Most people think the Mustang was the first “pony car,” hence the market segment would later be named after it. But the Plymouth Barracuda beat the Ford to the punch by 17 days in April 1964. The Barracuda would never be the sales success the Mustang was, but the nameplate would survive into the mid-1970s. This second-year Barracuda has been sitting for 15 years and does not run, but it’s a numbers-matching auto that may be mostly complete. Located in Canoga Park, California, this Plymouth is available here on eBay for $7,000 or you can submit an offer.
The fastback styling of the Barracuda may have influenced the styling of the 1966-67 Dodge Charger and is also similar to that of the Rambler Marlin of 1965-67. First-gen Barracudas would tally 127,000 cars for Plymouth but paled in comparison to the 607,000 Mustangs built for 1966 alone. The ’65 edition would be the best-selling model year in the automobile’s entire run, including its redesign in 1970 that gave the car its own platform, though shared with the then-new Dodge Challenger. Until then, the Barracuda was a Valiant under the skin, especially mechanically.
The seller’s car has only had two owners and has been inactive for the past 15 years. Most of the rust is of the surface variety, but there is a bit on the trunk lid and passenger side door. When the Plymouth left the factory, it was painted silver with a black stripe. The first owner didn’t like that and changed the color to white. The interior is okay, but the upholstery, dash pad, and carpeting will need to be redone, at a minimum.
Under the hood resides the Barracuda’s original 273 cubic inch V8 and may be a bit rare as it’s paired with a factory 4-speed manual transmission. No production numbers on that pairing are available as many of the vehicles either had a Slant-Six engine or TorqueFlite automatic or both. We’re told the motor will need to be rebuilt, but that shouldn’t be a difficult or expensive proposition. The good news here is that the big wraparound rear glass is intact, not an easy item to replicate. When fully restored, this could be a $30,000-something car according to Hagerty.
So since the Barracuda beat the Mustang to market, are you saying the segment should be called fish cars, instead of pony cars? 🤣🤣🤣
That back glass is worth about $3500 alone
That’s a myth. I can buy them all day for less than $250. Many people have given them away because they couldn’t sell them, and got tired of moving them around.
Very true. Junkyards would save them, thinking they were gold, but the demand for them isnt high and they are readily available even after nearly 60 years – the glass is really thick and not prone to breaking anyway.
Actually..whilst the Barracuda was announced 17 days before the Mustang..the Mustang actually went on sale 2 weeks before the Barracuda..soooo..who cares…we got a lot of cool cars in the 60’s :P
My cousin bought the second Mustang in town on intro day in ‘64. I am not a follower of Mustangs (I have owned a ‘64 Barracuda since’86) and I am curious about the timeline you put forth; Ford’s own website says Iacocca announced it’s coming on Feb 6 with no details offered, and the car introduced to the press on April 14 and to the public on April 17 at the NY Worlds Fair. The lore I recall was the Barracuda going on sale 14 days (April 1) before the Mustang’s intro (press date)
Nice “receiver” type trailer hitch…what were they towing Travel Trailers?
Maybe towing their other car – a Flintstone mobile.
Back in 1992 or 93 I purchased a 66 for $200 bucks it had a dash fire so the dashboard windshield and headliner were wasted the guy I got it from put in a after market stereo and wired it wrong. Body was clean no rust rest of the car in good shape I intended to fix it and drive it but pre internet parts were a struggle to find. I was heading into the mall one day and in the parking lot was one with a lot of body cancer but nice wheels obviously the owner was trying to keep it going. I left a note on his windshield saying I have one with a good body $500 bucks him and his dad came out with in a few days and got it.
That’s a rare car as not many were equipped with the 235 hp commando and a 4 speed.
I have the early version of the Barracuda sans fastback: ’63 Valiant Signet two door hardtop.
The 65 Valiant and Barracuda are the best of this generation in the styling department I think: grille [followed by the ’63], nicely detailed taillights, no “hairpin” pressed into the front fenders.
Seems an awful lot of money for something that doesn’t run. But a factory four speed?
That would be ideal behind the 225 in the Valiant.
I don’t think you could get a 4sp with a slant six, except in the late 70s with that awful 3sp plus overdrive they passed as one. Too bad, the 225 just screamed out for one. Imagine it with a 3.23 or 3.55 rear end and a 2bbl? A great combo with just the right amount of responsible power and the legendary benefits of the slant six to boot. 170/198/225 the greatest engines of all time.
I agree with Rigor Mortis-the Chrysler slant six was indestructible. The rest of the car might fall apart around it, but the slant six just kept on going.
When I was in the army in basic I was approved to drive and every time I went to get a pickup, I always chose the dodge they had the slant 6 and it would lay rubber while the ford’s and chevy’s were lame!
If it is indeed a Commando, that is a scarce combination. It does have the Commando badging and valve covers. The missing parts like the water pump, alternator, etc. are readily available if someone wants to restore it rather than upgrade to a 340, 360, 3rd gen hemi, etc.
in the day we thought of it as a valiant w/weird back window (or cool depending on opinion). We did not think of the 1st stang that way (even w/the later ‘fastback’). An ‘odd guy’ used to come by the hi-skol in the above “to give kids a ride home”. When the 2nd gen came around he snaped up one. Changed the rest of his style too w/open shirt, medalian’n chains, poly pants. The smart kids still shined him on. A college age + kid interested in high schoolers seemed odd. The 2nd gen had alot more cred tho.
Not a very Valiant effort of a “pony” car: take a Valiant, add a fastback roofline
and you’re done? -oh please!
Yeah, the Duster was a better take on this idea, though you couldn’t entertain a girl in the back like you could with these, if you know what I mean. The advertised “7 feet of anything space” with the rear seat in the down position. Don’t ask me how I know so much about this.
My 73 Duster had the fold down back seat option , so I know what you mean lol
what about the Studebaker Avanti? Long nose short rear deck supercharger or not still a fast car introduced in 1963.
My grandparents lived in very rural WVa and their mail lady had a black/black one like this at home. She could drive a four speed very well. The car had under 30k on it back in 95 when she gave it to her son. She came home one day from work and a new car was sitting there, he had traded it in. She was pissed and had him drive her into town to the dealer and bought it back. She kept it until she died and when I visited one time it was gone.
Gord is right, 273 4 speed. Don’t underestimate that 273; you could make a screamer out of one. Friend had a 64 vailant 4 dr with a 273 4 speed and it was an AHRA record holder. Could be a fun project. Good luck and happy motoring!
Cheers
GPC