66 valiant signet convertible Barracuda Conversion

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HeatherHoward

HeatherHoward

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This was the starting point. The eventuality will be what I call the car that should’ve been. A 1966 barracuda convertible. I know the purist's among you will not like the idea. My opinion is that Chrysler should have done this in the beginning if the plan was to actually compete with the mustang.

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Wheels n tires. Engine dress up. Now she’s a cruiser will be adding a 340 4 speed and new paint this winter.

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HeatherHoward said:
This was the starting point. The eventuality will be what I call the car that should’ve been. A 1966 barracuda convertible. I know the purist's among you will not like the idea. My opinion is that Chrysler should have done this in the beginning if the plan was to actually compete with the mustang.

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Absolutely agree!

Chrysler definitely missed the boat by not having a Formula S convertible out of the gate.

The lines flow perfectly and the accent chrome and Formula S badges and grill look awesome on the convertible.


Great job HeatherHoward!!
 
Great job Heather, that's a good looking car. Try planning to bring it to the 39th annual Mopar Mini Nationals October 7, 2023. It will be held at Crossroads Church 7900 Chiesa RD. Rowlett, TX 75089. I've been going for the last 12-15 years, there is always a good turn out and lots of interesting Mopar people to talk to.
 
Demonracer said:
Great job Heather, that's a good looking car. Try planning to bring it to the 39th annual Mopar Mini Nationals October 7, 2023. It will be held at Crossroads Church 7900 Chiesa RD. Rowlett, TX 75089. I've been going for the last 12-15 years, there is always a good turn out and lots of interesting Mopar people to talk to.
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That’s right down the road from me. I’m in FtWorth. I’ll definitely mark that on my calendar. Thanx for the heads up.
 
While my 66 is matt black at the moment and needs a bit of work... Here is a photoshop mock up of the color I want to paint it and what it should look like roughy when its done...

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That looks great as a Barracuda.
The ‘66 Barracuda has by far the best looking dash of the early cars. I would love to have put a Formula S in my convertible.
 
HeatherHoward said:
the car that should’ve been.
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Funny, I was looking at a '65 convertible 200 Saturday and was thinking the same thing! I think your idea is great.

I moved from Diboll a year ago, There's a diner called Ray's in Lufkin that does a cruise night every first Saturday of the month. Lots of Mopars - I was the only gen 2 Barracuda and there was an E body guy that showed up regular but the early Barracuda was well represented. I think I've seen as many as three at one time - very unusual! If you're ever having to get down that way, check it out.
 
You need to look into swapping out that trunk emblem, either with a 67 or see if you can do something with the 66 Barracuda rear emblem.


Alan
 
Yup, I’m debating what route to go. Might go with a 68 hood emblem there or just weld the holes and customize a 2nd gen trunk trim to fit it. I’ve got a 68 barracuda in the works right now. Once it’s done I’m gonna figure something out and finish this one out nicely.
 
More progress engine dressed interior installed (converting a barracuda rear seat to fit a convertible not an easy task) still have modifications to the hard rear panels to do but I got a plan.

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For Sale: 1965 Plymouth Valiant in Granville, Ohio People have been doing that for quite some time now. I tried to buy this one for my wife but it sold before I could get it done. Our fastback is the same color. I think they look great either way. I saw a 65 fastback with a valiant grille that was sharp as well. It's just cool the parts are interchangeable. The small lug chrome reverse rims would have been a nice touch as we had a set of caps to fit these rims in the garage.
 
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I think a lot of racers with Barracudas swapped grills because the valiant grills are much lighter. Stamped sheet metal vs cast. I really like both I just really like the barracuda gauge cluster so I decided to go all out with the barracuda look.
 
HeatherHoward said:
I think a lot of racers with Barracudas swapped grills because the valiant grills are much lighter. Stamped sheet metal vs cast. I really like both I just really like the barracuda gauge cluster so I decided to go all out with the barracuda look.
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That is a sharp car. It's a great color with the white top. I don't know if it is, but it reminds me of that rare blood red factory color. If you end up changing the decklid to the Barracuda lettering I have 3 decklids in my barn I think I might have some lettering. But again, that trim piece you have looks good the way it is. My wife and I have a 67 convertible that we are converting into a hybrid formula s...part 67 and part 68. I have to agree with you. If it's not a rock-solid rare numbers matching Mopar, make it the way you want it to look. We really like what you have done so far...purists are purists
 
We are wrapping up a 68 barracuda notch back for my stepson. It’s not a numbers matching car but we went with the stock colors on it. If my convertible had the original engine I would’ve made it all original. There were like 275 factory V8 Signet convertible’s built in 66. But it had a 70 318 in it. So I made a 4 speed out of it and building a 372 stroker on a 340 block to go in it. It should be a really fun driver when it’s finished.

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HeatherHoward said:
We are wrapping up a 68 barracuda notch back for my stepson. It’s not a numbers matching car but we went with the stock colors on it. If my convertible had the original engine I would’ve made it all original. There were like 275 factory V8 Signet convertible’s built in 66. But it had a 70 318 in it. So I made a 4 speed out of it and building a 372 stroker on a 340 block to go in it. It should be a really fun driver when it’s finished.

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the slotted mags are timeless and look sharp on that old notch. Karrin and I are retaining most of the 67 features ie tail lamps and grille but we are going with a 67 cast 202 valve 340 x head engine with the 340 Formula s hood badges. The other 68 parts would be hardly noticeable...150 mph speedo, factory tach burl dash and door car treatment.
 
Can’t wait to see pics of that. It sounds like you gotta a great plan for it. I really appreciate when folks go outside the lines a little with a build. I was telling my wife most folks wouldn’t even know the work that went into this interior with having to modify the rear seat door cards and hard panels. But when a true mopar fan sees it they will. That’s what is cool about it. Most people will just think it’s stock.
 
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