Like it or not, we’re in the Moparland days where high auction reserves and outrageous buy-it-now prices are the norms, even for lower condition basic models with less desirable drivetrains.  So it’s like a breath of fresh air that the seller of this 1974 Plymouth Barracuda chose to list his vehicle with an auction starting at $1, with no hefty reserve price tacked on!  Granted, it needs a lot of work, a whole lot of work, but if you’ve been in the market for a third-generation project car and have the skills, this 1974 Plymouth Barracuda may be worth a look.  Located in Taneyville, Missouri, it can be spotted here on eBay with a current bid of $4,000.  As of this writing, 10 different people have placed 22 bids, and in the end, the highest bidder will be taking this one home.  Unfortunately, they won’t be driving it.

Kudos to the seller for saying upfront that his car needs a complete restoration, and being honest in stating that almost every panel will need to be replaced.  Those are some crusty quarters, but thankfully replacement panels are plentiful for E-Bodies.  The car originally came with a vinyl top, and there’s substantial rust present around the roof area, but at least the body seems to be almost complete.  The hood is said to be good and the doors decent, plus the trunk lid and grille appear to be OK from what I can tell.

There’s no fender tag present, but the “G” in the VIN indicates a 318 cubic inch 2-Barrel, although the motor is long gone.  The good news is that this was a manual transmission car, but that’s gone too, however, the 8 3/4 Sure-Grip is still present.  Compared to the outside, the engine area looks better than I would have thought and still retains the car’s original color of red inside.  This was a manual brake Barracuda with front discs.

While the underneath side doesn’t look great, it appears better than I was expecting, although my expectations were not very high.  The seller says that the front rails and supports look OK, but the rears might need patching, or better yet replacing.  We do get a photo from the rear end as well, which again doesn’t look as bad as my perception was leading me to believe it would, and what 70s kid can’t appreciate those air shocks and traction bars!

The floorboards and trunk area are both going to need some major attention, as is most of the interior.  The instrument panel, gauges, and steering wheel are all still there but the front and rear seats are not.  The factory radio is also gone and has been replaced with an aftermarket unit.  What are your thoughts on this 1974 Plymouth Barracuda?  At the right price, is it worth saving, or best left to just continue returning to the earth?