- There’s no other 1964 Plymouth Barracuda quite like this one.
- Power comes from a 273-cubic-inch V8 with 235 hp when new.
- It crosses the block at Mecum’s Nashville sale on September 26.
History remembers the third-generation Barracuda, the one that wore the ‘Cuda badge and a Hemi. The car that started it all was a different proposition. Built between 1964 and 1966, the original Plymouth Barracuda was smaller, lighter, and softer than the muscle car it would eventually become. Now could be your chance to own one of the most intriguing models ever built.
Looking for ways to widen the car’s appeal not long after launch, Plymouth built an experimental open-top version to gauge whether the idea had legs. It didn’t, at least not in the eyes of the brass. This is the car that resulted, the one Plymouth shelved before it ever reached a showroom floor. Convertible Barracudas would not arrive until the second and third generations.
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The Barracuda Targa Top prototype shares most of its hardware with the standard two-door hardtop, with the roof cut away to make room for a soft top. It looks surprisingly tidy, and for something that was only ever meant to be a prototype, the build quality appears to hold up.
Mecum Auctions
Most prototypes like this end up gathering dust in a manufacturer’s vault, never to be seen again.That’s not the case here. While we don’t have a detailed ownership history, the odometer reads 52,446 miles (84,403 km), so it’s clearly been driven quite a lot. Despite this, it appears to be in good condition, with the paint free of significant blemishes and the chrome bumpers still glistening. The listing also confirms the car comes with its original factory roof panel.
Is It The Most Valuable 1964 Barracuda?
Matching the gold paint of the car is a dramatic gold interior. The dashboard has a golden finish, with matching door panels and seats. Under the hood sits a 273 cubic-inch V8 rated at 235 hp, paired with an automatic gearbox. That number came from Plymouth’s HiPo-spec 273 V8, introduced for 1965 with a hotter camshaft and a 10.5:1 compression ratio.
Mecum Auctions
As this is the only 1964 Barracuda of its kind, it’s difficult to say how much it will sell for. Standard cars from this era typically change hands for less than $20,000, but a one-off factory prototype is not a standard car, and the bidding should reflect that. It is set to cross the block at Mecum’s Nashville 2026 auction in Lebanon, Tennessee, on September 26. The full listing is available over here.
