I always have wanted a 64 Cuda, just something about a car that size with 14 sq. feet of gl*** in the back, bucket seats, cool chrome trim in the interior that makes you want to sit in it and go vroom vroom. They did indeed beat the mustang to market, they handle way better, and the 273 was no slouch, but until the 340 came to life in '68 they didn't get noticed that much, and that is why they get noticed now. Make mine black with a 340 4 speed, 8 3/4" rear, disc brakes on the front and converted to 4 1/2 bolt pattern all the way around. Tough to find one up here that's not rusted into the ground, so if that roller is not too rusty, go for it.
Yes, they were. And, everything from the dash forward is the same as a Valiant, the only major difference between the two being the rear body and roof. IIRC, the doors interchange between the Valiant hardtop, ragtop and the Barracuda A lot like the differences with early Mustangs and Falcons.
I know this is not traditional, but hey it's a Barracuda. My neighbor and I are putting this one together for street use. We built the first version of this back in 1974. Everything so far has been bought off of Craigslist. The rolling ch***is is an Alston for a camaro. The motor is a B-1 451 stroker. He paid pennys on the dollar for this stuff. Should be an interesting build!!!
Yea me too. Unless its in pretty good condition IE spring boxes not rotted away etc it isn't going to be worth much. If the body itself is solid it would make a good hot rod with a tube ch***is under it and a monster of a motor in the engine bay. Hell even a stought small block or a low deck big block would be way more that it needs to be quick. They didn't way much. Buit I probably wouldn't give much for one 4 or 5 hundred bucks if its solid enough to build. I probably would bother restoring it but I'm a hot rodder always have been and always will be. Maybe on a MOPAR restorers site you can get different information on value. I just don't like to give much for a body when I know that all the mechanicals have to be brought up to par IE go fast standards.
Thought everybody knew the story about the King's little drag racing Cuda... Petty had a racing accident in the car where a tire (or other part, my memory is fuzzy on that) flew off and killed a kid in the stands. The incident disturbed Petty so badly that he went home and bulldozed the car into a hole in the ground behind the shop where they buried other wrecks. The remains of the car have been dug up, but it's barely recognizable. I believe the remains of the car are owned a collector somewhere... Edit: see an earlier thread here: http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=419326&page=4
TTI make a set of one piece undercar headers for the A body, although pricey, they offer the complete header back to tips exhaust system for cheaper than having a shop do it. This is a motor and torsion bar pull instalation, but real nice heavy gauge stuff that fits. Dougs also has headers but the lefts side is about 6 pieces and they cut the flange apart "AFTER" they plate/coat it.
Ive owned my '65 Bcuda most of my life and with a 360, early A 4-speed and a 8 ¾ rear- it hauls ***, I really havent driven it or worked on it much since buying the AV8. I paid 500 for the Bcuda in 1970 and there are much fewer around now. Not many 70 era donor cars come through the salvage yards these days for disk brakes swap and heaver torsion bars etc. The main disadvantage is the small engine compartment limits engine swap options. Main advantage is that it is unique.
Had a 65 years ago. It had a 318 that replaced the original 273 and a 4 speed. That car was a blast to drive. I had 14" wheels on it with a 3:23 open rear axle. It would break the tire loose at about 15mph just by hammering the gas. Ended up selling it because it needed the interior redone and that was priced out over a grand, in mid 80s prices. The guy I sold the car to got 2 tickets in a coupe weeks after buying it from me. Last I heard was he tore it apart to restore it. Wonder if the car is still around, it was a great CA body. Probably one of the few cars I used to own I wouldn't mind having back. Gene
Just picked this up a couple weeks back, in anticipation for our next altered wheelbase build-up: This: Combined with parts from this: Will create something similar to this: It'll be all Chrysler, with the exception of the fuel system. 100% injected CNG. The tanks will be in full view under the big, rear gl***....
A good friend of mine bought one new back in the mid-60's...it was the hi-po (4-speed) 273 package. He had a set of custom headers made & tweaked it here & there (there wasn't a lot of speed equipment for those motors) & it ran like an absolute bat out of hell. He raced it quite a bit & did well. It was not a hot house flower...it took a lot of punishment & never complained. It was painted a very unusual copper color, with a black interior & had a wonderful barking exhaust note. They were certainly underrated cars.
How many do you guys want? Got a buddy up here that has a whole "school" of Barracudas for sale. He WOULD like to sell em all as a package but will let em go one at a time too. He has some other Dodge stuff too but never paid much attention as it is all way too new for me.
I see a few SS/AH candidates in there.Guess I better play the lotto.Dale,is it time for a road trip? ROY.
With those A-100 roofs in the foreground, I'd say that there is a some good fishing grounds up there!!
my buddy has one with a straight axle and a tunnel rammed 440 on a auction site right now for sale, normally i dont care for that body, but his is really neat. he took me for a ride in it last year and it was pretty fun, find and do the car if its what you like, thats what matters
So are Studebakers, Henry Js, Anglias, Prefects, late 30s willys, falcons, pretty much most of the early mopars... Not trying to start any debates, I'm just pointing out that I think Barracudas are one of those cars that is pretty under rated. Especially since the Mustang is such an icon. Not to mention the history that Barracudas have in drag racing- Richard Petty, Hemi Under Gl***, Pandemonium. Plus, it wouldn't take much to turn an early Cuda into a real street sweeper.
The 65 Cuda is most definitely not an ugly car. We could ask to see pictures of cars you have owned and women you have dated - married
Talked with the guy that owns all these Barracuda's last weekend and he says if they don't sell fairly soon they are all gonna go to the crusher. If'n yer interested shoot me a pm and I'll p*** along his phone number.
You should take this to a Mopar site if you want to see them saved. I suggest www.moparts.com but there are many more Mopar specific sites. It would b a shame to see all of these for away without at least offering them where they will get the most exposure. Gene
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