Is my rusty 68 Barracuda salvageable?

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Fuzz

Fuzz

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Hey all, new to the forum here and restoration/mopar in general. I decided to dive in with a 68 Barracuda project and am in the process of disassembly. After prying off the dented, rusted deck lid and taking another good look at the car it's heavily rusted out in the edges of the rear end/quarter panels, entirety of the trunk, just about everywhere has dents or rust and I was wondering if you guys could look at the pictures and tell me if you think it's within the realm of being repaired or if it's a lost cause and to be parted out?

I'm just a teen going to college, but I'm learning along the way and through my part time job have funding for tools and parts to put effort into the car.

Thanks in advance! - Fuzz

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Anything can be fixed depending on how much money you have. That car my friend will take a lot of cash in parts. And that's not even talking about the labor.

My self I would put that out to pasture and look for another body
 
Fuzz said:
Hey all, new to the forum here and restoration/mopar in general. I decided to dive in with a 68 Barracuda project and am in the process of disassembly. After prying off the dented, rusted deck lid and taking another good look at the car it's heavily rusted out in the edges of the rear end/quarter panels, entirety of the trunk, just about everywhere has dents or rust and I was wondering if you guys could look at the pictures and tell me if you think it's within the realm of being repaired or if it's a lost cause and to be parted out?

I'm just a teen going to college, but I'm learning along the way and through my part time job have funding for tools and parts to put effort into the car.

Thanks in advance! - Fuzz

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If you are not capable of doing the work yourself, It probably wouldn't be fiscally wise to have to pay a shop to do it.
The more one gets into a project like that, the more problems arise. A shop would probably take short cuts as they
would be concerned about time and money. You're looking at big bucks for new sheet metal, let alone labor.
 
That's just the surface Fuzz. Time and humidity has taken it's toll. Move on.
 
If you would like to see the skills required look up CrOoKs build thread. I don't know how to link it. It'll give you a good idea what it takes to bring one back. Long thread, but the pics tell the story well.
 
If you don't have too much invested you can learn sooo much by doing the metal work yourself. It might not turn out perfect but you will definitely learn a lot. I assume AMD etc sell replacement panels, watch youtube and car TV shows for how to dissect the rusted panels and repair or replace them. If the rest of the car is complete, chrome, trim, glass, mechanical etc. and the body work is excessive look for another car that has a sound body but need all the other parts. You will never regret trying.

Last thought...While you are going to school, TRUST ME ON THIS, focus on school. I focused on Skiing and working on my cars and never finished college. I've done OK but would have done better had I finished college. cars in the summer and school the rest of the time.

Good luck and have fun.
 
Although its good to see someone younger than most of us that grew up with these cars, I agree with the others. Please read that old girl her last rights,save what is good,dont get discouraged and look for something better.
 
Post more pics. Your labor is free. Fix what you can while learning at the same time. Don't sink a buttload of parts into it.
If the 5th digit in your vin is a P or an H or if 2nd digit is an O, you may have something.
More pics?
 
4spdragtop said:
Post more pics. Your labor is free. Fix what you can while learning at the same time. Don't sink a buttload of parts into it.
If the 5th digit in your vin is a P or an H or if 2nd digit is an O, you may have something.
More pics?
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No dice on a rare vin, I'll throw up some more pics of the entire car. Interior is shot, floor pans as well. Only real saving grace us a majority of the trim is present and glass is all good. All in all I'm out for some money and just disappointed that I can't follow through with my first project.

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Yeah lots of work, but looks complete. Bucket seats with tracks go for $500. There's probably some parts worth $$.
Good luck and welcome aboard!
 
Fuzz said:
just disappointed that I can't follow through with my first project.
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Take your time. Work on it and learn body work or use it as a parts car and as 4spdragtop pointed out you might have more value in parts than you invested.
 
I've driven a lot worse in my day, if you don't care about it being perfect get it running and cruise the wheels off it as you fix one thing at a time. IF you try to take on the whole thing at one time on your first restoration, you will fail. You will do what everyone does, disassemble it and walk away till you lose interest. Only way to maintain interest is to drive it while you fix it. it will never be more than a driver doing this but that is what Plymouth built them to be, driven.
 
This is a tough way to gain knowledge, I speak from experience. This is still something to learn from, use this to move forward into something better,not around and away from. These cars are American history that are coveted world wide.
 
