1968 Plymouth Hemi Barracuda (BO29)

Plymouth Barracudas were manufactured by Chrysler Corporation’s Plymouth division from 1964 to 1974. The second generation Barracuda ( Of which we will focus on today ), ran in production model years 1967 to 1969. They still shared a base with their sister model Valiant, but they were heavily redesigned. These second generation A-Body cars were available in a Fastback, Notchback, or Convertible version.

Okay, formalities over, now we fast forward to something very cool. Plymouth prepared 50 special Barracudas in 1968 for Super Stock racing under the B029 tag. These all featured the wild, super potent Hemi mill stuffed under their hoods as part of a high-performance package. They were targeted for some of the best Super Stock teams including the famed duo of Sox & Martin.

BO29 tag cars were built at the Hamtramck plant in Michigan along with the equally potent Hemi Dodge Darts. They were stock steel bodied, but had all seam sealer, sound deadening and insulation removed. They were finished in a grey primer with front panels made of fiberglass painted in black. A functional air scoop was included on the hood.

Interior-wise, they were very basic. Finished in a standard black upholstery, they were  heater and radio delete in the build. The front seats were replaced by lightweight Bostom Companion buckets and the rear seat was completely removed and replaced by a cardboard panel. Also, lighter glass was fitted in addition to a smaller, 135-amp battery in the trunk.

Chassis modifications were limited to Super Stock rear springs and heavy-duty shock absorbers. The steel wheels were painted black.

The Barracuda’s 426 cu in Hemi engine was coupled up to a A833 standard transmission case with modified Super Stock internals. This was attached to a Hurst Competition Plus floor shifter Today, an original BO29 Hemi Plymouth Barracuda can fetch quite the tidy sum come resale. ( But , why would you part with it if you were lucky enough to get your greasy mitts on one would be MY question ? ) Collectors have made the auction hammer come down on prices anywhere from $80K and upwards for one. Of course, it’s just as cool to have a tribute ( and cheaper too), but to have “the real deal” is something Mopar fanatics and car collectors in general would love to have in their personal, private collections. The rest of us can just dream….