Selecting the ideal candidate for a project build can be tricky, and many enthusiasts have spent countless hours pursuing the goal. The seemingly perfect candidate often hides significant rust, or major mechanical components may be missing or damaged beyond repair. That is where classics like this 1971 Plymouth Barracuda sweep in like a breath of fresh air. It isn’t perfect, but its existing rust problems are minor. If the new owner wishes to return the car to a roadworthy state in the short term, that is another task that should prove straightforward. The Plymouth is listed here on eBay in Everest, Kansas. While the bidding sits at $15,300, that figure is short of the reserve. For those wishing to bypass the auction process, the seller provides a BIN option at $30,000.

The Plymouth wears a shade called Autumn Bronze, and we immediately notice the mismatched front fenders. Why a previous owner changed them is unclear, but these may have a story to tell. The seller was informed they came off the 1971 Plymouth ‘Cuda used in the Nash Bridges tv series. While it is plausible, there is no known way to verify it. Therefore, it is probably an interesting but fanciful story that wouldn’t justify removing and preserving the panels. The rest of the exterior is pretty straight, with only a few small bumps and blemishes. Both rear quarter panels have rust, and replacing these would be the best approach to ensure elimination. There are some prior repairs in the trunk pan, but that appears to be the extent of this car’s woes. The seller supplies some shots that reveal the floors and rails to be rock-solid. There is surface corrosion that the buyer will undoubtedly treat to prevent deterioration, but the rest of the work would come from a book of fundamental panel preparation. The grille is cracked, but the remaining trim may be okay. A replacement windshield will find its way onto the shopping list, but the rest of the glass should be fine.

One aspect of this Barracuda requiring TLC is its interior. It is complete, but time hasn’t been kind. The upholstered surfaces are badly worn and torn, the dash pad is cracked, and the carpet looks like it started life in someone’s 1970s living room. A trim kit would address most of the problems, but at $2,500, it wouldn’t include a dash pad. Sourcing a high-quality replacement adds a further $600 to the total. That represents a significant investment, although some careful online searching and a spot of patience could slash those figures significantly.

When it was shiny and new, this Plymouth’s engine bay housed a 318ci V8 producing a respectable 230hp. It is unclear whether the original owner selected the manual or automatic transmission, although the former would have provided a ¼-mile ET of 16.5 seconds. If they ticked the box for the TorqueFlite, that figure ballooned to 17.2 seconds. It is largely irrelevant today because a previous owner performed wholesale changes. Lifting the hood reveals a 340ci V8 of 1970 vintage that sent its power to the Sure Grip rear end via a four-speed manual transmission with a cool pistol grip shifter. Potential buyers should expect the updated powerplant to produce 275hp, allowing this classic to go close to producing a flat-15-second ¼-mile time. The previous owner parked the classic due to clutch and starter solenoid issues. The seller coaxed the engine to life, saying it sounded strong. They believe that returning the car to a mechanically roadworthy state should be pretty easy, and this could represent a great short-term goal while the buyer considers how they will tackle the rest of the build.

What would be your approach if you made a play for this 1971 Barracuda and were the winning bidder? The loss of the original motor means that the option of a factory-fresh restoration is removed from the equation. The buyer may elect to source a date-correct drivetrain as part of a faithful refurbishment, but I doubt that will happen. Alternatively, they could throw caution to the wind and create the Barracuda of their dreams with a Hemi under the hood. If it were me, I’d be inclined to utilize the existing drivetrain as it offers an excellent compromise between performance and driveability. Do you agree, or is your vision more daring than mine?