A highschool friend of mine had one of these...same spec as this car. I remember the sound of this car. It had solid lifters. All my young friends we built muscle cars with in the late 60's and 70's became automotive engineers in Detroit
You didn't grow up in Detroit then become an "automotive engineer". People went to school all across the country then came to Detroit in hopes to become an "automotive engineer". Several people like that were women who didn't even know what a shock absorber was and did, yet become head "engineer" of the mark 8 Lincoln with air bags. That didn't work out so well. I know what you are saying but the truth is way different than the way you said it
@@williamstamper442 What kind of fool are you? I am not going to expose my name or names of my friends on line or where each of us went to engineering school or even all the cars we built. We didn't live in Detroit proper but in the suburbs and my father for example was an automotive engineer as well who worked for Chevy Engineering in Warren, MI at the tech center who brought home all the fastest cars of the late 60's throughout the 70's...from big and small block Camaros and Corvettes including a LS-6 Chevelle I street raced on Woodward. My friends and I also built the fastest car at our high school. I ended up following in my father's footsteps later in life also working at the Tech center in Warren for Chevy Engineering. Detroit is a local reference. Mo Town. The motor city. The home of the American auto industry. Growing up in the Detroit 'area'. Get a clue. I have forgotten more about cars and likely motorcycles as well than you ever even thought about. I built my first motorized vehicle which was a minibike built from a bicycle and lawnmower engine when I was 12 years old from scratch. I was also given a timing light and dwell/tach meter around the same time period for Christmas and began tuning my parents cars including neighbors cars which had conventional points and distributor. I got my first real job as a machinist working through college because I fixed the president's son's go kart and he was impressed with my mechanical capability when I first started college. No internet. I am 70 years old. PS. I also got my first engineering job fresh out of college working in the city of Detroit proper, the Budd Company. Throughout my career, I rarely met a woman who knew much about cars or their design or certainly hotrodding and this sounds like you.
Hello Tony, my first performance car was a 1966 Plymouth Valiant Signet - 273 Commando V8 4 bbl , 4 speed reverse lockout, posi rear no power steering, std drum brakes steel wheels and dog dish hub caps also with growler chrome tip unfortunately I smashed it up, all the car shows I go to I have not seen a car like it. Seeing this 1966 Barracuda brings back memories and the sound of the engine!!! Thanks Tony
My friend’s dad had one on jack stands in the garage for like two decades. It was green with baby moons, and had a 273 Commando with dual quads and a 4 speed.They sure liked talking about how insanely fast it was, but I never saw it off the jack stands!
Love those engines. I once bought a Dart wagon with a bone stock 273 4 barrel 4 speed. Guys have since told me that wasn't possible, but mine was OEM and that's what it had. Yup, 10.25 compression, solid lifter cam, and Carter 4 barrel. You forgot to mention, and I always thought this was so cool, the factory intake manifold was a single plane. These little engines would run to 7,000 rpm and not float a valve. Oh, and because they were solid cam, they had adjustable rockers. I put 273 rockers on the 340 in my 70 Dart later, bolted right up with the right length push rods.
Had a 66 Dart GT with the 273 Commando and 4speed, Sure grip rear end, no power steering, no AC, no heater, but All the chrome trim,it was like that from the factory,i was pissed when it was stolen
Tony, love your stuff, wouldn’t miss. I’m a Ford guy, 63 Falcon w/347, 38 half ton chopped, channeled ford w/49 flathead, building a f150 farm truck. You are a wealth of information, tons of tips and tricks, yer great.
Thanks, Tony! I enjoy your history! In about 1970, my brother bought a '67 Dart GT with the 273, automatic, and limited slip rear end. Shortly after he bought it, our friends at the salvage yard sold him a 340 to put in it. That was the hottest car any of us ever owned! And with the 273 badge on the side, he suckered a lot of unsuspecting Ford and Chevy drivers in to a street race that left them with there mouth hanging open!
