Hoping to catch up to the popular Ford Mustang, Chrysler gave the Plymouth Barracuda an all-new platform, the E-body, in 1970. It would be shared with the Dodge Challenger, a new product that year. Sales would rise by 50% but dropped quickly after that due to changing market conditions (and “pony car” saturation). This 1970 Barracuda decodes as being a rather ordinary Plymouth (per the VIN) and it’s been disassembled and prepared for bodywork and paint. Located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this incomplete roller is available here on eBay. Though below the reserve, the current bid is just $1,524.
It’s a shame the E-bodies didn’t come sooner as 1970 was the heyday for most muscle and pony cars. So, the 49,000 Barracudas sold in 1970 would be the pinnacle of the final generation of the car (Chrysler dumped both the Barracuda and Challenger after 1974). Production would drop by two-thirds in 1971 and would never recover, especially after the big-block engines were discontinued that year. In 1970, 22,000 Barracudas were sold with the light-duty 318 cubic inch V8 (46% of total assemblies).
We assume the seller started a restoration on this 318 Barracuda some time ago and has elected not to continue. The engine is long gone and we’re not sure about the transmission. So, if you were to put it back together, you could go the restomod route without hurting its value. What you see has been sandblasted, revealing sheet metal that will require patches (or more and included). There is no driver’s door, but most of the glass has managed to stick around. And there are several boxes of parts that should provide an assist.
A rare extra piece is included, an original hood from the T/A edition of the ’70 Barracuda which saw low production numbers (for Trans Am racing). If you like a good challenge and have the bank account to fund things, this could be an interesting build (as opposed to a rebuild). Unfortunately, no mention is made of a cowl tag or build sheet, so we don’t know much about the origins of the Plymouth.
Learn something new every day-IKEA sells vintage cars, and apparently does open box specials to boot.
There was no mention of the required little hex wrench- is it included?
I would love to see a cartoon in the assembly instructions where the little man is on the phone to IKEA with a question, with a cartoon version of this vehicle in the background.
It reminds me of a plastic model car kit.
3 in 1: Use the T/A hood to make a one of a kind Cuda T/A.
On top of all the rust repair needing completion, this will be missing so many small parts it will nickel and dime the next owner to death.
Steve R
An original ( not repro) AAR hood is worth the current ask ($1,500+) alone.
It’s at $5300 now. And I’m sure will go higher, reserve not met yet. Call me crazy (it’s happened before), but I don’t think this car looks that bad (body-wise). Would want to inspect in person to see if it’s worse than pics show, and what all is there parts-wise. It’s crazy what these go for compared to when I sold mine for peanuts when no one wanted them.
Start keeping your empty sardine cans.
let’s rip it apart. oh boy this way too much for me to do and have no money to pay to have it done so i will pawn it off to some other sucker. somebody take this guy’s tools away from him!
$1350 was just about right.
“George? Y’know that pile of parts sitting in the corner? Can’t you do something with it?”
“Yes dear. I’ll put it on ebay, tomorrow. (With a high reserve, so nobody’ll buy it!)”
“I tried, dear!”
You see it all the time someone buys a project like this thinking they can put it back together it way over head
Ended at $5,300.
Reserve Not Met.
I guess the seller really didn’t want to clean out the garage.