Finding a 1965 Barracuda worth a complete restoration shouldn’t be too hard, considering Plymouth produced over 64,500 units for this model year, but few are still around today in a condition allowing for an easy overhaul.
The Commando you can see in the photos made its way to Craigslist a few days ago, flexing an intriguing offering that could be a double-edged sword. This Barracuda can be either a complete wreck or an unpolished diamond, so you’ll have to pull it out from that garage, thoroughly clean it, and only then figure out if it’s worth saving.
The owner says on Craigslist that the vehicle has been sitting for many years, and you can tell this is true. I don’t see any critical body damage, and the vehicle looks solid overall, but the owner says they don’t know much about it.
The mysterious Barracuda has been sleeping in this family shop for the last years and is still complete, though I’d put it on a lift, inspect the undersides, and look for rust in the usual places. The owner says they spotted occasional surface rust, but “overall, it is a pretty solid car.”
It’s unclear if this Barracuda is still original and unmolested, but I believe it is, as it wouldn’t make sense to restore a car, bring it back to a tip-top shape, and then forget it exists by moving it into a shop under a pile of garbage.
The Barracuda hides a little surprise under the hood in the form of a 273 engine paired with the factory 4-speed transmission. The 273 received a major upgrade for this model year, with the Commando getting a four-barrel carburetor that increased the power output to 235 horsepower. The same engine is sitting inside this Barracuda, though its condition is unknown.
The seller says the engine was running before the car was moved to storage, so bring a good mechanic and ask them to check the powertrain. Depending on how long the car has been sitting, the 273 could still be alive, so hopefully, it turns over by hand, as I wouldn’t expect it to start in its current condition.
The price of this Barracuda is fair and makes sense, considering the car is complete, still has the original engine, and doesn’t struggle with critical rust. The owner says anyone paying $5,000 can take it home. It’s parked in Hubbard, close to Portland, and you’ll need a trailer first to pull it from the garage and then to take it home. I don’t think the wheels are stuck, so chances are the vehicle rolls freely to get on the trailer. The owner says they already have a title for the next owner.