Is this 1965 Plymouth Barracuda your white whale for $16,500? – Jalopnik

Today’s ad for the Nice Price or No Dice Barracuda claims the car is “one in a million.” Let’s see if this Classic Plymouth has a price that could make it the catch of the day.

Located in the Tyrrhenian Sea just south of the Sorrento Peninsula, the island of Capri consists of a single, monolithic block of limestone. The imposing coastal cliffs and secretive caves provide enticing vistas, while the two main towns, Capri and Anacapri, are perched high above the coast, originally to deter pirate attacks. The latter of these two is reached via an impressive staircase of 800 steps, the Scala Fenicia (Phoenician Steps), which rises from the beach.

The island has served as a vacation spot for the wealthy since the days of the Greek Empire, lending its name to the 1992 Mercury Capri XR2 we looked at yesterday. That little red boat (Barchetta) appeared to be in good condition and, being based on a subcompact Mazda platform, should perform quite well. Unfortunately, the Capri (car, not an island) exists in a world where Mazda’s own Miata surpasses it in almost every respect. That put our little Mercury under scrutiny, as did the asking price of $10,997. Ultimately, this came at the cost of a ‘No Dice’ loss of 71%.

Plymouth wanted some of the cash from that sweet pony car, but because the company didn’t have the financial resources to completely redesign a model, it had to settle for grafting a fastback roofline onto the compact Valiant two-door and calling it a day. Although the car featured a completely separate model with the Barracuda nameplate, it still featured a Valiant V prominently in the center of the silver bar above the trunk lid.

Before that, however, lies the first-generation Barracuda’s party piece, a massive, wraparound rear window that extends to a raised center section of the trunk lid. It is impressive for its time and is reminiscent of the tailgate of the Porsche 924 from ten years later.

Although intended to thrill the loins for its sporting implications, this car’s cream paint and gold vinyl interior are rather sedate in their presentation. That being said, the car looks like it is in phenomenal condition. It’s also quite well equipped for its time, with rebuilt under-dash air conditioning and even seat belts.

Modern extras include cup holders between the front bucket seats and a stereo under the air conditioning unit, feeding two flashy speakers cut into the rear deck wall. That seems to be the only nod to modernity, as everything else in the interior and exterior exudes the original 60s atmosphere.

A three-speed Torqueflite automatic transmission backs the six and is operated via a console-mounted lever. This was the first model year that Chrysler didn’t offer push-button transmission controls, and while the floor lever is sporty, the dash-mounted buttons from the previous year are quirky and fun.

According to the advertisement, this is a solid car with no rust and older repainted in the factory color. New tires are mounted on a set of 14-inch steel wheels, covered with period-correct, albeit non-original, steel covers. The car’s original 13-inch wheels (also with new tires) are included. According to the seller, there are 170,000 miles on the odometer, and while this isn’t stated, it’s unlikely there’s anything vague about the title.

With that in mind, we now need to discuss the $16,500 asking price for this Barracuda. The seller claims to be a collector who is “thinning their herd”, and you now have to decide if that asking price is too high for our blood. What are you saying? Does $16,500 feel reasonable considering the condition and presentation of the car? Or does that make this Barracuda the escaped fish?

You decide!

Facebook Marketplace from St. Joseph, Missouri, or go here when the ad disappears.

H/T to Glemon for the connection!

Help me with a nice prize or no dice. Contact me at robemslie@gmail.com and send a fixed price tip. Don’t forget to include your commenter handle.