340 Formula S: 1968 Plymouth Barracuda
The Formula S was an upgraded handling package on early Barracuda’s. With heavier torsion bars and an anti-roll bar up front and additional leaves in the rear springs, the Formula S’s cornering and high-speed stability were praised. This ’68 Formula S has probably the best engine available in those days to accomplish its job – the new 340 small-block V8. This Barracuda is part of the scenery in Tempe, Arizona and is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $15,400. But not the reserve.
Prior to 1968, the Formula S could be had with either 273 or 383 cubic inch V8. However, the smaller of the two engines wasn’t known for killer straight-line acceleration, and the big block added so much weight to the front end that the car tended to plough around corners. The new 340 was the perfect middle ground. For $168 in 1968 dollars, the Formula S package got the buyer a heavy-duty suspension and wheels, firm-ride shocks, E70-14 Red Streak tires, dual-exhaust – and the 275 hp motor.
Total Formula S production for 1968 was 5,196 units, with more than half of that or 2,857 being fastbacks with 340 power. The seller’s is one such car and was paired with a TorqueFlite automatic transmission and he/she adds that the machine runs and drives great. It appears to be finished in Turbine Bronze; a color reminiscent of the 1963 Chrysler Turbine car. The body looks sound and the paint good overall, although discoloring in a few places. If there was or is any rust, it’s not apparent. The car’s original wheels have been painted to match the car.
The interior looks to have recently been redone with a combination of bronze and black materials. The fabric does not look correct to the era, but that doesn’t mean it’s not well done. The trim and wood panels as well as instrument clusters are said to be original. An upgraded stereo system has been installed to provide some tunes while cruising. The seller doesn’t mention if the car has air conditioning and there is supporting hardware under the dashboard, but no engine compartment photos are provided to confirm proper plumbing.
The reported mileage on this Barracuda is 117,000, which would suggest a rebuild of the drivetrain would have been done by now, but there is no report of that having ever been done. Both Hagerty and NADA agree that a ’68 Formula S is a car worth north of $25,000 in really nice condition. How far would you go to add this car to your harem?
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Comments
Like the car, but the photographs aren’t telling me any of the things I would need to know before bidding on it. Underbody rust? Trunk floor? Front inner fenders? Engine? Closeups of common rust repair spots to suggest if any repairs were needed or done correctly? The vents certainly suggest aftermarket air conditioning, but I don’t see any A/C controls. I suppose the Arizona location suggests no to rust and yes to air conditioning, but how would one know that the car had spent the last 53 years there?
Looking at the ebay pics,I’m thinking the under dash vents would indicate A/C And there is a very clean looking underbody pic…. the floor n frame look sound……but nothing confirms like an in person look see ….
Nice car. I owned a 340 car way back when and loved it. Best thing by far is the lack of rust. I had gotten out of the habit of looking at vintage cars until just recently but remember well the warnings about not buying rust. American drivetrains (with a few exceptions) are rebuildable/replaceable but rust is forever.
Anyways, this is a nice Cuda with a desirable drivetrain. It’ll get the money the seller wants.
If I could choose any pony car, it would be a 68 Barracuda formula S 340. Great performance, great looks and so much more unique than another Mustang/Camaro. 4spd would be perfect, but at this point in life I’d have to go with the TF to keep the ball and chain happy.
Original trim – I wouldn’t have thought so – maybe original seats reupholstered in material that doesn’t match anything
That and the upper metal panels of the doors looks odd. Usually they match the interior color of the car, not clash like this does. For instance, a car painted B5 blue would have the inner door panels painted B5 blue if the rest of the interior and dashboard was blue. If the interior was black, the panels are usually painted black
Anybody notice the A frame looks cracked and then spot welded
To those who may know I have a question: Can the A arms be replaced with those off the Mopar pick ups or vans from the same general era? Seem to recall hearing this over the years.
This is a fairly nice looking car, but as mentioned already the ad is pretty lacking in too many ways.
Better info and photos goes a long way to a better sale price.
As an upgrade? If not, brand new stock style replacements for both upper and lower are readily available brand new at a reasonable price through restoration suppliers.
Steve R
Thanks Steve.
Had a friend 50 yrs ago with one of these. Kept cracking the factory A arms. Seem to recall him saying he had obtained and solved the problem by using A arms from another Mopar product.
Thus the question, testing my memory after all these years.
My buddy had a 225/ 3 sp, like this in blue. We both loved that car, but wish it had air, kind of hot when we took it down south one summer.
Top of dash must be cracked/torn as a pad covers it over,,no trunk,underbody photos..
I never wanted one of these as much as I want this one.
I think they are interesting and attractive. I would not buy this one, and I’m not doing anything until I get more space, which is in motion now.
Straight out of the Army, I had the ’68 340 Formula S fastback, 4-speed with (factory) Hurst linkage, fast ratio manual steering, limited slip, dark green metallic over black. What a machine, very fast and beautiful. New Year’s Eve drunk wiped it out while parked in front of my house. Never seen another like it. I’ve looked.
Stop the madness and save your money. I’ve owned or own every year of the Cuda Formula S and this one – although pretty – stinks.
How many vin’s can a Ebay ad’s have ? There is one of the two provided with a proper P code for the 340 BUT the seller has added yet another – I saw the car previously on Ebay.
The front seat are correct style but as was mentioned the wrong pattern which is a easy fix. The speedo should be a 150 the tach was an option.
The rear trunk just looks off and where is the rear tail lights – don’t think they offer LED’s but that looks off. It has the cheap exhaust from Auto Zone which looks trashy when there are reproductions which across the Mopar line the factory’s look great.
You can see the disk brakes but even the drum cars got a sway bar that’s missing – kinda part of the package.
Anyway sorry for ranting – it’s a pretty color but buyer beware.
Stop posting this one. It is a scam. The story goes my husband dies etc. I’m now in Nebaraka etc. I can arrange shipping etc. send money on and on. Total BS stop promoting peoples scams.
You are confusing this with a completely different car.
https://barnfinds.com/1-of-1270-1968-plymouth-barracuda-formula-s/
Thanks for the correction. The previous post was on CL. I thought it migrated to ebay.
As stated before the front seat cushions and backs are NOT FACTORY ORIGINAL. Not a fan of what the owner did to the fold-down security panel ,do not like the radio speakers in the rear wheelhouse panels. I know that steering is NOT Factory original, looks like it came off some boat. The upper door panel frames are painted correctly for the year of the build. This area and the lower portion of the door frame which surrounds the interior door panel are always painted the exterior color of the vehicle just like the door jambs and sills.
I guess all my Mopars from that era are all wrong then ; the interior metal on the doors was NEVER the same as the body color, unless the car and interior was black . they were painted to work with the interior color . My tan 68 Road runner had brown panels to match the light brown interior ( same as ADAM 12s 68 interior colors) , my 69 Dart GT had a light blue body with a dark blue interior panel to matrh the dark blue gut. My 66 Charger was red, and the interior metal panels were black, the same as the interior, and my Basin ST. Blue 72 Duster had dark blue panels to match the darker blue gut .
These are my favorite,grew up with two ‘69 Fastbacks,first was an M-code big block,I think they are one of the nicest body styles made.Always liked the hood treatment used for ‘67and ‘68,why Plymouth didn’t use them for the last year of the Fastback is unknown to me.
If the car had A/C the distribution outlets would be mounted on the lower edge of the Instrument panel. An aftermarket unit with switches and controls would also mount in the same manner. If it was factory A/C the switches in the I/P would be push buttons.