The owner of this 1971 Barracuda drove it into this barn 30 years ago, and that’s where it has sat ever since. He has decided that it is time for it to move on to a new home, so he has listed it for sale here on eBay. Located in Syracuse, New York, it is listed for sale with a transferable registration. Bidding opened at $1, and has now risen to $4,551, but the reserve is yet to be met.
The seller states that the Barracuda is solid, but that it will require a new trunk pan. We only get shots of one side of the car, but there is obvious rust in the quarter panel, around the rear wheel arch, in the bottom of the door, around the rear window area, and some in the rocker panel. There are some limited shots of the front underside of the car, and apart from a coating of surface corrosion, it actually looks to be solid.
The photos in this ad are quite inconclusive, but it does appear that the interior will require some refurbishment. The seats will require new covers and the carpet will need to be replaced, but it looks like the dash pad may actually be okay, and would respond positively to a clean. I’m not sure what the mark is on the pad, but it looks like it may just be dirt.
This is as close as we get to an engine shot, and there’s not a lot to tell about the state of the engine from this. The seller states that the car is fitted with a 318ci V8, and I suspect that this is backed by an automatic transmission. As stated earlier, the car was driven into its current resting place 30 years ago. Since then it has been cannibalized for its radiator, but there is no mention of any other parts being removed. The brakes are currently locked, but the seller is working on freeing these so that the car will at least roll.
The Plymouth Barracuda remains a popular classic, and as a result, they continue to command some pretty respectable prices. This Barracuda will require a fair amount of work to achieve the lofty heights that good examples are now reaching. However, this car seems to have generated its fair share of interest on eBay, and this indicates that there are more than a few people out there who can see the potential in this car.
I wonder whats the story here. Why put a 17 year old car in a shed and never use it again? It was a nice little car back in the day, the 318 is a wonderful compromise of an engine, more then the six (which in those days was more then adequate) and not too much as to give your insurance agent wet dreams, as well as your local gas station owner. Handled well, reliable, good mileage too. Unfortunately, this will end up with some front heavy V* big block screamer so a 60 year old man can lay rubber and pretend he is young again.
Hey, watch out now. If you live long enough you’ll be sixty and doing the same thing. LOL
O good. I’m only 59. 😂👍🏻
I am a 68 year young buck that can put you to shame.
Hey Billy. Sometimes that’s all us 60+ year old guys have left.
Those barnacles on the underside of the hood could use a scrape and some bottom paint.
Seller states its solid. Must mean solid rust. No way this should bring what’s already bid on it.
Wow, almost seven grand and four days to go! People are foolish. I guess my dream of having it restored to original spec isn’t going to happen. It would be soooooooooooooo nice to go to a show once and a while and see a car restored to the avergae spec, like most of us drove. That brings back memories. Oh, it is fun to see big blocks and hemis, but we all remember working on slant sixes and 318s. If the rich boys hadn’t got into the hobby and made this a money making biz, then maybe that is what we would still have, they have distorted the hobby, and not in a good way.
Billy007,
“If the rich boys hadn’t got into the hobby and made this a money making biz…”
I don’t think it is just the rich who make the cars expensive, rather it is the mountain of costly reproduction/NOS parts and intensive labor required to bring these now trashed out cars back to life. For example here, if one spends $80,000 on this 318 Barracuda, you can’t expect the owner to sell it to you in a couple of years for $400 like we use to pay in 1975. It is only because the cars are expensive, that it justifies reproduction parts companies to make the parts we need to restore them. Just a thought…
@2cool2say, Because the rich didn’t pay so much, these crazy prices charged, from repo parts to labor, would all be less. Shops should not charge 150-200/Hr when ya know the work men doing it are like 25-30 bucks per hour. There is over thew top profit there. And the costs of these parts are what the market will bear. We all know where they are made, and labor is really cheap there. Do not get me wrong, Capitalism is fine, it has just gone way too far towards the greedy side of it. I just wish the people making the parts and skilled labor would try to be more reasonable and make the same kind of money from volume instead of a few sales. Henry Ford figured that one out quite a while back, but this nation in general has had Capitalism get out of control.
