Project - 66 Barracuda Track Car

[tedg04]

Awesome! My first car was a Valiant (and I've since had a soft spot for early Cuda's).

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by pavulon

perfect for satisfying what requirement? '66 Mustang coupes are plentiful, relatively cheap and are period correct T/A and rally racers with loads of affordable go-fast parts readily available!!

1964 - 1973 Mustangs For Sale | Ford Mustang Trader

I love me some 1960's American iron... but unless the market changes dramatically I will never be able to afford one.

[pavulon]

There is a yellow coupe (fastbacks are crazy money) on there for $5K. I know that's not $1K but how low do they need to go?

Originally Posted by scottmandue

1964 - 1973 Mustangs For Sale | Ford Mustang Trader

I love me some 1960's American iron... but unless the market changes dramatically I will never be able to afford one.

[nynor]

Originally Posted by pavulon

There is a yellow coupe (fastbacks are crazy money) on there for $5K. I know that's not $1K but how low do they need to go?

it is a six cylinder. to make it fast would take a new engine and trans, new brakes, new suspension, new.....

i had a six cylinder '66 mustang. two, actually. they ran great. but they were not fast, nor exciting.

[J P Stein]

I have over 35k in my 65 fastback......it is not hard to get there once you're past the initial purchase and find out just how ....ah... un-refined they are......decent stockers ain't cheep either. Fastbacks are harder to come by thus 8-10 k more than coupes, convertibles are about the same as the FBs. Like long hood 9elebens (or any of the air cooled models), they are not going to get any cheeper....IMO. I wouldn't expect to get my investment out of my 65 but I wouldn't accept much of a bath.
That said, early Mustangs look cool. .....



BTW, I think the 67 Barracuda fastback is bi*chin'.

[Nostril Cheese]

Originally Posted by J P Stein

18 years ago, I had a chance to buy one of these (in light green) for $5000.

I thought it was way too much money at the time.

[J P Stein]

I sold my 73 911 for 12K about 14 years back......also sold my hot rodded 58 Vette for 1200 bucks in the early 70s. I think the only car I ever made money on was an 82 SC......which in no way made up for those where I took it in the skivies.

[obrut]

Matt - I can't wait to see it in action.

[J P Stein]

Originally Posted by pavulon

There is a yellow coupe (fastbacks are crazy money) on there for $5K. I know that's not $1K but how low do they need to go?

Note the camber on the front wheel. That is one of the un-refined things....Porsche has around 6 deg positive caster. Mustangs have 0-1 deg positive......not cheep to fix.

[masraum]

When I was in HS (mid to late 80s), me and my buddies dreamt of muscle cars that had been modified with Baer brakes and Herb Adams or Hotchkis suspension bits to make them stop and handle. Very, VERY cool project.

[pavulon]

These are valid points. Even a stock small block V-8 is going to be slow by most measures. Almost every car from the '60s is going to need that stuff to feel good.

Anyone interested in having vintage looks and real performance will have work to do but the overall investment will be less than a comparable 911...that's not news to anyone here. The driving experience will also be much different but most people will enjoy each for what they are.

If one is wanting to have a vintage american car that handles like a modern car, their are folks out there willing to provide something like that. Detroit Speed Inc. might be a place to start but there are lots of other good options that the vintage crowd would find more interesting and faithful to their cars' roots.

Originally Posted by nynor

it is a six cylinder. to make it fast would take a new engine and trans, new brakes, new suspension, new.....

i had a six cylinder '66 mustang. two, actually. they ran great. but they were not fast, nor exciting.

[J P Stein]

If you're interested, here are some pictures I took during the 65's build.
No particular order & you are spared my verbiage.
Suffice it to say there was about 8-9 months of an old fart laying on the cold concrete floor.

Vintage Mustang Forums

Click on pic for a large view.

[wdfifteen]

Really cool car., with an interesting history. That thing seems like it would be a ton of fun.

nynor, I had a '67 notchback, white with red interior, 273 with the light duty 727. The weak link was the trans, which went out at about 90k miles.

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by nynor

it is a six cylinder. to make it fast would take a new engine and trans, new brakes, new suspension, new.....

i had a six cylinder '66 mustang. two, actually. they ran great. but they were not fast, nor exciting.

I had a 64 comet station wagon wit the in line six, great car and great engine (I pretty much drove it into the ground and still regret it, probably always will)

But yeah, you find a $5K Mustang... and you can find a $5K 911

[pavulon]

Originally Posted by scottmandue

I had a 64 comet station wagon wit the in line six, great car and great engine (I pretty much drove it into the ground and still regret it, probably always will)

But yeah, you find a $5K Mustang... and you can find a $5K 911

Have a $6K '67 coupe on jack stands in my garage right now. Arizona car. A couple of small rust holes in the floor and a crummy paint job. 2 spots of bondo (ID'd with a paint meter). Otherwise solid. I couldn't find a comparable 911 for $6k. I would have gladly bought one if I could have found it.

Also, I feel your pain on the '64 Comet wagon. '64 Comets are really good looking cars and the wagons are only that much better!! The gas caps alone for those cars are special.

[mph911]

With regards to the handling of the Barracuda, It will never be a 911, although it will be no slouch on the track, Im expecting a good 4-8 seconds a lap quicker than my SC. It will be well sorted, and with similar weight and double the power of the 911 it should make for some fun.
This really will be a car about fun and something different. As mentioned by someone earlier, it is a common platform with an interesting body shape and all the go-fast bits are relatively easy to get. I am so used to paying the Porsche tax, I literally laugh at how inexpensive parts are for these and with the big shops/suppliers I get parts in 4 days to Australia, and not being a Porsche, I wont be afraid to drill holes in the bodywork, blow an engine etc etc.
It is and will be street registered too

[Jim Richards]

I can't wait to see more pics of your 'cuda as you get her finished, Matt.

[Rednine11]

You got a great foundation for a mean ass car there
Outside of Porsche; Mopar is my number one go to for fun
I still have a 70 Hemi 4 speed Challenger in my stable

[TRE Cup]

http://i.kinja-img.com/gawker-media/image/upload/18s09sm6hbryujpg.jpg

I've had a lot of fun racing against this guy at Laguna Seca. Out dragged me on the straights, but the evil cockroach got by him after a few laps and pulled away

[trekkor]

I love it!

I learned to drive in my mom's '64 Valiant
I had a '61 Valiant and a '65 Dart.

There was a car like yours running in the 24 Hours of LeMons, I believe.