Was there ever a Valiant Barracuda?
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cannucky
The Guy With No Birthday
yep my 69 fastback says Valiant 2 door coupe on the title
MoparPhil
Well-Known Member
Yes, and here is a sign from the Valiant Division of Chrysler.
Barracuda was a model of Valiant in 64 but not 65, even though the 65 had the Valiant symbols on the lower rear window trim and steering wheel, it was not a model of Valiant after 64.
As far as how they were titled, that depends on the state they were registered in and the person filling out the paperwork. I've had over a dozen of them over the years and not all were titled the same. I had some titled as just Plymouth 2dr, and some titled as Plymouth Barracuda, I've also had a Valiant titled as just Plymouth and a Duster that was titled as a Valiant.
As far as how they were titled, that depends on the state they were registered in and the person filling out the paperwork. I've had over a dozen of them over the years and not all were titled the same. I had some titled as just Plymouth 2dr, and some titled as Plymouth Barracuda, I've also had a Valiant titled as just Plymouth and a Duster that was titled as a Valiant.
The 1964 Book says,
That it was a Valiant 'series' option.
That it was a Valiant 'series' option.
So a Valiant with an option is what Chrysler produced to compete with the Mustang?
Actually,
The Barracuda was 'introduced' before the Ford Mustang.
When introduced on April 1, 1964 - the Barracuda was marketed as a High-Performance Valiant 'option',
with a 'powerful' 273/180 HP '2-Barrel'.
I guess the same thing goes for the Valiant "Duster" in 1970. In 71 and later the Valiant was dropped from the badge. Later Chrysler did it again like the 60's Valiant/Lancer with the "Neon",, Later to get the "Dodge" or "Plymouth" in front of "Neon". My 63 Valiant trunk lid badge said "Valiant by Plymouth".
I was referring to the word "Valiant" not the v painted emblem
moper
Well-Known Member
Yep - '64 is a Plymouth Valiant Barracuda. '65 is a Plymouth Barracuda. I forget where I read that - but it was back in the mid 80s and I've yet to hear different. For me the "Valiant" emblems on the '64s and "Barracuda" on '65 seal the deal.
All early-1964 literature states a 'Valiant Series' Barracuda.
Sales Ad >
"Are You Man Enough To Order The Optional {273/180 Horsepower} 'High-Performance V-8"
Sales Ad >
"Are You Man Enough To Order The Optional {273/180 Horsepower} 'High-Performance V-8"
norshorblufish
By the Big Water
Did you also know it was almost called the panda.
Automotive trends in the early to mid-1960s had all the U.S. manufacturers looking at making sporty compact cars. Chrysler's A-body Plymouth Valiant was chosen for the focus of the company's efforts in this direction.[2]
Ford's Mustang, which significantly outsold the Barracuda, gave to this type of vehicle its colloquial name "pony car", but the Barracuda fastback, released on 1 April 1964, pre-dates the Mustang by two weeks.[3]
Plymouth's executives had wanted to name the car Panda, an idea that was unpopular with the car's designers. In the end, John Samsen's suggestion of Barracuda was selected.[4]
Automotive trends in the early to mid-1960s had all the U.S. manufacturers looking at making sporty compact cars. Chrysler's A-body Plymouth Valiant was chosen for the focus of the company's efforts in this direction.[2]
Ford's Mustang, which significantly outsold the Barracuda, gave to this type of vehicle its colloquial name "pony car", but the Barracuda fastback, released on 1 April 1964, pre-dates the Mustang by two weeks.[3]
Plymouth's executives had wanted to name the car Panda, an idea that was unpopular with the car's designers. In the end, John Samsen's suggestion of Barracuda was selected.[4]
V-8 Performance
180 Horsepower................"Hold On, This Fish Is Wild"
Built for 1964 NHRA.........I/Stock or I/Stock Automatic.
Be the first on your block to come home with Class Trophy..........Barracuda Style.
180 Horsepower................"Hold On, This Fish Is Wild"
Built for 1964 NHRA.........I/Stock or I/Stock Automatic.
Be the first on your block to come home with Class Trophy..........Barracuda Style.
Zeus360
Master of the Big Banana
Am I reading this right as if my 65 Barracuda has Plymouth, valiant and barracuda badging it is one of 200 crossover cars?
Zeus
65cudalover
Well-Known Member
My 1965 Barracuda Formula S is a Barracuda! It has a V on the back but only because they were using up what they had left in stock! All the other chrome says Barracuda! It matters little though as I often tell people most don't know what it is anyway! Largest piece of glass put in any car ever built! Lets just keep that in mind when people look at yours and wonder what ever happens if it breaks! I laugh when they say that as this in my second early Barracuda and that's the easiest part to find as people use them for green houses! Also its so thick it doesn't break easy! Just say Mopar or No Car and enjoy your ride in a cool car!
65Cudalover!
65Cudalover!
Mopar to ya,
So to answer your question, yes. When the Barracuda came out in April of 1964 they had a Valiant badge on the rear valance about the bumper on the right side. Another fact was the Barracuda emblems from April to end of May early June where different than later 64's and 65 Barracudas, they where much bigger. The "B" was huge and the trailing "a" had a very long tracer. The emblems also had 5 pins to attach instead of 3 in the later 64 and 65's. Govier or anyone else for that matter doesn't know why this is. Another factoid was some of the high optioned 64's had the Valiant Signet lower quarter panel spears, some say they put them on because Valiant ended that option and they had a lot of excess, maybe not.
Hope that helps. There are a few folks on Facebook at "Early Valiant Barracuda" groups two people have cars built on day one, my car is built on the second to last day of 64.
So to answer your question, yes. When the Barracuda came out in April of 1964 they had a Valiant badge on the rear valance about the bumper on the right side. Another fact was the Barracuda emblems from April to end of May early June where different than later 64's and 65 Barracudas, they where much bigger. The "B" was huge and the trailing "a" had a very long tracer. The emblems also had 5 pins to attach instead of 3 in the later 64 and 65's. Govier or anyone else for that matter doesn't know why this is. Another factoid was some of the high optioned 64's had the Valiant Signet lower quarter panel spears, some say they put them on because Valiant ended that option and they had a lot of excess, maybe not.
Hope that helps. There are a few folks on Facebook at "Early Valiant Barracuda" groups two people have cars built on day one, my car is built on the second to last day of 64.
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