Billy007, I just dont think you have any idea of how much labor time it takes to bring a neglected car like this back from the dead. No, the parts arent cheap, but the skilled labor required is not for the faint of heart. I cant blame anyone commanding a price for all their hard work.
i agree !! Total waste of money. Just go buy a running driver. after finish screwing around with this rust bucket, you’ll be too old to drive it.
Looks like it will stay another 30 years, I live close by, if any out of towners would want e to take a gander at it , let me know
Do you believe the part about being parked in that barn for 30 years? I never saw a barn near Syracuse in that good of a condition after 30 NY winters!
Why would anyone pay anything for this pile of rust and unknown, hidden problems? Makes me want to go to a wrecking yard here in SoCal, buy a junker, and list it for sale. Think of the stupid money I can get for a car that won’t have any rust!
I wish more people would do that. Then they can flood the market with rust free cars which will bring the prices down when everyone could afford a project car of their liken and be happy.
Danapoint: i just read what u said and being a very old mopar lover from the rust belt i had to laugh ,my first classic car was bought in SoCal and drug back to Cleveland Oh.that was 1979 and was a 63 Riv i was 26 and after working on it ,went to The classic car show ,with the Old rich SOBs and to my shock placed 2nd and i look at that rusty cuda and think why in gods name just buy a new Hemi Challenger or go to Los Angles and bring back a rust free cuda Repairing rust is a costly waste of time Fluffynato1952
Have you tried to find a rust free Cuda or any other muscle car in California. The exist, but it takes time and networking to flush good ones out at reasonable prices. You certainly aren’t likley to find a specific make or model within a few days searching Craigslist or most common online sales forums unless you are willing to pay a healthy premium.
Steve R
I’m sure it was a nice ponycar when new but the rust, locked brakes and missing parts would require a buyer with an abundance of time and money to lovingly restore this sad Mopar.
Unbelievable. Back in 1987 I bought an orange 1970 Challenger, with 318 for $700. I considered it a beater at the time and it had some rust but it was a Concours d Elegance show winner compared to this wretched neglected thing, which is at 6,800 and rising.
Unfortunately the cost of restoration will far exceed the value. While many more small block Barracudas and Challengers were built and enjoyed than big blocks, they just don’t have the value once completed.
The 318 is a fantastic engine, my Dodge Ram had 355k on it before I decided to do a swap. She was tired but still started every day and did her job.
Billy,
Not sure what the problem is with 60 year old men building hot rods that can burn rubber and make us feel young again.
Mitch
Mitch, Billy has earned a bit of a reputation with making odd and on occasion inflammatory comments. Most are hard to comprehend. But once in a while he does craft a coherent idea that you can understand. I for one, am all for burning rubber as long as we’re able as life is too short not to have fun and enjoy every day! I’m 48 and am building a 383 for my Fury with just that intent.
Maybe you can’t comprehend my comments because all that rubber dust from squealing tires has clogged your brain. Of course what do you know, 48, your just a kid! Write back when you grow older and wiser. No wonder us Boomers run the world, who else could?
I love the fury models,what year is the one your restoring?
Brother I’m with you on that!
Back in July a very large Dodge, Ram, Jeep dealer near me got in a “16” HC Challenger with a 6 speed. Fortunately for me a friend of almost 30 years is a salesman there. He gives me a call and asks if I’m interested and come up for a test drive. So I’m off like it’s a 5 alarm fire. He walks me out to the car with a tag and hands me the Fob. I set down, buckle up and look over and ask “did you bring the red one” he grins and says let’s go.
10 min later I’m on a back road with all 707 pony’s just begging to be released.
I HAVE GOT TO GET ME ONE OF THOSE. HOLY CRAP, 700 plus horse power and a stick is probably the most fun a man can have with his clothes on.
Mitch, I can promise you, without a doubt, that there is no problem with us older folk reliving our youth. But I’m probably biased and proud of it.
Yes, this “hobby” has definitely become a pastime for those wealthy enough to endeavour. Looking at the prices of these barn finds makes me really appreciate the day I paid $1500.00 for a very nice ’67 GTO back in 1980, and then drove it home about a hundred miles away….darn near perfect in every way except for a couple of worn down lifters.
Robert,
Yes it does sir. I payed 850.00 for my 69 factory original GTX in 81, all numbers matching. Although numbers matching didn’t mean much back then.
I wish there were more old guys around who do what Clint Eastwood did with his Ford Grand Torino. Only in the movies I guess.
