1968 Barracuda 340 S California car for sale

1968 Barracuda Formula S 340. I purchased this black plate California car in 2004 from West Coast Car Connections in Eastpointe Michigan. They don’t seem to be around anymore but he would fly out to California buy a half dozen cars and have them shipped back to sell. This car seems to have come from Newport Beach as there was a 340 block crated in the front seat with a Newport Beach address when I got it. I believe it is 1969 color “Barracuda Orange” as it looks red in certain light and more orange in other light. It has a vinyl black stripe with small side striped down the center. The 340S hood inserts are painted black but the 340-S is still nice chrome. A little argent paint and they are in great shape.
It had a tired 1980’s 318 in it when I got it. The front bumper was rusty with the chrome flaking off on top. There were no side marker lights but the body was arrow straight and it was an original Formula S 340 car. Car has both the fender tag and broadcast sheet.
I re-chromed the front bumper, adding some trim and new wheels and tires and started driving it. I also have the SBP satin Centerlines with new front tires and center caps in excellent shape that were on it when I bought it and go with the car. They need new rear tires.
After driving it with a tired 318 smoking slightly for 5 years I decided it was time to make it go/sound as good as it looked. I took my 340 block and a set of rebuilt X heads to Lapouttre Racing Engines (racingengines.com) and had him build me a 416. It has all Scat forged internals, zero deck with -20.5 dish (9.7:1) with the 68CC X ported heads so it is pump gas friendly. The supposedly rebuilt heads needed quite a bit of work as well and were completely rebuilt by Rick at Lapouttre Racing with new guide bushings, valve seats and ported.
It also has an Air Gap w/ 750 Speed Demon and smaller 1 5/8 Hooker headers (power steering and brakes), . 236 dur (at 0.050") 108 LSA .500" lift cam with Coan 2500+ stall converter and 3.23 gears in the 8 ¾ rear. It sounds good, pulls very hard and is friendly to drive daily. I have $10K+ (4.5 pages) in receipts from this build. I drove it to work on nice days 16 miles round trip stop and go traffic last summer (including 90+ degree days) and it ran great and stayed cool after I added a shroud.
I still have some original 1968 340 parts that were on the 318 that was in the car when I added the 416 including the original 68 340 intake manifold, valve covers and both original exhaust manifolds.
The car has a very nice interior with nice carpets and seats, no holes for aftermarket speakers or radios with original AM in place. Chrome on dash is original looking so not shiny. Dash pad is not perfect but only very small imperfections. Rear seat has one tear about the size of a dime. Headliner is very nice. It has some old feel to it but still very nice overall. Gas gage doesn’t work and I decided to use an under dash oil pressure gage instead of original for real readings.
Underneath and body on this car is very nice with what looks like original chalk marks on the rear diff. The car overall has an older paint job that was obviously color sanded flat as I get many compliments on the mirror like finish. There are a couple chips on the car that have been touched up with a little lighter paint than the rest of the car. If you look very close low on the passenger rear quarter there are a couple small bubbles in the paint but they have been there since I bought it and have not grown. I can’t pick them up on my camera. I am pretty sure this was already an older paint job when I got it but it still looks great and gets many compliments at shows on how straight it is. I can not fill up with gas without somebody coming over and commenting on this car. The vinyl tape stripe has a few spots on the hood as I am sure it is getting old as well. I was going to pull the tape off this summer on a warm day. Over the top and trunk it is still nice looking and flat.
Under hood, below the firewall pinch weld and inner fenders is still the original faded Turbine Bronze color. You can also see it in the bottom of the trunk but all other areas including door jabs, fenders etc. are all the red/orange color you see in the pictures. It appears the original red stripe spare is also in the trunk under the original flat board. I put an aftermarket mat in there as well.
It has been 10 years now and I think I may need to move on to something else. This is the only reason I am selling and I am sure I will kick myself after it is gone. I was originally out looking for another 1970 340 Duster like I had in highschool but couldn’t resist buying this when I saw it. I was toying with the idea of making this car look stock again with the 416 but I think it may be time to find that Duster now. I am looking for $23K or best offer.

If this add works the pics come next...