Vehicle Description
The Plymouth Barracuda created a niche within a niche and has been
at the top of Mopar fans' wish lists for decades now. Big block
power plus an affordable price tag was fine, but for some
enthusiasts, the only way to fly is HEMI power and a roof that goes
down. Enter this 1968 Plymouth Barracuda Restomod convertible,
which packs modern HEMI power and a 5-speed for an all-out assault
on your senses.
Chrysler styling was a love-it-or-hate-it proposition in the
late-60s, too conservative for some, yet playfully aggressive and
built to cater to those crazy kids and their hot rods. In truth,
the Barracuda has aged better than most of its siblings simply
because it didn't follow fads. Painting it Lime Gold Metallic
certainly helps and making sure the steel underneath is straight
pays big dividends, resulting in the beautiful droptop you see
before you. It's not 100% perfect, because nothing in this world
is, but this is definitely a show-quality paint job that is going
to win some trophies out on the circuit. A set of black stripes
adorn the profile of the body just above the rocker panel trim on
each side, hood trim inserts accent the slightly raised ridges on
the hood, and a newer black vinyl power top provides the car with
and upscale touch. Drop that power top and go turn some heads,
because there's not a lot of these on the road. All the chrome and
stainless trim is intact and in excellent shape, too, with new
bumpers, grille, door handles, badges, and auxiliary trim, and it
all provides a nice bright contrast to this '68's subdued shade.
Everything on the exterior was addressed or replaced, and all the
work was done to a very high standard, resulting in a stunning
droptop with an aggressive stance and commanding street
presence.
The interior of this car will impress you with its style. Most of
these bargain-priced muscle cars wore basic black (although,
admittedly, a HEMI changes the game a bit), but the look still just
works with yeomen's attitude of this heavy hitter, and it's
brightened nicely with Lime Gold finish that's on the custom middle
console, accenting the door panels, and adorning the interior trim
rings of the original gauges inside the factory bezel. The vinyl
seat covers on the front buckets and door panels are fresh
replacements that look amazing, and with a bench seat out back this
slick convertible is a legitimate 4-passenger automobile. The
factory instruments cover just the basics so three auxiliary units
were neatly installed below the dash, an aftermarket
AM/FM/CD/AUX/USB head unit that powers the kickin' stereo system is
stashed away in the glove compartment, and yes, those are A/C vents
under the dash that happen to blow R134a cold air into the cabin.
The custom shifter manages a Tremec TKO 5-speed manual transmission
that fits this car quite well, blending in perfectly with this
street brawler's disposition and refined looks. Ahead of the driver
is a new Budnik custom steering wheel that rests atop a Flaming
River tilt column, and the trunk out back is neatly finished and
provides plenty of room for all the trophies this car will win.
During the restoration the builders threw caution to the wind
completely and installed a fuel-injected 5.7L Generation III HEMI
V8, pumping out huge horsepower and off-the-charts torque.
Professionally built up with Wiseco Chrome Moly GFX rings, Wiseco
forged pistons and connecting rods, and a Competition Cams
street/strip camshaft, the power is immense and flicks the
relatively lightweight '68 into corners with ease. With a carbon
fiber-dipped valve covers and a 6.1L intake, custom engraved chrome
HEMI coil-pack covers, and plenty of polished components and
organized piping/wiring, the engine bay is stunning and ready to be
shown, especially against the backdrop of the smoothed firewall and
inner fenders that were coated in Lime Gold. The way the plug wires
go through the valve covers is a HEMI trademark, a giant aluminum
radiator keeps the whole show cool, and the A/C compressor,
alternator, and brake booster are dripping in chrome. Wilwood power
front disc brakes stop the droptop on a dime, and the custom-tuned
long-tube headers feed into a Flowmaster dual exhaust that's sounds
fantastic. A light clutch makes the smooth-shifting Tremec TKO
5-speed manual transmission a joy to cycle through the gears, and
despite the big power, this convertible can easily cruise on the
highway as well. The builders spent a lot of time getting the
undercarriage dialed-in too, and not only does it present very well
but it also features QA1 shocks and a big sway bar up front,
subframe connectors, and air shocks in the rear, so it's been built
with purpose as well. And you better believe this Barracuda drives
great. American Racing Torque Thrust wheels are wrapped with Mickey
Thompson R2 Compound drag radials, aggressively stanced at 26x8x15
up front and 275/60/15 in the rear.
With a high-end build that looks great and was built to be enjoyed,
this HEMI Barracuda delivers maximum performance that still gets
attention today. Call now!