By now, just about every auto enthusiast knows that the Plymouth Barracuda beat the Ford Mustang to the pony car market by a matter of just a few days near the mid-sixties, but it’s still fun to think about how eager both brands were to introduce a fresh and exciting new compact offering into the marketplace. While Ford used the Falcon chassis as the basis for the Mustang, the Barracuda shared close ties with the Valiant, with the car debuting on April Fool’s Day in 1964. It’s great to run across a second-year example that’s been with the same owner since new, with this 1965 Plymouth Barracuda here on eBay falling into that category. This A-Body fastback is in the beautiful New England area of Essex, Connecticut, and comes with a buy-it-now price tag of $25,600. If that sounds a little steep, no worries, as there’s also a make offer button included.
Mitchell G., thanks for the great tip here! Since this one’s never exchanged hands, I’m guessing the owner knew from the start that this Barracuda was going to be with him for a long time, and some very good choices were made for equipment that would satisfy for the duration. For the car’s second year of production, a new Formula S package became available, which included the 273 Commando V8 engine. Producing a respectable 235 HP, this one’s got it, and that was the top offering for the ’65 model. The seller tells us this Plymouth has also recently been serviced, including a new battery plus complete fuel-system maintenance, and he also says the motor will now start right up. Another positive here is the transmission, which is a 4-speed manual.
Historically, this Barracuda is stated to have begun as a family car, with the odometer returning to all zeroes sometime during the late seventies. It’s now showing 3,981 miles, so this one’s been used sparingly for nearly the last half-century. The paint is said to still be the factory coating, and while it is showing some fading, the finish still looks a lot better than I’d expect considering the age. This seems like a good candidate for some minor bodywork followed by a respray, or maybe leave it alone for a while and enjoy the fact that you can boast about the exterior remaining original, sans those Cragar S/S wheels.
Also still in decent shape is the interior, and though it’s showing some wear in a few places, the inside area looks pretty good overall and is probably in satisfactory condition for a driver. There’s also plenty of cargo room when the rear seat is folded down, and it’s fully carpeted back there too. My being a fan of this 1965 Plymouth Barracuda is two-fold, as the Formula S package is desirable, plus the one-owner status is rare to find, but I’m not sure the asking price of $25,600 is realistic. What’s a fair amount to pay here?
Gawd, I can’t believe I bought one just like this and in excellent shape back in ’91 for $800.
Do you still have it? 😃
I bought a ‘65 442 in 72 for $700. I could get that for the 4 speed shifter now. Times are changing
Bought a 67 Camaro SS with the 350, 4 speed, Quadrajet, and Cragars in great shape in 73 for $750. Rolled it in 74 a week before 17th birthday…had to go to juvie due to being 16.
Bought a 70 SS 396 (402) Chevelle for $1500 after that. Sure wish to this day I still had either one. Good Times!
This brings back some fond memories!! Dated a girl in high that drove one of these in the early 80’s when they were just another old used car. Hers was a 6 cyl with an automatic but with that rear seat folded down we had plenty of room to do what teenagers do ;) her’s got rear-ended while parked in the street in front of her folks place, had to rear bumper pushed all the way up to the back of the front seat!! Thanks for the trip down memory lane!
Those were the days, Camaros were going up in price and Mopars weren’t. I bought a nice (relatively rust free) 65 Plymouth Belvedere 2 Dr. Ht. 383 car that had been bent a little by a kid in 1982. I had it straightened out and painted for under $1200 total. The kid’s parents paid $2500 for it a few weeks before he wrecked it.
It wasn’t perfect, but a decent driver. I had it for 25 years and then decided to make it a show car, so after $30K and a few thousand hours of labor . . . .oh well. I still like it, just can’t take it to a car show where I don’t trust the crowd.
Owned several Valiants and Barracudas from this era, both sixes and eights. Engineered to last, including the bodies, and just about bulletproof reliable. The only area that eventually rusted on mine was a small hollow section in the lower rear fender panels, where large plastic access plugs were provided to spray inside on the assembly line. Well, they didn’t get it. If you own one, you can pry them out with your fingers and spray inside yourself. If you look at the under -dash photo of the steering column, you can see one of the fresh air ventilation boxes with a door and opening lever. They did a great job and were no joke- unless you wanted them to be. If you opened one up at speed after a fall and winter of accumulating leaves from the cowl vent, the joke was on you. Or you could stuff the passenger’s side with paper balls and /or toys for- its- grand opening.
Dad had one just like this. Same color, engine, transmission. Of course, it was in like new condition back then. Peppy car and never gave him any trouble. Sorry he sold it but who knew back then?
Whoa I did not know the price of fish was going up that much
Almost can’t believe what the prices are on these cars now. Back in the mid 80’s when I used to get the Auto Hunter magazine here in New England, in this condition, this would have been a $2-3K car all day long. I bought a beautiful R4 bright red 69′ Dodge Charger R/T back in 1990 for $13K. I think what that car would go for today makes my head spin.
I bought a 1968 GT 500KR in 1971 for $1700.00 plus 1961 AH 3000 as a trade in . Wish I still had the 3000 .
That is a rare car. I’ve never seen another one with factory air although I did have one with a hang in a/c from Montgomery Ward. My car had a /6 engine with automatic. I bought mine in the early seventies for $450 and it was in nice condition at the time. That large rear window let the sun turn the car into an oven in the Georgia sunshine. My car was was copper colored with black interior and I was thankful for that hang in a/c. It had thirteen inch wheels when I got it but I put a set of fourteen inch formula S wheels and “wide Oval” Good year tires on it soon after I got it. It served me well until 1977 when I bought a Dodge Aspen wagon and sold the Barracuda to a coworker for $250. Those were the days, and I wish good luck to the seller of this red one.
My 1965 4sp S car is also factory A/C equipped and that is a little to much for that little 273 to race with it on. Had a 1964 also with 273 push button and factory A/C with pwr steering it didn’t really need. They are great little cars but that ask might be a little on the high side…..never hurts to ask….
When you’re racing any car with AC – you simply shut off the AC. When you shut off the AC, the compressor clutch disengages and the belt wheel spins freely on its bearings – no more drag than a belt idler wheel. So AC should never inhibit any car from racing as its such a simple matter to disengage it. — I agree that any car this size does not need power steering, but power disc brakes would be a big plus.
I bought my 65 Commando 273 4sp Barracuda in 1970 for $100. Had 56k miles, bronze color with a racing strip up drivers side of hood. I repaired a small amount of rust on one rear fender and painted it Corvette Daytona Yellow. Pretty quick car for the time, JC Whitney dual exhaust kit and chrome reverse rims on the back.
Trivia note. 273 Commando engines came with trim strips on the valve covers, dual “hemi” points in the distributor, and solid lifters.
This is a nice early Barracuda. Most people probably wouldn’t, but I like the addition of the rally lamps next to the headlights. You sure wouldn’t have any trouble seeing what’s out there in the woods on the old dirt single lane back roads. — It appears it’s in excellent condition, but the widespread rust on the underside of the dash and brake and clutch bars on the drivers side is quite baffling! I’ve never seen any car with rust in that location. What is that about?! Maybe the buyer should look it over quite carefully before putting any money on the table.
Flood car????????