Need info. on how rare is a 383, 67 barracuda

[undertaker]

Hi,
Could anyone help me, I'm looking at a 67 barracuda. It's supposed to be a orig. 383, 4speed car. The motor is long gone. Could anyone tell me how many 383s 4 speed came in a barracuda coupe? What is the motor code on the Vin.
Thank you for you help.
Sheldon

 

[LH23H2R]

the v.i.n. is located in the driver's side door jam , lower "A" pillar .

it should read "BH29H72" if it's an original 383 Barracuda , which translates to :
B = Barracuda
H = High Price Class
2 = Two Door
9 = Fastback
H = 383 Four Barrel HP
7 = 1967 Model Year
2 = Hamtramck ( Det.) Mi. Assembly Plant
The remaining 6 characters are the car's sequence number .

As far as rarity : The 383 was available in the Barracuda line right from the start of the '67 model year , whereas the 383 Dart GTS was introduced in ~May 1967 .

Not many of these 1967 model year 383-powered Dart / Barracuda twins were built , for the following reasons :

- The motor was a pig in the small car line , as it was hampered by an undersized carb , restrictive exhaust manifolds , broom handle cam and "nailhead" valves ;
- A well-tuned 273 four barrel would run circles around them ;
- Handling was non-existent
- No power steering ( until later in the year )
- Mandatory disc brakes ; no power-assist option

However , don't let any of those faults deter you from owning one of these virtual anomalies

Dump the crappy Inland Shifter , and all's good .

 

[1968FormulaS340]

Just a touch over 1000, 383 4-speeds for the 67 Barracuda.

It is critical if you are paying a premium (for it being a Formula S, 383) that you verify that it is a Formula S, 383.

This is easily done by the vin (as posted above). The fender tag would verify this further and provide more information.


Factory Inland shifter isn't that bad....... It's just that a Hurst is so much better.

 

[Rob Eppler]

I have one of the "383-fish" from 67. The above is correct, it was slow/did not handle very well and the disc brakes were "ok" at best. Mine is an automatic car 3.23 gear. A good 340 handed me my lunch on many occasions! But I fought back....Still keeping the car "stock" appearing, all the fender chrome factory interior, everything stock. I simply installed a 440! Using the same motor mounts, its a complete fit. Now the exhaust...I installed headers, [Herb McCandless design] very clean and minimum amount of inner fender removal. You really cannot even tell! The 440 is well built, Indy heads, intake and roller cam & a 1050 carb. A Dana 60/4.10's 3" exhaust all the way out, ET Drag Radials, 8" Turbo Action converter/ Manual shift valve body, This car went from being a "fish out of water" to a true "Barracuda" predator of the sea/asphault!