are rotted out.
Critters like to make their nest in the cowl ducts and that’s what causes the cowl to rot out.
Don’t ask me how I know this…😂
I haven’t looked in a long time, but I know before there were repair frame rails that you could weld onto that section of the subframe in order to get the torsion bars functional again.
It does look like a decent project for the price. Would have to look a lot closer, but I’m sure there’s a lot of hidden rust but the car looks good from 10 feet. It potentially could need everything so the cost to replace stuff will certainly add up. At least it has a V-8 in it and if you don’t beat on it too much the 904 transmission and smaller rear differential should hold up for cool cruising.
Lots of rust on this one, seller says it needs floors, trunk pan, lower quarters, drivers side C-pillar and overall body, not to mention interior and whatever else is hiding under the previous rust repairs. It’s currently non-running, but has some good options which are a plus if they are complete and restorable. If this 1974 Barracuda is someone’s dream car, it might be worth them making an offer over the sellers defacto opening bid of $10,500.
Steve R
Looking at that interior gives a clue to how high the water got that is not mentioned o.O That’s a shocking mess,any interested really need to get clarification on this one or it’s a run away screaming car.
All I could focus on was the big rock keeping it from rolling backward. Not too impressed.
Brian, for a moment I thought that first photo was looking at the Shattuck’s front yard.
Looks like some high school kid got his hands on this in the early 80s. Too bad, it was once a nice car. Just junk now. Strip it of parts and sell for scrap.
This car will not get scrapped Seller will probably have to drop price it needs a lot of work But everything it needs is available at YEAR ONE but not cheap
Been sitting only 3 years?
10k for a rot bucket. nuts. you can do better than this. parts car at best
In june 71 I bought a dealer demo 70 Barracuda Gran Coupe… same red with a white vinyl top… same wheels … 318 column auto… A/C.. drove it 110 k miles…. These cars always flowed through to owners who allow them to end up like this one.
How do you get the dashboard to look like that?
i wonder if the numbers are still there with all the rust. There is nothing to match , if the numbers are rusted away. Very cool car, just for parts thou.
Unfortunate, but the asking price is about ballpark for what rusty but desirable Mopars go for. All Barracuda models are desirable. The lowest Hagerty value for this car is almost 19K.
There aren’t many left, and the seller is hoping that there is someone out there up to the task. Pricing, and the ad, might be optimistic and seller will have lower expectations once it sits for a few months.