1st Gen Barracuda ?

-
Fishy

Fishy

Monkey with a wrench.
Joined
Jan 12, 2010
Messages
159
Reaction score
1
Location
Tigard, Oregon
I'm pretty much a 2nd gen Fishy fan and spotting the years is really easy! I don't know how to tell the difference between a '64, '65 or a '66 Barracuda. What do I look for? Is there a difference in tail lights, grilles, trim packages? There's a few here in the area and I'd like to know how to tell what is what. Thanks in advance. (yes I do know the fast back was the fish, the coupe was the Valiant :p)
 
The 64 & 65 look identical on the outside except the 64 will have a Valiant emblem on the tail panel. The most noticeable difference between the 64 & 65 is the dash, Also the 64 auto will be a push button but the 65 auto will have a cable shift console.

The 66 has a flat front and big bumpers, as well as the interior is different, also the first year of the cobra style console.
 
1964,
The 65 looks exactly the same except for the Valiant emblem.

512.jpg

511.jpg


1964 dash
513.jpg


1966

badcuda1.jpg

135055338_tp.jpg
 
1st. gen
64/s have nuts on the wiper arms,also 64/5 used the val.emblem on the bottom chrome in the back window 66 had the fish .hope that helps u.
packerman
 
packerman16 said:
1st. gen
64/s have nuts on the wiper arms,also 64/5 used the val.emblem on the bottom chrome in the back window 66 had the fish .hope that helps u.
packerman
Click to expand...


Not all 64's had the bolt on wipers, they changed during the 64 production year.

Here is the window trim on the 64/65's

3f_1_b.jpg
 
I have seen somewhere that the Barracuda script emblems on the front fenders and interior nameplates are different between '64 and '65....the 'tail' of the last 'a' in 'Barracuda' is longer on the '64's. I would guess the correct '64 badges are rather hard to find.
 
goldfish65 said:
I have seen somewhere that the Barracuda script emblems on the front fenders and interior nameplates are different between '64 and '65....the 'tail' of the last 'a' in 'Barracuda' is longer on the '64's. I would guess the correct '64 badges are rather hard to find.
Click to expand...
I've heard that too. Think I actually have 1 of the longer 'a' ones somewhere.
 
There's a wiring difference between 64 & 65 models. On one, when you turn on the headlights the park lamps go off, on the other the park lamps stay on. Can't remember which is which though. I think they stay lit on the 64. My mom had a 65 at the same time I had my 64 & this was one of the differences I saw.

On every 64 I've looked at, the "security panel" in the back extends almost all of the way out to the edge of the fender in the trunk on the right side. Every 65 I've looked at has it stop at the edge of the inner panel like on the left side.

I could be wrong about both of these being limited to the different years, but this is what I've observed.

Also, the Commando V8 wasn't supposed to be available until 65 but somebody posted on here recently saying they had a 64 with an original Commando engine, so maybe they put some in late in the 64 model year?
 
goldfish65 said:
I have seen somewhere that the Barracuda script emblems on the front fenders and interior nameplates are different between '64 and '65....the 'tail' of the last 'a' in 'Barracuda' is longer on the '64's. I would guess the correct '64 badges are rather hard to find.
Click to expand...


This is true, the tail is longer on the 64 but isn't something you notice unless you know what to look for. It's only about a 3/4" difference.
 
some of the 66's also had the Valiant emblem on the back not sure if it was early cars or /6 cars also 64 65 had round center tail lights 66 had square center tail lights and shark fin turn signal indicators on the front of the fenders
 
'64 Cuda said:
There's a wiring difference between 64 & 65 models. On one, when you turn on the headlights the park lamps go off, on the other the park lamps stay on. Can't remember which is which though. I think they stay lit on the 64. My mom had a 65 at the same time I had my 64 & this was one of the differences I saw.

On every 64 I've looked at, the "security panel" in the back extends almost all of the way out to the edge of the fender in the trunk on the right side. Every 65 I've looked at has it stop at the edge of the inner panel like on the left side.

I could be wrong about both of these being limited to the different years, but this is what I've observed.

Also, the Commando V8 wasn't supposed to be available until 65 but somebody posted on here recently saying they had a 64 with an original Commando engine, so maybe they put some in late in the 64 model year?
Click to expand...


The parking light issue was just a different headlight switch, I believe it was just an option difference because I've seen both years both ways. My stock 65 has them go off when the headlights go on and they stay on with the Blownfish which I reused my original light switch.

There is two different lengths in the divider panel, I've had both. But I'm not sure if it was a year difference or a difference between manufacturing plants.

I don't believe they had the Commando engines in 64, they may have had the 4bbl 273 in 64 but not all 273 4bbl engines were Commando's My car was an original 273 4bbl but it wasn't a commando.
 
caferacerx said:
some of the 66's also had the Valiant emblem on the back not sure if it was early cars or /6 cars also 64 65 had round center tail lights 66 had square center tail lights and shark fin turn signal indicators on the front of the fenders
Click to expand...


If you seen a Valiant emblem on a 66, then someone installed it.

The Valiant emblem was a 64 only thing. Barracuda was an option in the Valiant line up in 64 but became it's own line in 65.
 
Blownfish said:
The parking light issue was just a different headlight switch, I believe it was just an option difference because I've seen both years both ways. My stock 65 has them go off when the headlights go on and they stay on with the Blownfish which I reused my original light switch.

There is two different lengths in the divider panel, I've had both. But I'm not sure if it was a year difference or a difference between manufacturing plants.

I don't believe they had the Commando engines in 64, they may have had the 4bbl 273 in 64 but not all 273 4bbl engines were Commando's My car was an original 273 4bbl but it wasn't a commando.
Click to expand...