Do you mean, give it away to a deserving youth? I fully agree.
“Solid”?!? Both quarter panels will need replacing, and probably the right wheelhouse arch as well. The passenger door also looks to be rusted out as well. Holes around the rear window, crusty front edge of hood; really difficult to assess with the provided pictures, definitely should have an in person inspection. This is a low spec, basic 318 c.i. Barracuda, which as has been stated will never attract B-J levels of $$$. It will require (IMO) B-J levels of $$$ to restore. Don’t you just love the sellers who make snarky comments such as “not relisting if not sold can stay there another 30 years”? In another 30 years, there will even fewer baby boomers than there are now, who’d be interested in this car!! :-)
In 30 years there will be NO Boomers even driving, the youngest of them will be 84 years old. Do you think most will have the funds to purchase this, much less have the ability to even drive a car? My old man is 86, great guy, but when he was 80 he T-Boned a young family in a Pontiac. Dad didn’t mean to, but trust me, he was just driving like most 80 year olds do. He quit driving that day for good. I am almost retired, and yet I still strongly believe that once you hit 65 years old you need a BEHIND the Wheel annual driving exam. Nope, the value of these cars is going to drop rapidly soon, no one will care about them, at least no one with any money and the ability to drive. My own son is in his mid 20s, he is a pharmacist, hence plenty of money to spend, but do you think he would give this even a look? This car means nothing to him at all. No, betting the farm on Baby Boomer youth is a fools errand.
“if not sold can stay there another 30 years”… which should be about long enough to finish it off.
Luca Brazi Sleeps with the fishes.
This fish looks like its been down there with him. Rotten from top to bottom. give it another 30 years. SMH
Cheers
GPC
That’s a lot of money for a car with almost 10,000,000 miles on it, but it has held up well!
Don’t know what the problem is about doing smokey burnouts and having a good time with one of these things at any age, I see more reckless driving and complete rudeness in those new pill bug looking cars everyday.
Well, this 318 powered mopar might not make the hairs stand up on your neck but it could still be a cool ride. And who says we have to leave the 318 completely stock? Too bad these daily’s have gotten expensive though.
It seems that once a day on my 20 mile commute I’m swerving out of the way of some ahole texting and drifting into my lane! Yesterday it was on a 2 lane bridge with no shoulder!. I diverge, but it isn’t my driving that is a problem. I far prefer the modern muscle to the old stuff and I have/had both. There is no comparison and I no longer desire for any of that old junk except to let something like this peek out of my barn so I can say F off to everyone who stops and tells me what a waste it is.
Did anyone else notice, the barn does not seem to be 30 years old!
No barn looks that good after 30 Syracuse winters!
Maybe someone can explain it to me how a person could put a Cuda, (or any car for that matter) in a barn and leave it? Is it like, ” oh crap honey, I forgot we parked our car out in the barn 30 years ago” lol. It’s “cool car abuse”, or it should be.
Sacrilegious!!!
It is because you buy another car and sometimes family gets in the way.
I can see it happening easily.
Solid Scrap.
No Vin. No Fender tag.
Yup leaving it another 30 years is a promise more than a threat
On second thought these 71 Grilles are extremely rare pieces.
The grille is pretty solid.
It might be worth 3 grand parted out
On second thought those 71 Grilles are hard to get.
That Grille parted out could be worth 3 grand alone.
On second thought those 71 Cuda grilles are very hard to get.
This is the only part worth having.
Someone might pay 3 grand for it alone.
I
yep….but it back in there awhile longer….
You can bring these back with patch panels and your own labor. It took me just 9 months to bring my 71 chevelle back after it was in this type of condition. I am still under $20k in it and that includes a 4k paint job. Stay away from those high dollar shops
Nice job Derald. I’m with you. Learn a bit and do a lot of it yourself. Some things obviously are a bit too much but you shop those out (blueprinting, heads, upholstery etc.) These shops that are one stop shop just drop it off and come back in a year are for those who obviously can afford to do that although imho foolishly throwing their money away.
It’s already bid high enough for a Barracuda. If it were a ‘Cuda, it would be a different story. Some sellers don’t know the difference.
This Barracuda has seen it’s share of salt water . Take the rest of the back seat out and pop the trunk open .