Plymouth introduced the Barracuda just 17 days before Ford unveiled the Mustang in 1964, yet the Mustang would always eclipse the Barracuda in sales. And often on a scale of 10 to 1 or more. The genre was nicknamed “pony car” after the Ford, not the “fish car” after the Plymouth. This second-generation Barracuda from 1967 looks like a great survivor-quality car and is priced below what a similar Mustang might go for. It’s located in Orange, Connecticut, and available here on craigslist for $15,900. Another great Mopar tip from Rocco B.!
The Barracuda’s roots lie in the compact Valiant, as also was the case with the Mustang and Ford’s Falcon. That relationship would continue until the Barracuda got its own platform in 1970 that would also serve Dodge’s new Challenger, also a pony car. Annual Barracuda sales would never top 65,000 units (in 1965) while the Mustang would see 607,000 deliveries in 1966. The seller’s car is the notchback body style (aka coupe) which accounted for 28,000 of the overall 62,500 Barracuda sales in 1967 (the other two options were the fastback and convertible).
Chrysler treated its compacts to a redesign in 1967, which was also applicable to the Barracuda. That look would carry the Valiant and Dart through 1976. The ’67 Barracuda was largely a rounder Valiant which was a very boxy car (and uninspiring in the looks department). While a Slant Six was still standard in a ’67 Barracuda, two versions of the 273 cubic inch V8 were offered. Whether you got a 2 or 4-barrel carburetor determined if the output was 180 or 235 horses.
The dark green paint on this Plymouth is shiny and dark green (almost looks black). It may be original and does have a few nicks here and there. A new vinyl top has been installed (with the windshield trim waiting to be put back on). The black interior has reupholstered seating along with new carpeting. The 273 engine (180 hp version) is said to run well, thanks in part to a new battery, alternator, and tires. So, this comes across as a turnkey auto that you can drive to Cars & Coffee next weekend. And thumb your nose at the vintage Mustangs!
It’s good to see a Barracuda of this vintage this well kept. Not a bad price for a classic like this one and Well preserved-folks won’t pass up a taking look at this trophy Barracuda.
GLWTS
Here we go again, remember the guy across the alley, that had the Fiat 850 coupe? THIS, is what he traded that, um, car, in on, except it had a 4 speed. Naturally, it was quite an improvement over the Fiat, but oddly spec’d, and a 4 speed and V8 2 barrel was no speed demon. Actually, kind of a slug really, and a fastback Barracuda was all the rage, the coupe looked a bit out of place. Fact is, his was the 1st we ever saw. I’m not sure thumbing your nose at Mustangs is in the best interest, but no question, SOME Mopars made Mustangs nervous, just not this one. Quite a find.
I like it. Looks great! Hard to see if the rocker panels have any rust in them. I have a ’68 hardtop.
I don’t remember ever a coupe before. Always preferred these baracuda to the latter ones.
Isn’t yours a Coupe?
Yes. a coupe. a hardtop. Not a fastback.
I like these and I am not a Mopar guy. Pumped fuel at a Shell station 3rd shift in the weekends. Yep open 24 hrs and no cage. Any way Sunday mornings in the summer a pair of guys would pull in with one of these on a trailer. Fuel the car and the tow vehicle , remember Super Shell? Anyway 273 Hi Po all tricked out and never saw it race it sounded sweet on the trailer. Yeah they fired it up, open headers in the early morning so I could hear it. Great looking car,think it was dark blue and had some class winner decals on it too!
Remember it well! At the time l was pumping gas it was the most expensive fuel to buy second to Sunoco 94 @ .42.9 per gal!
I too pumped Sunoco from ’69-71. Low octane ‘190’ was only .29 while HiTest ,not sure the octane, ‘260’ was .39, gradually rose to .42 per gallon. Loads of muscle cars, though we didn’t call them that at the time, complained about the high cost of ‘260’ and settled for the premium, lower cost ‘240’. Only big timers would go for the 260. We could tell the really set-up ‘260’ customers were coming because the windows on the garage doors would rattle and shake even from a distance. Way cool place for a highschool gear head to cut his teeth. I had a 68 barracuda ‘ notchback’ later on. Liked this better than the fastback, still do.
For folks in Wisconsin, it was Clark Super 100 octane, that’s all they sold. It was colored red, we called it “cherry juice”, and all the souped up cars got gas there.
Man if I knew how to pay for that beautiful barracuda I’d buy it today and fly there tomorrow to get it
My stepdad owned a 68 coupe and a fastback at one time.Ran his 70′ 340 engine in the fastback for a while before putting the 318 back in.A few of the many project mopars he had at one time or another,even had a 340 Formula S car too…
Many bought cars on price alone. the Mustang was a inexpensive car. I always thought the Cougar was a GREAT car (had a 70′ RX7). The same car as the Mustang but much more to offer as in options and handling.
What a sweet color combo for those Mopar lines. I love the 67-69 Barracudas and Darts. I owned both Camaros and mustangs of that era. I bought and restored a 68’ FB Formula S -4speed, 340 about 8 years ago. Hands down, fastest and most ergonomic of the big three in my experience. Mine too is the GG1 green. 💪🏽🇺🇸👍
Cryin’ shame it’s not a manual shift car. But, love it anyway!
Nice looking Barracuda but not hard to see why buyers overwhelmingly chose the Mustang. The Plymouth looks like a sporty Valiant, right down to the interior. Mustang, while mostly a Falcon underneath looked completely different and the long hood and abbreviated trunk really accentuated the sporting look. The Mopar’s trunk looks longer than the hood from some angles. Chrysler got the message with the next generation Barracuda that went from styling dud to styling triumph in one year.
Brings back memories. I had a 68 Coupe like this one , a Formula S with the 340. A fun car that ran great but didnt stop worth a crap…LOL
SO true how they did not stop well with the four way drums. I have a 69′ 340 swinger and had the same issue. I found a 70 with Kasey-Hayes disc brakes and installed them. Good stopping now.
Agreed! My ’68 hardtop 318 with four-wheel drum brakes (non power brakes) takes a while to stop.
My brother in law had a baby blue 67 formula S. I don’t know if was a 340 or 383 I was just a kid but I remember that car was wicked fast and he would scare the —- out of me when I did ride with him. He was a Marine aircraft mechanic and he was just a crazy as that car.
If it was stock, it could of been 383. A 273, 4 bbl was also available that year. They ran well but not like a 340 or 383.
Beautiful looking car. I’ve always loved the 1967-69 Plymouth Cuda, probably more so than the 1970 and later models. If only craigslist had kept the pics up. I know they can’t remain up forever, but really?
Beautiful car and my favorite car of all time. Back in the early seventies, my older brother owned two ’67 notchback Barracuda’s. Wonderful machines and so underrated.