With the values of Third Generation Plymouth Barracudas continuing to climb, Mopar enthusiasts sometimes struggle to locate affordable alternative project cars. That’s where candidates like this 1969 Barracuda could ride to the rescue. It is a rock-solid and complete classic with a V8 under the hood. It has sat for a while, but reviving it may not be difficult. It has also attracted minimal bidding, meaning it could prove an affordable starting point for a project build. You will find the Barracuda listed here on eBay in Monroe, Michigan. The price sits at $7,500 after only two bids, with that figure pushing it beyond the reserve. Somebody could score this Plymouth for a song if the action doesn’t heat up in the next couple of days.

This Barracuda spent the first two decades of its life in the dry climes of Texas before finding its way to Michigan in around 1990. It has always been garage-kept, helping explain why its rust problems are essentially superficial. The seller identifies small areas in the driver’s side lower rear quarter panel requiring patches and one spot in a front fender, but there’s nothing justifying panel replacement. Delving below the surface confirms that prone areas like the floors, trunk pan, and rails are rock-solid. Its Code R6 Scorch Red paint is baked in spots, but a repaint as part of the project build would lift the presentation enormously. However, since this classic is not 100% original, that might represent the ideal opportunity for a color change to help this Plymouth stand out from the crowd. The windshield requires replacement, but the remaining glass looks okay. There is also grille damage, but most of the remaining trim should respond positively to some old-fashioned polishing.

The best word to describe this Barracuda’s interior is “tired.” Most upholstered surfaces are baked beyond salvation, meaning a total retrim is the most sensible course of action. The good news is that the interior is complete, and various owners have installed aftermarket additions in a way that would allow their removal without compromising the originality. The factory radio is intact, and the inclusion of bucket seats and air conditioning adds a luxurious feel. This build aspect is unlikely to leave any change from $2,000, but the result should be a factory-fresh appearance.

When shiny and new, this Plymouth’s engine bay hosted a 225ci slant-six producing 145hp. Mated to a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission, it allowed the Barracuda to cover the ¼ mile in a relatively leisurely 18.7 seconds. Coinciding with its move from Texas to Michigan, the original six made way for a 318ci V8 of 1970 vintage. That motor is mounted on a V8 K-Frame from the same model year, while a 904 TorqueFlite sends the power to the rear wheels. With the output boosted to 230hp, this classic should be capable of storming the ¼ mile in 15.8 seconds. That’s a significant improvement, helped by the ’69’s relatively low curb weight of 3,009lbs. If the next owner performs basic upgrades to the induction system, exhaust, and camshaft, that could lift performance significantly without breaking the bank. The vehicle has hibernated since the 1990s, but the engine roars to life courtesy of an external fuel source. The brakes are inoperative, and the lack of recent activity means it requires a thorough inspection to confirm there are no further problems. The lack of structural rust opens the tantalizing prospect that the buyer could return the car to a mechanically roadworthy state and enjoy the motoring experience while tackling the panel and paint issues at their leisure.

While many focus on the later E-Body variant of the Plymouth Barracuda, it is worth giving the Second Generation cars a closer look. They may not possess the same muscular stance as the later model, but they have one characteristic worth keeping in mind. The E-Body brought more muscular looks to the table, but it also brought increased weight. Our feature car tips the scales at around 3,009lbs, but an E-Body with a 318 pushes that figure to 3,194lbs. As most enthusiasts will confirm, weight is the enemy of performance. Therefore, if a Barracuda with potential muscle credentials is on your Wish List, this solid example is worth a closer look.