Most late-1960s muscle cars usually fall into two categories. We have unrestored examples that are in poor condition on one side and restored units with replacement parts on the other side. Some fall in between, but we rarely see unrestored survivors that are still all original and in tip-top shape. The 1969 Plymouth Barracuda presented here is one of those rare gems.
Spotted by YouTube's "Matt Gauge" at the 2023 Chrysler Nationals, this Mopar is the very definition of a time capsule. Because even though it looks as if it has been restored at some point, the car is in the same condition it left the factory back in 1969. Most likely a one-owner rig, it's been pampered for more than 50 years, and it shows.
Sure, the black stripes on the hood and the bottom of the side panels show cracks, and there's paint thinning here and there, but these are minor issues for an unrestored classic. I can't even call them battle scars, to be honest. The interior is just as well maintained, with no cracks in the dashboard and almost no wear and tear on the seats or the door panels. And check out the bronze upholstery that matches the T5-code exterior!
The engine bay is just as gorgeous. Not only that, but it hides a 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) big-block V8 rated at 330 horsepower, the most potent option available in the Barracuda at the time. Sure, Plymouth also sold a 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) version, but it was a limited-edition pony built in just 340 units.
But this 383 car is also pretty rare. Plymouth sold almost 32,000 Barracudas in 1969, but only 1,180 cars were ordered with the big-block powerplant. This one also sports the 'Cuda package (see the stripes and the fake hood scoops), which narrows it down to only 462 examples. Not quite as rare as the 440 version, you say? Well, only 153 383 'Cudas rolled off the assembly line with the four-speed manual. Add in the fact that only 130 were fastbacks, and we're looking at one of the rarest 1969 Barracudas ever made.
I could go on and include the T5 Bronze paint, the Rallye dash, and the color-matched interior, which would probably move it close to a one-of-one gem, but I don't think we need to go there anyway. Second-gen Barracudas are extremely rare in this condition, and there is no doubt that this Mopar is as priceless as they get. And we probably won't get to see another one like it anytime soon.
By the way, this car is also part of the final-year second-gen Barracuda. At the same time, it's one of the first of its kind fitted with the then-new 'Cuda trim package based on the Formula S option. Now hit the play button below for the full walkaround.
Ask Ciprian about cars and he'll reveal an obsession with classics and an annoyance with modern design cues. Read his articles and you'll understand why his ideal SUV is the 1969 Chevrolet K5 Blazer. Full profile
Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?
Google News