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1964-1966 Plymouth Barracuda
The Plymouth Barracuda of this era seemingly just “gets no respect”. Despite being introduced about two weeks before the Ford Mustang to the same sporty compact new car market and despite having a thoroughly competitive and hot new optional 273 cubic inch (4.47 liter), 180-hp V-8 engine with more displacement than the initial eponymous “pony car” offering out of Dearborn, the Barracuda started life as a red-headed stepchild in the marketplace and never gained the market acceptance of its crosstown rival.
The backlight was the largest piece of glass ever engineered for any car up until that time, and was tinted in order to help prevent the solar cooking of inhabitants of the four seats.
Barracuda became a specific model-line rather than a sub-series of the compact Valiant for 1965, and gained a new Formula S package, which included an uprated 273 V8 good for 235 hp, more powerful than the commonly ordered 1965 Mustang 289 V8 of 225 hp. In fact, the 1965-1966 Formula S Barracuda is regarded as a Milestone car.
The problem with the Barracuda was marketing and design decisions that hobbled it once the Mustang came out. These cars are fun drivers and often gain more attention at car shows than do Mustangs from the same era, simply because they’re less often seen.
1964-1966 Plymouth Barracuda
The Plymouth Barracuda of this era seemingly just “gets no respect”. Despite being introduced about two weeks before the Ford Mustang to the same sporty compact new car market and despite having a thoroughly competitive and hot new optional 273 cubic inch (4.47 liter), 180-hp V-8 engine with more displacement than the initial eponymous “pony car” offering out of Dearborn, the Barracuda started life as a red-headed stepchild in the marketplace and never gained the market acceptance of its crosstown rival.
The backlight was the largest piece of glass ever engineered for any car up until that time, and was tinted in order to help prevent the solar cooking of inhabitants of the four seats.
Barracuda became a specific model-line rather than a sub-series of the compact Valiant for 1965, and gained a new Formula S package, which included an uprated 273 V8 good for 235 hp, more powerful than the commonly ordered 1965 Mustang 289 V8 of 225 hp. In fact, the 1965-1966 Formula S Barracuda is regarded as a Milestone car.
The problem with the Barracuda was marketing and design decisions that hobbled it once the Mustang came out. These cars are fun drivers and often gain more attention at car shows than do Mustangs from the same era, simply because they’re less often seen.