Manufacturers’ salvos during the Super Stock wars of the Sixties included larger and larger ordnance, including roughly 100 cars from Chrysler in 1968 that were plucked off the assembly line and built by Hurst into purposeful race cars with Hemi engines. They included approximately 50 Dodge Darts and approximately 50 Plymouth Barracudas. This 1968 Plymouth Barracuda is one of those original race cars, with the BO29 code at the start of its VIN denoting its special production. It has been with the seller since 1977 and was raced through 1987, when it was retired and went into storage, with occasional use at car shows. It is powered by a replacement 426 Hemi engine. As these race vehicles were not sold for use on the street, this example does not have a title. It will be sold on a bill of sale.
- Along with performance capability, the cars were lightened to get them below 3,000 pounds.
- The window roll-up mechanisms were discarded and some parts were acid-dipped to reduce weight.
- Also, fiberglass front fenders and a fiberglass hood were used, along with lightweight van seats.
- Historic notes for this race car include a 1974 NHRA national record with a 10.17 E.T.
- It won the NHRA SS/AA class championship at Indy in 1983.
- A comprehensive genealogy and race history is included in “Public Documents.”
- After it changed hands a few times in the Seventies, the seller purchased the car in 1977.
- In 1988, the car was featured in Muscle Car Classics and Super Stock and Drag Illustrated.
- Previous work on the vehicle included a roll cage installation and racing suspension upgrades.
- Under the hood is a non-original 426-cu.in. Hemi OHV V8.
- According to the seller it is not a competitive racing engine, but one used for nostalgic purposes.
- It features a cross-ram intake with dual Holley carburetors, along with Hooker headers.
- The engine is backed by a 727 TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission.
- The transmission also features a high-performance torque converter and a Hurst Auto Stick II shifter.
- There’s also a Dana 60 rear axle with a spool and 5.57 gears, along with M&W axle shafts.
- Additional content includes an S&W back-half chassis, with a four-link suspension and wheelie bars.
- It also has a racing front suspension, front disc brakes, a roll cage and a Harwood fuel cell.
- It rolls on Cragar wheels with skinny front tires and Firestone slicks in the rear.
- Inside, the cabin is designed for racing, with front racing seats and no rear seat.
- It also has vintage gauges, including a cable-driven tachometer mounted on the dashboard.
- The car appears very clean, with no reported body damage or significant interior wear.
- Some previous ownership paperwork is included.
- There are no reported needs for this Barracuda race car.
- This Barracuda is one of about 50 BO29-code factory race cars built for drag racing.
- It has a winning racing history throughout late-Sixties, Seventies, and Eighties.
- Under its fiberglass hood is a replacement 426 Hemi V8.
- This is fed by twin Holley carburetors atop a cross-ram intake.
- It also has a 727 TorqueFlite transmission, a Dana 60 axle, and a back-halved chassis.
- Inside, the car remains outfitted with vintage racing equipment, including the gauges.
The seller states that this race car will be sold on a bill of sale for the proper transfer of ownership. It’s an authentic, one-of-roughly-50 BO29-code 1968 Plymouth Barracuda factory race cars with a Hemi engine—and one with an extensive, winning race history and documented ownership. It has retired from the track and remains a fire-breathing example of the hard-fought Super Stock battles of the Sixties.
Any factory-built race car from the muscle car era is highly desirable, but the 1968 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda, along with Dodge’s Hemi Dart of the same year, are absolute legends. These cars were created expressly for NHRA Super Stock competition, and some are still shooting it out today in SS/A and SS/AA. The examples that aren’t actively competing are mostly retired race cars, like this one. It’s a bit of a time capsule from the point in 1987 when it last ran down the quarter. The seller bought it back in 1977 and lists a complete ownership history back to when the car was new. It’s a runner, but as the seller says, more for nostalgia than actual racing. That’s probably just fine, because if you like muscle Mopars, you’ve probably dreamed of owning a factory Hemi Dart or Barracuda. Here’s your chance.