Vehicle Description
This first-generation Barracuda was a race car. And it won the
race! It was a race to design a car for the quickly growing
sporty-compact car segment ahead of Ford. It was introduced to the
public on April 1, 1964, 2 weeks before the Mustang's introduction.
Obviously that fact has been glossed over in popular car culture
history. However, it doesn't diminish the significance of this car.
It came first and it went on to achieve fame and fortune. This is
an interesting, nice driving car and an affordable classic.
Presented in Ruby Red and cutting a fastback line over the rear
window, this is a really good-looking car. That window was the
focus of the design team's efforts to differentiate the Barracuda
from its Valiant roots. Working with PPG (Pittsburgh Plate Glass),
they created that distinctive wraparound back glass that was only
installed on these first gen cars. That glass is in great shape on
this car too, with no cracks or chips. It also changed the look of
the back of the car where the line was continued down over the
trunk, and definitely changed the character of the car. Now the
line along the upper edge of the fenders and the doors really
looked crisp and clean. Somehow even the face of the car, the
grill, lights and bumper which were all Valiant, just looked
better. And that bumper and those grill pieces on this car are all
original and in nice condition.
Open the door and check out this red interior. The first thing you
will probably notice is the Barracuda badge on the upper front of
the door panel. Then you may notice that there is some wear on the
door panel, the seats and components. But there are no glaring
defects and no rips or staining. We believe that this is an all
original interior, so in that light, this interior looks really
good. You may even consider it more desirable than a restored
interior if you are among a growing number of people who appreciate
survivor aspects of a car. The dash is a pretty simple affair. A
two spoke steering wheel has a Valiant center badge and the
speedometer and gauges are mounted in a machine finished panel in
front of it. To the right are the ventilation controls and a radio,
and below them, a floor mounted shifter for the automatic
transmission. The carpets under the hatch are in great shape as is
the folding rear seat along with its trim and its hardware.
Pop the hood and you will find a nice original engine bay with
signs of good maintenance like a new alternator and belt and a
recent tune up. And that is about all these "Super 225" slant
6-cylinder engines ever really need. They start and run reliably,
and because these cars are so light, they actually get the car
around in a pretty sporting manner. The power it makes is sent back
to a 3-speed automatic transmission and then to the rear axle which
is mounted on leaf springs. The front end works through control
arms with the steering power assisted and is sprung by torsion
bars. 4-wheel drum brakes handle the stopping duties and the car
sits on 195/70R14 tires mounted on steel wheels with trim rings all
around.
This is an interesting, nice driving, affordable classic. Come on
down, check it out, and see what you think. You may decide to make
it your next car.