For the past few Saturdays I have been taking my rescue dog (Beans) to a local outdoor class. The goal is not for him to learn obedience or tricks, but to make him feel more comfortable around new people and in different places. The class lasts for an hour and it is typically my wife or myself who take our dog there. This week we went together and I am quite happy that we decided to do so. Parked across the street from the lot where we take Beans was this wonderful example of some Mopar Muscle. I gave my wife “the pretty-please” face and asked her to hold the leash… 
As I was walking over to the vehicle, the owner showed up and was looking under the hood. I introduced myself and we started to chat about his vehicle. It is a 1968 and features a 340 under the hood. This is tied to a four-speed trans. Along with the rear gearing, the whole setup screams along around 4,000 revs at 70 mph on the highway. Having driven it down from SLO recently, the owner said it sounds like being inside a fire-truck….
The owner also stated that the car is a daily driver. The car has obvious flaws, but here in the Hooniverse those flaws are what makes a car like this shine. The paint is acceptable, the body is straight and the interior only had a few tears. The second generation Barracuda is when this model really started to shine. Sure, the third generation generates all the buzz but the cars built from 67-69 laid the groundwork for the beasts to come the following years.
This Barracuda also features a Formula S rear tail treatment. I don’t think the car was an actual Formula S version but the owner stated he has seen just the tail piece sell for $1,5o0 in good shape.
Overall, this car is an excellent daily driver and I am jealous it is not sitting in my own driveway.
Ohhhhh…. Baracuda
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Definitely a '68 – that was the only year that Dodge and Plymouth used those small round bright marker lights (Chryslers and Imperials had tiny squares). However, it looks like the panel between the taillights has been replaced by one from a '69. Too bad the car is the slightly awkward-looking notchback – the fastback was much prettier.
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I also prefer the notchback hardtop. I'm not really fond of the grille/headlight treatment, but the roof is very nice. It looks a lot like the '65 Corvair, which is no bad thing.
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Oh, I dunno. I think the notchback looks like a 5/6 scale Road Runner, which I'm guessing was the intent. I'm not traditionally much of a Mopar muscle guy, but I'd definitely make an exception here.
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The notchback almost looks like someone cut 2" out of the chassis halfway along the doors. I, too, prefer the fastback, but this one has its charm.
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A nice example of a 2nd gen 'Cuda. One of my favorite cars of the late 60s. But please, PLEASE, if nothing else find a set of original steel wheels with hub caps. Anything but those eyesores desecrating those gorgeous wheel wells.
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I think of all the muscle cars (bold statement to come, beware) that the Barracuda is the awesomest. Dont get me wrong, I love most all muscle cars of this generation, but the Barracuda really shines to me. Give me the Six Pack in Vitamin C. That is my ultimate muscle car. Until tomorrow, when its a Chevelle.
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The owner says you can see a Mustang or Camaro any day, but he loves that his Barracuda is different… and I totally agree.
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Of course, part of that is that the Mustang and Camaro outsold the Barracuda by something like six to one…
I like the '67-'69 Barracuda better than the Mustang or Camaro of its vintage, though.
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Yer makin' me cry with this one!
I had a '68 Barracuda just like this back in the 90's. I know I'm in the minority here, but I always liked the looks of the notchback version much more than the fastback, and if memory serves, it's lighter, too. Mine was a V8, ivory white, black factory top, red interior, absolutely friggin' surgically clean, 48K original miles.
I bought from an neighbor up the street from me who'd seen me drool every time he'd cruise by. Original owner, babied and garaged the whole time. He'd bought himself a new ride and finally asked me if I was interested in the Barracuda. I was speechless… a once in a lifetime opportunity to own one of my top 10 favorite cars of all time, in flawless condition, for a very reasonable price. Needless to say, I dove in head first.
After some mechanical restoration and swapping out the stock steelies & hubcaps for a nice restored set of factory rally wheels and trim rings, I took it on a long-planned dream roadtrip, 3 weeks from the midwest to the west coast and back. An absolutely flawless ride, perfect weather the whole way. WIth few exceptions, I was the coolest thing in sight during the whole trip. More thumbs up and waves than I could count. Driving up Hwy 101 along the coast, I couldn't have been any happier.
I hit some hard times not long after that trip and finally had to part with it… I was depleting my savings after a layoff, the car was way too nice to keep outside, and the storage fees were killing me. I reluctantly sold it to a friend, took the proceeds and used them to finance a move across the country. The move ultimately proved to be an excellent choice on my part… but it cost me my damn Barracuda. Such is life.
That Barracuda was big, big fun… cool, flawless and fast. It took good care of me, even after it was gone. You can't help but love a car like that.
Thanks for the pics, and the memory jog! ***sob!!!!*** -
Barracuda history:http://ateupwithmotor.com/sports-cars-and-muscle-…
The 340 was by far the best engine available on the second-generation car (and arguably the third-generation, as well). Thirsty as hell, but a great engine. -
oh you…and you're logic
😉
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