Completely different car though. A '67 is a good looking body style. The notch backs were especially good looking cars. the '67-'69 are actually preferable to my eye over the ever so popular 1970 and up. Smaller makes 'em cooler little racers than those lager E body cars.
@@Dogboy1960 oh I know my cousin had a 64 and a 65. The push button was neat, but annoying. I always thought the 68 charger got its styling from the Barracuda and the Chevelle.
As did I- Fastback 67 Formula S, $400 off a car lot in 1975 , 273/235- factory dual points and a 727 out of a Duster , with 3.23's ; the car had more motor in it than brakes to stop it- and feared very little of anything.
I must contradict: I am a GM guy, but I always liked those early Barracudas. A friend of mine had one for several years. He is actually a Buick and Chevy guy. I think his wife loved it, so he bought it. I like the huge rear window. But you are right: It is terribly cramped in the engine bay. What I liked even more were the Marlins. I never found out why people do not love those. American motors (before Gremlins and Javelins) are quite underrated to this day.
This was good. While 17 years old talked Dad down to a used car lot to buy an Austin Healey, my dad spotted this 1965 Barracuda Formula S and he talked me into buying it. It was Fast, never shifted into 4th before 100 mph. It always broke everything from the tranny back, broken axles and such. It was more fun than my 69 SS 396. This explained why I had drive train problems back then. Thanks for that. That being said I wouldn't mind trying it again at my elder age. cheers,
It took me a little time to come round to the 1st gen but I absolutely love them now quirky is the word as you say Tony maybe a car only mopar guys could love but I do remember a red one with fat and skinny cragars and a beautiful stance .....it was pure magic ❤
When I was a kid the neighbors bought one of these with the 273 and 4 speed. Their kids thought it was so cool. A Baracuda woooo. I always thought it looked weird. I am a Mopar guy and still think it looks weird lol.
YEP! it looks like a Valliant with a fastback slapped onto it! I like them a little better 35 years down the road same for the 66-67 Charger....Used to hate them now...Think they are kind of cool🤓
I am pleased to see this because I have a same colore green 66 Formula S, 4 speed council, power disc brakes power steering, AC car. It also has some other options.
In Canada on 1975 I had a 66 Valiant fastback, it had a 273, auto transmission. One of those cars I regret selling! Hey do you remember how many times the magazine "Car Toons" had 65 barracudas in the stories? The artists must have really liked them!
Here's a curious bit of trivia. The first OHV V8 Chrysler made was the 1951 Hemi, 331cu in and 180HP with a 2 barrel. A few years later it was upgraded to a 4 barrel and 235HP. 13 years later they brought out the 273 with the same 180HP 2 barrel and 235HP 4 barrel. The 273 was a 318 block with a small bore and the same crankshaft and rods as the 318. They put thicker wrist pins in the pistons to bring the weight up so they did not need to rebalance the crank. Those cool valve covers with the black wrinkle paint and aluminum trim rivetted on had a purpose. To dampen any valve noise from the solid lifter cam.
@@bourbonlover7158 You aren't kiddiing. Don Garlits won many drag races with a stock block, stock crank, stock rods, stock heads, early hemi supercharged on nitro making 1500HP reliably and consistently.
I'm a fan of '60s GM styling. A few hours with the right designer and the Baracuda would have been very popular. The budget constraints probably are the why it's a compromise. They spent too much on the big glass.
When my 65 Valiant steering box did that, it was because the K Member cracked around one of the steering box bolt holes. I hope that this one is just loose.
My friend's dad had a 66 with a 273, but not the Formula S. We (friend and I, not his dad) found that you can put a racing go-kart in the back seat area by folding down the seat, and wriggling the kart in thru the passenger door. I don't think his dad ever knew about that, and that was a good thing. (We did put blankets down to protect the upholstery).
