What to do... 1966 Barracuda

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Beams

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Location
Modesto, CA
I’ll try to be succinct:

Last year I spotted a 1966 Barracuda a couple blocks from my house, tail end sticking out of the garage door. Now, I like an early A, so I worked up the courage to talk to the owner.

He and his wife bought it new in 1966. Almost all original, even the certicard is there. At least one mediocre repaint. 273 commando, 4 speed, 8 3/4 rear end. Manual brakes, manual steering, AM radio, vinyl black interior. Car starts (fired up after two clicks today) and drives, but needs some maintenance.

Car is not perfect by any means—owner used it to haul tools when repairing rentals back in the day.

Last year he told me he wasn’t interested in selling. Fine by me, money doesn’t grow on trees. All I ever really wanted was to see the thing closer.

He called me recently to tell me he’s ready to part with the car. Ultimately he wants it to go to a good home. I’ve done all the scheming I can think of, and I think the only wiggle room I have is to part with my Dart (just about unthinkable). I’ve had a couple buddies offer to float me a loan, but I don’t know if I can do it. How and when do you folks decide to part with a car?

I was able to go over to the guys house and clean up the car today. I did some vacuuming, slight maintenance, etc. just because it’s not everyday you get to touch an original car. Anyway, don’t know what I’m looking for, except for some sympathy. Hoping to get him to pull the car out of the garage this weekend.
 
You could make an arrangement where the title is held by an escrow company and you pay him in installments.

How much is he looking to get.

Sometimes, myself included might give a car away to someone if I felt they would do it justice, and care for it.
 
You could make an arrangement where the title is held by an escrow company and you pay him in installments.

How much is he looking to get.

Sometimes, myself included might give a car away to someone if I felt they would do it justice, and care for it.

Thanks for the suggestion. Definitely something to look in to.

I can’t get a number out of him. He’s jokingly talked about parking it in front of my house with the title signed over. I’ve made it clear that I’m certainly not looking to take advantage of him.
 
Keep doing what you're doing. Make a standing appointment every Saturday to go over and tinker with the car. Invest a bit of time into it with him. He will see that your intentions are good. Eventually, you will have a deal worked out that suits you both.
 
Mention to him your connections with FABO. You will have expert help in taking care of it. If he thinks you will really take care of it and keep it for a while he will probably more reasonable in the price.
 
Lots of good comments in here, but there has to be at least some idea of the price range for the car which can be ALL OVER THE PLACE depending on the individual selling it from Realistic and Fair, to Unrealistic and they must be Smoking their Socks. I'd try to get an idea of the price range before I went too far on it.

Take some pics too and post em here.
 
Lots of good comments in here, but there has to be at least some idea of the price range for the car which can be ALL OVER THE PLACE depending on the individual selling it from Realistic and Fair, to Unrealistic and they must be Smoking their Socks. I'd try to get an idea of the price range before I went too far on it.

Take some pics too and post em here.

From our discussions, I think we’re in the ballpark of $5,000-7,500. Don’t have a whole bunch of pictures due to it being crammed in the garage. Didn’t find any rust to speak of when cleaning today. Even the rear quarters were in good shape.

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57A70DF4-4A51-4835-A687-82B33E11F5F2.jpeg
 
From our discussions, I think we’re in the ballpark of $5,000-7,500. Don’t have a whole bunch of pictures due to it being crammed in the garage. Didn’t find any rust to speak of when cleaning today. Even the rear quarters were in good shape.

View attachment 1715731239

View attachment 1715731240

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Well Good,
That'd certainly put you in the possibly even better than Realistic and Fair price range if all the mechanicals are ok and it has No Rust issues. Keep the Dart too, You can Never have enough MOPARS
 
Well Good,
That'd certainly put you in the possibly even better than Realistic and Fair price range if all the mechanicals are ok and it has No Rust issues. Keep the Dart too, You can Never have enough MOPARS
Appreciate that. And I’m with ya. I’ll be sure to keep the almighty FABO informed.
 
I can’t get a number out of him. He’s jokingly talked about parking it in front of my house with the title signed over. I’ve made it clear that I’m certainly not looking to take advantage of him
Unless you are planning on selling it, if he offers it to you for free, take him up on the offer. Fix the car up and take him with you to car shows, do handy man work for him around the house.

My dad passed away before he and I could have taken his /my dart to shows. He would have LOVED talking to people about his car. There is more to life than money, being a friend to an older person is priceless.

If you do intend to flip the car then pay a fair price and make sure he is aware of your intentions.
 
I know its hard to look at our cars this way but, they are financial investments. That being said are you in a position to get a loan for the car? My point is our cars are appreciating better than any stocks. A car like that is a worthy investment. If he would let you make payments to him even better. It can be drawn up and even auotmaticaly withdrawn from your account. I dont think I would let it get away.
 
