Chrysler didn’t set the world on fire with the release of the sporty compact Barracuda on April 1, 1964. That blaze was ignited two weeks later with the premiere of Ford’s iconic Mustang. However, Plymouth’s work was not in vain, as its ponycar entry would one day morph into one of the hottest rides ever to hit the road during the heyday of Detroit’s muscle car wars.
Plymouth built the fresh “new for ’64” fastback on the shoulders of its Valiant compact, which paralleled the same formula Ford followed by creating the Mustang on the established Falcon platform. There were overall aesthetic similarities between the two cars, but the main visual difference was the exceedingly ginormous greenhouse glass covering the Barracuda’s foldable rear seats. It was both loved and hated by the masses; either way, it set the Mopar entry apart from pretty much any car on the market at the time.
Just like the Valiant, the Barracuda was offered with Chrysler’s indestructible Slant-Six powerplant, along with the new-for-1964, LA-based 273 V-8. Mother Mopar gave the first-generation Barracuda all the goods it would need to compete with the Mustang on a performance level, but Plymouth soon found out that the Mustang would be the belle of the ball in Detroit for those first few years of production. Unfortunately for Plymouth, Barracuda production numbers were never more than a fraction of the number of Ponies being pumped out of Ford’s assembly plants.
In 1965, Plymouth decided that the Barracuda needed a performance package of its own. The Formula S option was soon offered on the newbie compact. Overall, it was well received by consumers looking for a sporty ride with a kick where it counts. By selecting this option, buyers received the 235hp Commando 273 V-8 powerplant, larger wheels and tires, suspension upgrades, and a tachometer; all of which helped make the Barracuda a performer out on the street, especially when paired with the A-833 four-speed transmission.
The Barracuda went through a facelift in 1966, a new front clip and taillights giving the compact a more chiseled look. However, the writing was on the wall for this fish, as Plymouth promised a total revamp of the Barracuda for 1967. Sales slumped greatly, though many felt that the 1966 version was the best-looking of the three years of the first-generation Barracuda.
The Formula S package was brought back in 1966, nearly identical to the previous year (other than a four-speed shifter change). The package sold well, with 5,316 cars being equipped with it out of the total of 38,029 Barracudas that rolled off the assembly line. These little A-Bodies became a popular choice for professional road course racers looking for a car that could compete when both power and agility were needed.
A Fish Tail
Back in the 1980s, Bill Marchese of Staten Island was traveling cross-country in his Ford Fairmont wagon when he had his first encounter with a Barracuda. You see, the big family truckster broke down, and he limped it into a nearby garage. Waiting for service, he spied a 1965 Formula S on the property. He had never seen one in person before and was intrigued with the standout Mopar. He asked the owner if it was for sale, and the reply was no.
“I didn’t know much about the Barracuda back then; I thought it was some kind of special edition with all that glass back there,” says Bill. He returned home to New York but never could get that Barracuda out of his mind.
It would be years later when Bill would finally nail his own fish. Now retired, the former Corrections Captain was looking for a project car. He remembered the fish that got away and started looking for a similar ride to restore on his own. On a web search, he spotted a needy but complete 1966 Barracuda in nearby Pennsylvania. From the pictures the car looked to be in good shape, and was built up the way Bill would have done it himself. It even had the Formula S option, rowed by a four-speed and with creature comforts like air conditioning. Bill figured that’s got to be a rare combination. After a brief negotiation, this Citron Gold fish was coming back to Staten Island for a makeover.
Bill was happy that there were no surprises when it came to his new Mopar. The car was complete and in good overall shape, but it had been off the road since 1988 and not running at the time. In a matter of a few days in the garage, the car was back on track running well. As it was a Southwest car originally, the body was in excellent shape, needing only minor work to get it up to snuff. Bill had it resprayed in the original color and added a black accent stripe, which was a dealer-installed option at the time. Legendary supplied the new interior.
The car also came with some nice options. “It has front disc brakes, console, and Sure Grip rear, along with the tinted windshield,” states Bill. One thing he did locate was a N.O.S. resonator out back, a hard piece to find these days. The car is believed to be driving on its original powertrain: engine, trans, rear, and even its original clutch. At 108,000 miles, it’s just getting broken in!
Once out on the road, Bill loved the way the compact performed. He also loved the fact that he had a car that everybody didn’t have. “I could take it out to big shows and be the only 1966 Barracuda around.” But all good things must come to an end, and it did for Bill and the Barracuda. He put the car up for sale, and it was nabbed by car collector Mark Goldberg from Long Island, New York.
Mark, too, was taken by the vibrant color and sportiness of the Barracuda. In his extensive garage, it now shares space alongside one of his most cherished rides and a Mopar nemesis from days past, his 1965 Mustang. Mark continues to keep the car on the road, taking Mopar’s brilliant A-Body hot rod out on flogs around the community. This fish is right at home on the shores of Long Island.
At a Glance
1966 Barracuda Formula S
Owned by: Mark Goldberg
Restored by: Owner; Bill Marchese
Engine: 273ci/235hp Commando V-8
Transmission: A-833 four-speed manual
Rearend: 7 1/4-inch with 3.23 gears and Sure Grip
Interior: Black vinyl bucket seat
Wheels: 14×5.5 steel
Tires: 185/70R14 Goodyear Viva
Special parts: Airtemp A/C, console, Formula S package, tinted windshield
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