1965 Barracuda Formula S - New Weekend Cruiser

[ValiantK360]

As many of you know already, I bought a '65 Barracuda Formula S a few days ago in Waukegan, IL.

I have been looking for a first gen Barracuda for a while now, and finally found a survivor in good condition! This car has quite an interesting history - it originally from Washington state, and eventually working its way to Maryland, and now it is in Illinois.

It currently has an early 70's 318, with a Holley 600's series carburetor and LD4B intake. It does the commando valve covers along with the 273 air cleaner, so it could pass as a 273. It was also upgraded to a 8.25 inch rear axle and still has an open differential.

Though it is not original anymore, but do the car did come with the original factory build sheet and window sticker, which I will post later on.

I don't know my long term plans for the Barracuda, but I do plan on making it a weekend cruiser right now.

Long live the first generation Barracudas!

 

[bbeep71]

Good Luck. Looks like a great car to make a cruiser.

 

[memike]

A great find if you ask me, drive it and do your thing with it and keep us updated and congratulations !! I would daily drive this a little

 

[pauly]

Nice driver!

 

[Tadams]

Congratulations on a cool find

 

[Closnuff]

Love it! Sadly I cut up a 65 Formula S in the early 80s.

 

[dibbons]

Great purchase, does the factory tach work?

 

[ValiantK360]

Great purchase, does the factory tach work?

Unfortunately the tachometer does not work, but I am sure it is just a bad wire, which is fixable.

 

[Slantvaliant]

Ought to be a fun car!

Looks like a disk brake master cylinder. That, and the 8.25 rear make me ask if it has disk brakes up front and the 4.5" bolt pattern at both ends. That opens up some good opportunities for a cruiser and a user.

 

[toolmanmike]

Looks like a dandy! You'll have fun with that one.

 

[MrJLR]

Sweet ride......it's Friday. ....take it for a drive!

Jeff

 

[krazykuda]

@Eddie348

 

[6pk2goDemon]

That Barracuda looks like a great father/son project. Congrats!!

The tach is in the factory location, but it's not a factory piece as far as I know...

 

[pishta]

That Barracuda looks like a great father/son project. Congrats!!

The tach is in the factory location, but it's not a factory piece as far as I know...

yeah, thats a resto-mod tach behind the OEM bezel. you have to do that with electronic ignition as the pancake signal box wont work, at least not with with MSD. plus the factory tach was a 6000RPM snoozer, you could bounce the needle revving it hard. 318 is no slouch in that car with 'S' cam and LD4B intake, but you could do better than the factory S cam as its designed around a higher compression.

 

[Eddie348]

@Eddie348

Very nice! Let me know when the project begins. Congrats

 

[krazykuda]

That Barracuda looks like a great father/son project. Congrats!!

The tach is in the factory location, but it's not a factory piece as far as I know...

The dealer invoice says that it was a dealer add on when new....

It was a dealer installed option that fit the hole perfectly....

 

[Tooljunkie]

Sure is a nice car.
I got mine cheap, but it will be years and many dollars before i get to driving it.

Get it on the road and enjoy!

 

[swing69]

ValiantK360; I did the engine/trans/rear/brake/frame....work on that car a few years back. I've got multiple picts still on my computer. any questions....ask.... Mike (in NJ) It had just taken a hit on the LF and RF suspension when I got it..... It did some guardrail / curb dancing! It needed lots including cowl rot repair. Drivers side was sealed over. Pass side (for heater) repaired. LOTS went into work that never seen! lol there were some changes made after it left here to go to MD area.

 

[WI-Barracuda]

Nice looking car. I recently purchased two '65 Barracudas. One that I am going to try the same route as you and make a cruiser. Please let me know if you are looking for parts as the purchase did come with a good number of parts.