West Coast Classics are proud to present a very rare example of this original survivor and beautifully well kept and garaged and cherished by only two southern California owners since new and always completely rust free 1966 Plymouth Barracuda Formula 'S' Fastback 2 Door Hardtop with the highly desirable 273/235HP 4 BBL V8 'Commando' engine matched to it's original very desirable and original 4 speed manual transmission with front bucket seats and with the rear seats folding flat for extra storage and with access to the fastback trunk and with rare factory options of:
Power Steering
Power Front Disc Brakes
Factory Tachometer
Front Bucket Seats with Console
Formula 'S' package of suspension upgrades, larger wheels & tires, Formula 'S' emblems and tachometer
Backup light
The car will be sold with its original build sheet, original Protecto-plate, owners handbook, The car was purchased on 10/12/1965 at the Plymouth selling dealership 'Cole Motors' of Colville, WA.
A recent comprehensive mechanical overhaul and service was completed at a cost of $21,525.16 at 71,750 miles in 1/2020. Work included installation of front disc brakes conversion, power master booster combo, fabricated all new brake lines from master to frame, replace wheel cylinders, replace upper control bushings, upper & lower ball joints, struts, sway bar links and bushings, inner & outer tie rods, power steering conversion including installation of all new power steering gear box, install new power steering pump, install new crank & water pump pulley, install all new power steering hoses, install new Pitman arm, 4 wheel alignment, replace radiator with Copper radiator including upper & lower hoses, replace exhaust system, reseal engine & trans, R&I engine & trans, tear down engine to Long Block clean & paint engine & parts, replace all engine gaskets & seals, replace timing chain & gears, install high volume oil pump, replace clutch kit, replace transmission mount, install new electronic ignition, replace water pump, replace alternator, replace all belts & pullies, replace spark plugs & wires, replace carburetor with electric choke, replace fuel pump & filter, replace starter, replace ignition coil, replace harmonic balancer, replace air filter, set timing and adjust carbs, replace differential gasket, rebuild rear leaf springs, replace leaf spring bushings, replace rear U bolt kits, resurface flywheel, remove all door panels & lubricate all window sliders & tracks, repair drivers seat track, perform hot valve adjustment, engine has solid lifter cam. All service records for work to be included in the sale.
This extensive and fully comprehensive mechanical restoration was completed due to the cars rarity and as a prelude to the body repaint and restoration that was obviously never completed. The car has its original 'Dark Green Metallic' (G code) factory color paint with original 'White Gold' vinyl interior and has been extensively upgraded with power front disc brakes and is a car which was obviously always garage kept with the original floor boards, trunk and all the typical rust-prone areas completely solid and rust-free. There are no signs that the car has had any accidents of any kind - obviously an always cherished car since new!
The car has had one repaint in its original 'Dark Green Metallic' factory color, but it is several years old and showing its age with scratches and imperfections and which could definitely benefit from new paint. The beautiful all original 'White Gold ' vinyl bucket seat interior is also in quite exceptional condition throughout. The car has all it's original Formula 'S' logos and came factory equipped with the desirable and rare 4 speed manual transmission and center console. The dashboard, the headliner, the carpets and all the seats are all in exceptional condition with virtually no signs of wear and tear! All the chromework is also in very good condition.
The original and factory upgraded 'D' code 273/235HP 4 BBL (Commando) V8 engine with 10:5 to 1 compression & solid lifters and a more aggressive camshaft is extremely strong and powerful and sounds absolutely magnificent! This particular car drives exceptionally well - must be driven to be fully appreciated - drives straight as an arrow with no strange road wobbles, shakes or rattles - a truly remarkable daily driver that will give any modern day sports car a run for it's money! The 4 speed manual transmission shifts smoothly through all the gears and the temperature always remains cool!
Chrysler did not reach very far when it created it's sporty Barracuda in the spring of 1964, the new model was basically a Plymouth Valiant from the roofline down and pure Valiant in power and suspension but it had it's own grille, fastback roof and massive wraparound backlight and rear window with rear end sheet metal with a stubby trunklid which opened to reveal a flipdown rear seatback and security panel that opened up the trunk area which was perfect for carrying long items like California surfboards! But these changes were not to prove enough to emulate the wholesale personality change that Ford achieved when it rebodied the Falcon as the wildly successful Mustang. The Mustang was to overwhelm the Barracuda in sales and to add insult to injury the scenario was repeated when Chevrolet reskinned the Chevy II as the also highly successful Camaro in 1967! The Barracuda may have well been more functional than both these Pony cars but it was not to prove as attractive or popular to the masses.
The first Barracudas were built with a 106 inch wheelbase and came standard with the 225 c.i. six cylinder engine with the 273/180HP V8 being optional. But it was no match for the Mustang with it's trio of V8's including the 271HP HiPo 289. Chrylser was to fight back though in 1965 with the 4 barrel Commando 273 with a hotter camshaft and Carter carburetion which bumped HP to 235HP with the sport package Formula S which included the Commando 273; a tachometer, heavy duty shocks, springs and sway bar with Goodyear Blue streak tires on wide rim 14" wheels which replaced the usual 13". Front disc brakes were optional and circular 'Formula S' medallions on the fenders identified the package.
This is a rare opportunity to own a great daily driving and never abused example of this desirable and rare 'Formula S' package and it is an obviously always garaged and rust free example in beautiful condition throughout! This very rare and highly desirable and collectible unabused example is one of the outstanding 'Mopar' designs of the sixties, a true milestone muscle car (1965-66 Formula S) with the 273/235HP V8 engine and a 4 speed transmission and most certainly one sure-fire investment that's bound to only appreciate over the years for any discerning classic American sixties muscle car collector or simply any muscle car enthusiast!
