Frame Up Restored Barracuda Formula S 340 V8 4 Speed

Ah, my other love - 340 powered A bodies! They're cool to look at, fun to drive and a heck of a lot lighter than a B or E body car, and that means faster! I'm particularly happy to see an example like this one in here - a B5 on B5, four speed, fastback Barracuda Formula S. It's gorgeous on top, inside and underneath, retains its original fender tag and broadcast sheet, and it scoots!

Here's the fender tag:

M21 M31 R11 V6W END
A01 A53 G15 G33 J25 L31
B5 B5 H4B B5 A18 162101
E55 D21 BH29 P9B 17xxxx

M21 Roof drip rail moldings
M31 Belt Moldings
R11 AM Radio (2 Watt)
V6W Longitudinal Stripes, White
A01 Light Package
A53 Formula S Package
G15 Tinted Windshield
G33 OS LH Remote Standard Mirror
J25 3 Speed Wipers
L31 Fender Mounted Turn Signals
B5/B5 Blue Fire Metallic Exterior Color
H4B Bench Seats, Blue
B5 Blue Upper Door Frame Paint (UDF)
A18 October 18, 1968 Build Date
E55 340 cid 4 barrel V8 275hp
D21 4 Speed Manual Transmission
BH29 Barracuda Sports Roof
P9B 340 V8, 1969 Model Year, Hamtramck Assembly Plant

Few Mopar colors are cooler than Blue Fire Metallic. Heck - when Chrysler released updated colors of the muscle classics B5 was one of them. The blue base with a hint of green and the sheen of silver just makes this car, especially with the white longitudinal stripe package. From the bottom up, new 15 inch Cragar S/S wheels encircle the car's body, (classic 14 inch steel wheels are included with the sale) new wheel lip moldings, re-chromed bumpers, expertly polished and straightened trim, new decals and emblems, a mint grille, a beautiful tail panel, and straight bodywork covered in hand rubbed basecoat/clearcoat paint. Gorgeous in the sun and sinister at night this is an awesome looking car!

Lift the hood and take a look around. Extensively rebuilt, the high winding 340 sits front and center in the engine bay. Watson Ruppel Performance in Sarahsville, OH went to town balancing and blueprinting, cc'ing the combustion chambers, the works. $3200 does wonders for an engine's smoothness! It'd be a shame to pack a gem like that into a subpar engine compartment, but this one's up to the task. A new Antique Auto Battery yellow top Mopar unit sends power through correct battery cables, a correct air cleaner assembly hides a correct 4611SA Carter carburetor, a re-cored 066 radiator keeps things cool with proper hoses and date coded plug wires look good doing their jobs while correct HP manifolds expel the fumes. A new hood pad keeps the noise down as the deep glossy paint job wow the crowds!

B5 paint covers the undercarriage, as well, highlighting a copious amount of new and refurbished parts. The HP manifolds up top transfer gasses to the Accurate Exhaust Products exhaust system complete with correct tips, the front and rear suspensions and brakes are all new, the rear axle has been gone through and Brewer's Performance performed their magic on the slick shifting four speed and supplied the new Hays clutch kit. A new Quanta Products fuel tank and sender, supported by new straps and J bolts, sends fuel through new lines. Wheel well undercoating is appropriately applied, and all parts that might rust are protected by paint or clear coat!

Sit inside - these cars are larger inside than you'd remember, and they were classified as “compacts” when new! New Legendary upholstery is everywhere from the carpet to the bucket seats (they're correct 1969 pieces and they're a heck of a lot cooler than the bench!) to the door panels to the headliner. A new dash pad sits on top of a refinished dash housing that holds refinished and re-chromed gauges and a working AM radio. All of the upper door frames and upper trim panels were beautifully refinished in B5 blue, too, and a Hurst stick with a new boot and nice trim ring come from the floor. You'll hold onto an original Barracuda-only wood grain wheel (they're black instead of brown) complete with “fish” center medallion while piloting with pride, banging gears and getting sideways!

Speaking of driving, the car's a fantastic companion despite its low mileage since its restoration! The steering is straight and tight, the motor takes off willingly in traffic without complaint, the shifter and clutch work great and the car is devoid of rattles. All this and the tires still have nubs on the tread! It's kinda like buying a car from the factory, except, well - this one works!

Ready for a cool car that's as beautiful and collectable as it is rare to see at a show? One that more than held its own against not only direct rivals like the Nova, but larger cars with more cubes, too? Discounting Chrysler's mighty 340 was a mistake when they were new, just as letting this car go would be for you!