Plymouth Barracuda: It Actually Beat the Mustang to Market

History remembers the Ford Mustang as the pony car pioneer. This one technically arrived first, by a matter of weeks, even though it never got the same credit.

Illustration for editorial purposes

First to Market, Second in the History Books

Being technically first doesn't guarantee lasting recognition. This car's early debut has largely been overshadowed by a rival that launched just weeks later and captured the public imagination far more completely.

Generations at a Glance

Weeks Ahead of the Mustang, and Forgotten Because of It

Launched in April 1964, mere weeks before the Ford Mustang, the Barracuda was based on the existing Plymouth Valiant platform with a distinctive large, wraparound rear window as its most visually distinguishing feature. Despite beating the Mustang to market, it never achieved comparable sales success or cultural recognition during its production life — a genuine case of a pioneer being overshadowed by a far more successfully marketed rival. Later generations moved to a dedicated platform and grew significantly more powerful, culminating in genuinely potent big-block V8 versions during the muscle car era's peak.

Just Seven Hemi Convertibles, and a Drug Bust That Made One Famous

The third-generation Barracuda, introduced for 1970, adopted a completely fresh, more aggressive design with room for Chrysler's largest and most powerful engines, including the legendary 426 Hemi V8 in extremely limited numbers — Plymouth built just 11 or 12 'Cuda convertibles with the Hemi in 1971, and only seven with the four-speed manual gearbox that collectors prize most. One of those cars has a genuinely remarkable history: originally sold to cartoonist Russ Myers, it later passed to an owner who had it seized by law enforcement as part of a drug investigation, eventually surfacing at a 1999 police auction for what was then a record $410,000. That same car, or one just like it, went on to sell for $3.5 million at a 2014 Mecum auction in Seattle — at the time the highest price ever paid for any American muscle car at auction, confirmed as the only known numbers-matching four-speed Hemi 'Cuda convertible in existence. A near-identical example later drew a $4.8 million bid at another Mecum auction, though that offer fell short of the seller's reserve.

How Third-Generation Styling Made It the One Collectors Want

That combination of dramatic styling and genuinely fearsome available power made the third generation the version most collectors covet today, far more than the original 1964 pioneer that actually beat the Mustang into showrooms. Its rarity, particularly in top-specification Hemi form, has since made it one of the most valuable American muscle cars among serious collectors, a remarkable turnaround for a nameplate that was commercially outsold by its rival throughout its entire production life.

How Much Does a Plymouth Barracuda Cost Today?

Genuine Hemi-equipped examples from the desirable third generation are exceptionally rare and command some of the highest prices ever paid for American muscle cars at auction, with confirmed sales reaching well into seven figures for the most documented, original examples. Ordinary six-cylinder or small-block V8 first and second-generation Barracudas remain considerably more attainable, offering genuine period Mopar ownership without chasing the multimillion-dollar Hemi convertible market.

Watch & Explore

Sources: Stellantis Heritage archives, Wikipedia.