From our discussions, I think we’re in the ballpark of $5,000-7,500. Don’t have a whole bunch of pictures due to it being crammed in the garage. Didn’t find any rust to speak of when cleaning today. Even the rear quarters were in good shape.

View attachment 1715731239

View attachment 1715731240

View attachment 1715731241

Not sure what others think but I believe that if that car is in the condition it seems to be in the pics, if you put it on E-Bay at 5000.00 to 7500.00 it would be gone in minutes!!
 
Try to buy the car without selling the Dart, not to often a chance to purchase a Barracuda with these options comes available
 
I’ll try to be succinct:

Last year I spotted a 1966 Barracuda a couple blocks from my house, tail end sticking out of the garage door. Now, I like an early A, so I worked up the courage to talk to the owner.

He and his wife bought it new in 1966. Almost all original, even the certicard is there. At least one mediocre repaint. 273 commando, 4 speed, 8 3/4 rear end. Manual brakes, manual steering, AM radio, vinyl black interior. Car starts (fired up after two clicks today) and drives, but needs some maintenance.

Car is not perfect by any means—owner used it to haul tools when repairing rentals back in the day.

Last year he told me he wasn’t interested in selling. Fine by me, money doesn’t grow on trees. All I ever really wanted was to see the thing closer.

He called me recently to tell me he’s ready to part with the car. Ultimately he wants it to go to a good home. I’ve done all the scheming I can think of, and I think the only wiggle room I have is to part with my Dart (just about unthinkable). I’ve had a couple buddies offer to float me a loan, but I don’t know if I can do it. How and when do you folks decide to part with a car?

I was able to go over to the guys house and clean up the car today. I did some vacuuming, slight maintenance, etc. just because it’s not everyday you get to touch an original car. Anyway, don’t know what I’m looking for, except for some sympathy. Hoping to get him to pull the car out of the garage this weekend.
I never like to sell my cars , but I really like to build cars so I have sold alot of really cool cars. I'm getting older and starting to slow down so I don't think I will be selling much anymore but hey who knows. Only you will know when the time is right to sell. Also I think we all have at least that one car we wish we never sold so keep that in mind. Good luck.
 
If you could have your dream car, what would it be. I have mine. That is an absolute cool car. I would not change a thing except the original Inland shifter. IMHO the best early A Body made. I have been tempted with other cars, but will never trade the 66 Formula S for anything. What would that be for you?
 
If you could have your dream car, what would it be. I have mine. That is an absolute cool car. I would not change a thing except the original Inland shifter. IMHO the best early A Body made. I have been tempted with other cars, but will never trade the 66 Formula S for anything. What would that be for you?

That’s tough. I think my 65 Dart Charger (restored) is the dream car. The 66 Barracuda with the options is damn close. My car would need a LOT of work to get it anywhere near this 66. So there’s an almost-turnkey/instant gratification component too.

What a problem to have, huh? Feel fortunate to even have this “dilemma”.
 
Thanks all for the input! I think I’m only in that ballpark because of the relationship already built. It was funny to get interviewed by his wife yesterday, when I offered to vacuum and clean up the car. Took her a couple minutes to understand that I wasn’t trying to pull a fast one.

Definitely not intending to flip the car—I’m young, but typically get too attached to part with my “stuff”. ...except that I’ve sacrificed a couple guitars and amps to fund the 65.
 
Buy him a clutch pedal pad for Cinco de Mayo. He'll see your good intentions for the car.
 
Sunday update:

Met with the owner today. Sounds like they have another interested party, that wants to bring the original back to its former glory. They’re working on pooling cash, but the car is going to be offered to them. Seems like there are good intentions, and there will be no LS swap taking place.

I still plan on staying connected with the current owner. Making/being a friend is more important. I also offered my information to the potential owner as a resource for parts and information (and mentioned FABO). The opportunity on this car is probably just about closed, but you never know what might happen.

Again, appreciate everyone’s advice!
 
Wow OP that stinks..... You were building a relationship and got snubbed it sounds like... Someone who owns a car like this for a long period of time are not typically in a crunch for cash. Maybe there is more to the story than you know. Sounds like the price is right....

However I commend you. You stomach is no bigger than your eyes. It's really just something else to eat up your money and you have a Dart already and that's more than a bunch of people own and certainly more than a bunch of people want....

JW
 
So has a price been discissed? I thought there was no price decided on.
 
That’s a cool story and great opportunity. It’s easy to get seduced by the new exciting gal even when you are happy.
You can still provide an important service to the original owners by making sure they get a fair price.
 
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