From a distance it looks pretty good, and complete. And yes, it can all be fixed. However, you'd be money ahead if you found a good solid body and used that one for parts. My guess is that you can find a good solid shell for a fraction of what that one is going to take to fix.
 
searcher1990 said:
I've driven a lot worse in my day, if you don't care about it being perfect get it running and cruise the wheels off it as you fix one thing at a time. IF you try to take on the whole thing at one time on your first restoration, you will fail. You will do what everyone does, disassemble it and walk away till you lose interest. Only way to maintain interest is to drive it while you fix it. it will never be more than a driver doing this but that is what Plymouth built them to be, driven.
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REALLY good advice.
Don't get discouraged. From what I see you will get interior experience, body work experience. At this point you have nothing to loose to keep working on it. get it mechanically sound, drive it and like searcher1990 said, don't take it all apart, just fix one thing at a time.
 
If you have time and patience. You can do it. It will still cost a lot I'm only half way through my '67 did it all myself and you don't want to know what I have in it. Make sure you keep your priorities in line.
 
Leadfoot said:
From a distance it looks pretty good, and complete. And yes, it can all be fixed. However, you'd be money ahead if you found a good solid body and used that one for parts. My guess is that you can find a good solid shell for a fraction of what that one is going to take to fix.
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Any tips on finding shells? Originally I thought the second gen Barracudas were meh looks wise (my dream always being a 70-74) but it's grown on me and the side profile is really attractive. I'd like to be able to find a good shell to transfer everything over to, but my craigslist findings have been scarce Barracuda wise.
 
searcher1990 said:
I've driven a lot worse in my day, if you don't care about it being perfect get it running and cruise the wheels off it as you fix one thing at a time. IF you try to take on the whole thing at one time on your first restoration, you will fail. You will do what everyone does, disassemble it and walk away till you lose interest. Only way to maintain interest is to drive it while you fix it. it will never be more than a driver doing this but that is what Plymouth built them to be, driven.
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Are you kidding? Did you look at the pictures? The first time he drives it the tires will fall off. The shock housings are GONE!!!
 
Fuzz said:
Any tips on finding shells? Originally I thought the second gen Barracudas were meh looks wise (my dream always being a 70-74) but it's grown on me and the side profile is really attractive. I'd like to be able to find a good shell to transfer everything over to, but my craigslist findings have been scarce Barracuda wise.
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Your eyes are bigger than your belly Son. Look into a super clean four door Dart or the likes.
They are affordable and appreciating.
 
Fuzz said:
Any tips on finding shells?
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Just let it be known here and elsewhere. Keep your eyes open too. You'd be surprised at what happens. I was at a swap meet about a dozen years ago. Some guy left a note on my windshield that said he had two of these(Notch Cuda) and I could have them both for $500 dollars. They were in my garage before the ink on his note was fully dry. You may not get a deal like that, but you might.

Fuzz said:
Originally I thought the second gen Barracudas were meh looks wise (my dream always being a 70-74) but it's grown on me and the side profile is really attractive.
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I think so too. E-Bodies are cool and desirable but no match for an A-Body. In fact, there is no match out there for an angry A-Body. So if you do find a Cuda shell, shoot for a 68 fastback like you have. Sure they have 67s and 69s, but they aren't 68s
 
Bodyperson said:
Your eyes are bigger than your belly Son. Look into a super clean four door Dart or the likes.
They are affordable and appreciating.
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I appreciate the advice but I enjoy working on the cars, I picked up a restoration project as I no longer have a way to work on cars in college. I'm in school for medicine, I work on the car for fun. I'm fine with spending money on it, just not so much if I have to gut the entire car for more than it's worth.
 
Leadfoot said:
Just let it be known here and elsewhere. Keep your eyes open too. You'd be surprised at what happens. I was at a swap meet about a dozen years ago. Some guy left a note on my windshield that said he had two of these(Notch Cuda) and I could have them both for $500 dollars. They were in my garage before the ink on his note was fully dry. You may not get a deal like that, but you might.



I think so too. E-Bodies are cool and desirable but no match for an A-Body. In fact, there is no match out there for an angry A-Body. So if you do find a Cuda shell, shoot for a 68 fastback like you have. Sure they have 67s and 69s, but they aren't 68s
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I appreciate the help! I've become rather fixated on making myself one fearsome fish. I'll be keeping my eyes out!
 
Fuzz said:
Any tips on finding shells? Originally I thought the second gen Barracudas were meh looks wise (my dream always being a 70-74) but it's grown on me and the side profile is really attractive. I'd like to be able to find a good shell to transfer everything over to, but my craigslist findings have been scarce Barracuda wise.
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The 67-69 Shells are out there, but going up in value like everything else. 70-74 forget about, til you start making big money. Just keep looking for a shell they show up just have money ready.
 
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