Story
1964 Plymouth Barracuda
Plymouth introduced the Barracuda on April 1, 1964, by fitting a sweeping fastback roof and unusually large wraparound rear window to its compact Valiant platform. It remained a five-passenger two-door, not a separate two-seat sports car. The first-year car carried Plymouth, Valiant, and Barracuda identification, a useful reminder that one model can have several factory configurations without becoming several nearly duplicate pages.
Three engine paths
The 170-cubic-inch Slant Six was standard at 101 horsepower and 155 lb-ft. Buyers could move to the 225 Slant Six at 145 horsepower and 215 lb-ft or the new 273 LA V8 at 180 horsepower and 260 lb-ft. The 1964 V8 used a two-barrel carburetor. A four-barrel 273 or Formula S package belongs to 1965 production unless it is clearly presented as a later modification.
Manual, automatic, or four-speed
The regular three-speed manual was joined by the three-speed TorqueFlite automatic, controlled by push buttons on the dashboard. A Hurst-shifted four-speed was available with the 225 or 273 but not the 170. Rear-axle choices of 2.93, 3.23, and 3.55 depended on the engine and transmission, and Sure-Grip was optional. The complete powertrain combination must be checked rather than inferred from a shifter or badge.
Torsion bars, leaf springs, and drums
Independent front suspension used longitudinal torsion bars, control arms, ball joints, Oriflow shocks, and an anti-roll bar. The live rear axle rode on wide asymmetric leaf springs. Hydraulic duo-servo brakes used 9 x 2.25-inch front drums and 9 x 2-inch rear drums, with power assist optional. Factory disc brakes arrived later; discs on a 1964 car are a modification.
A practical fastback cabin
Front bucket seats and a bucket-shaped folding rear seat combined five-passenger capacity with access to the expanded cargo area. Vinyl trim was offered in gold, red, blue, or black. The transmission choice changed the controls: column shift for the regular manual, dashboard buttons for TorqueFlite, or a floor lever and clutch for the four-speed. Current upholstery and controls need support from the data plate, protected material, and restoration records.
Sixteen factory colors
Reviewed model-year records list 16 finishes, including Barracuda Gold, Ebony, Ruby, Signet Royal Red, White, several blues and turquoises, gray, chestnut, and tan shades. The body data plate and protected paint remain the starting points for an individual car. A popular current color or later Formula S appearance treatment is not delivery proof.
Production and identity
The reviewed Plymouth production table identifies body 149, a $2,365 factory price, and 23,443 cars. An EarlyCuda compilation reports 23,433, so the ten-car difference remains visible rather than silently reconciled. For an individual car, start with the Valiant-family serial and body data plate, then match the body, engine, transmission, axle, suspension, brakes, paint, trim, cabin, dates, and ownership history.
Market context
The dated public results on this page cover different engines, transmissions, conditions, restorations, and modifications. One observation is a no-sale high bid rather than a transaction. These records provide historical context only; originality, drivetrain correctness, body and glass condition, documentation, and restoration quality can move a particular car far from them.