Curious. What's the difference between a 273 4 barrel & a 273 Commando? I always thought all 273 4 barrel engines were Commando engines. 4 barrel, valve covers, domed pistons, dual points, & different camshaft. Was there something else?
 
This topic is great!! My 65 has everything stamped production casting 64. And there are 2 holes in the rear panel for the Valiant emblem. It is titled 65 has all the S options except the emplems? Im gonna check the last a when I get home today.
 
65fish said:
This topic is great!! My 65 has everything stamped production casting 64. And there are 2 holes in the rear panel for the Valiant emblem. It is titled 65 has all the S options except the emplems? Im gonna check the last a when I get home today.
Click to expand...
My older bro had a 69 fb with a mix of 67 & 68 interior, has the 68 lower dash pad, I forget all the details but it's a factory mix and match. Thinking it was a mid year dealer showroom car or something. He recently sold it to a buddy of his. Anyways, back to the '64-'66's. :happy1:
 
'64 Cuda said:
Curious. What's the difference between a 273 4 barrel & a 273 Commando? I always thought all 273 4 barrel engines were Commando engines. 4 barrel, valve covers, domed pistons, dual points, & different camshaft. Was there something else?
Click to expand...


273 4bbl's aren't very common, most were Commando's

The finned valve covers, domed pistons, dual point dist and the bigger cam was on the Commando's. The 273 4bbl was just a plain engine 273 with a 4bbl.
 
'66 was the first year for the fish emblem on the rear window trim, also had a fish emblem in the center if the grill. Also had "PLYMUOTH" spelled out in individual letters on the hood, and I believe the hood and trunk letters on the '66 are a one year only because of the studs on the letter "M".
 
Blownfish said:
The parking light issue was just a different headlight switch, I believe it was just an option difference because I've seen both years both ways. My stock 65 has them go off when the headlights go on and they stay on with the Blownfish which I reused my original light switch.

There is two different lengths in the divider panel, I've had both. But I'm not sure if it was a year difference or a difference between manufacturing plants.

I don't believe they had the Commando engines in 64, they may have had the 4bbl 273 in 64 but not all 273 4bbl engines were Commando's My car was an original 273 4bbl but it wasn't a commando.
Click to expand...

I am not sure what you mean that it wasn't a Commando-what was different about it?
 
Blownfish said:
Not all 64's had the bolt on wipers, they changed during the 64 production year.

Here is the window trim on the 64/65's

3f_1_b.jpg
Click to expand...

I would't go that far. I have one of the last 64's produced, the second Wed in July, we all know productions stopped Second Friday in July, mine has wiper nuts.....
 
goldfish65 said:
I have seen somewhere that the Barracuda script emblems on the front fenders and interior nameplates are different between '64 and '65....the 'tail' of the last 'a' in 'Barracuda' is longer on the '64's. I would guess the correct '64 badges are rather hard to find.
Click to expand...


Early 64's have a five pin emblem and much larger and longer than late 64 and 65's which have only a 3 pin emblem. By pin I mean the pins that go through the fenders to hold them on.
 
Blownfish said:
The parking light issue was just a different headlight switch, I believe it was just an option difference because I've seen both years both ways. My stock 65 has them go off when the headlights go on and they stay on with the Blownfish which I reused my original light switch.

There is two different lengths in the divider panel, I've had both. But I'm not sure if it was a year difference or a difference between manufacturing plants.

I don't believe they had the Commando engines in 64, they may have had the 4bbl 273 in 64 but not all 273 4bbl engines were Commando's My car was an original 273 4bbl but it wasn't a commando.
Click to expand...

Light switches are the same, actually they are the same up into the 70's

My 64 the turn signal lights stay on when the head lights are on. My 65 Signet the signal lights go off...... Same Harness in Signets as Barracuda's
 
64_Barracuda said:
I would't go that far. I have one of the last 64's produced, the second Wed in July, we all know productions stopped Second Friday in July, mine has wiper nuts.....
Click to expand...


May be a plant difference, I parted out three 64's, one had the bolt on and the other two had the slip on style.
 
64_Barracuda said:
Light switches are the same, actually they are the same up into the 70's

My 64 the turn signal lights stay on when the head lights are on. My 65 Signet the signal lights go off...... Same Harness in Signets as Barracuda's
Click to expand...


You are correct that the harnesses are the same but I currently have two 65's and one stays on while the other goes off, I had the wiring spread all over the garage floor when I wired the blown car last spring and I didn't see anything different that would cause the lights to stay on or go off within the wiring harness or the wiring diagram, it has to be within the switch since that is what turns the lights on and off. This has me wondering now, I may try and get the switch out of my stock 65 and see if there is a different number on it.

I've had dozens of other early A's over the last 28+ years I've messed with them and some stayed on while others went off. My parents 65 Barracuda had the lights go off also but they stayed on in the other 65 I drove back in the 80's. I never drove my 64 Barracuda or either of the 64 Valiants I had so I can't say for sure what they did. I'm pretty sure they stayed on with 65 Valiant I sold last year though. I'm a little curious about the 66 I have so I guess I need to check it out and see.
 
I've got three '64s. All of them have turn signals on with headlights. They all originated with the long tail on the a for the "Barracuda' fender emblem. When one was dmaged in 1970 I ordered the replacement and the only thing available was the emblem with the short tail, so I would guess that a lot of long tail emblems were replaced with the shorter one if there was ever any fender or emblem repair. The divider boards all have the long side extension. All had the Valiant emblem on the rear panel. 64 had a washer fluid bag and 65 had a plastic container if I remeber correctly.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
-

Back
Top