Hey Tony, the original Barracuda was the third best looking car to come out of the Chrysler factory ! No. 1, 59 Fury ,no. 2 , 64 Canadian Fury 3. Alex. Expat Canuck in Australia
I love those cars! I’ve owned three 1965 barracudas. The first one was in high school (1976) and had a slant six in it and I took it out and put a 383 with a 727 trans. It fit, but I only had an eighth of an inch between the exhaust manifold and the wheel wheel on both sides. I had to rebuild a transmission tunnel. The exhaust side on the driver side was not going to work so I just got an exhaust manifold for the passenger side and put it on the driver side and made the exhaust come out the front and pipe come underneath the string box. What hot car!!!! But I did tear up the 7 1/4 inch rear and blew it up, but it did last for a little while I was surprised.
YESSSSSSS!!! Finally! Someone who knows just how GLORIOUS the 273 cars with the single exhaust resonator system sounds! But of course Tony would know. 😏 For anyone reading, watch the TH-cam link below to see just how incredible this exhaust system sounds. Just go to the 22:08 mark for the idling sound, and then watch from 25:45 to 30:35 for a series of acceleration clips. Yes, the car in the video is a 340 car, but it gives you a taste of just how amazing these cars sound. However, as good as the car sounds in this video, a 273 actually sounds even better. Between the 273's solid lifters, its smaller bores, smaller valves, smaller combustion chamber, etc., it has its own sound and is its own animal amongst Mopar small block engines. So, as good as this 340 with the resonator sounds, the 273 sounds even meaner and more vicious. It's something you have to hear in person to truly appreciate for yourself. Tony is right in saying 273 single exhaust resonator cars were the best sounding cars of the muscle car era. Nothing even comes close IMO. The 340 in this video is awesome, but I assure you a 273 is even better: th-cam.com/video/I7aoHyDEC8s/w-d-xo.html
I grew up in the late 60s and 70s era of hot rodding. I remember when the gas crunch hit, you couldn't give away big block cars. Man, the cars I saw cut up and junked back then.
Cruising main in my custom '63 LeSabre, dude in his '66 Barracuda S teased me with his cut-out high revving screamer. That itchy, jumpy jerking mopar was impressively quick.
I bought a 65 Dart Charger in 1970. It had the 273 High Performance V8 which I rebuilt. I installed fenderwell headers and the 8-3/4" rear-end from a roached out 68 340 Dart I scrapped. It ran 14.70s, and I held the KOA National Record in AHRA. I used to beat 383 Roadrunners on the street. They'd swear it was a 340 but I told them look at the casting numbers on the block. I really embarrassed them!😂
14.70s even in the 70s was not what we consider "quick". My 350 cube Oldsmobile engine in a 3700 pound car ran 13.70s and would have run circles around your car. However with that said I admire you being honest and throwing out real world numbers. I certainly wish things now were that way back then.
i built a 273 for a 1965 four door Valiant. With a four speed and 4.56 rear end it ran a best ET of 12.72 @ 108 MPH. Sold it to the famous Renteria Brothers in 1980. Oh, forgot to mention I installed Cyclone fenderwell headers and they just dropped in from the top in ten minutes time.
273 vs 350 is giving up 80 cubic engines and a lot of average torque throughout the rev range.. I do remember a guy running a well worked 273 that ran low 11s so your comparing a stock 273 to something you built and massaged, because I dought your olds 350 ran that time fresh from the factory either.. lol😊
My deceased ex father n law ALWAYS talked highly of the 273 Formula S cars and like myself he was a diehard Ford man, lol! The 2nd gen Barracudas are really sweet, love those!!!
I have the valve covers from a 273 I kept they are on my spare 318 bored .060 ready for next build, went with 1988 318 roller camshaft in Trailduster 4 speed manual
Here in Australia we only had 4 two door vehicles, TORANA, Holden Monaro, Ford Coupe, ValiantCharger, I did own a two door TORANA but it was a 4 cylinder, it was my first car, thanks for sharing ,all the best to you and your loved ones
We have a '65 Formula S automatic that had factory A/C. A previous owner installed the 8 3/4 rear end. A rotisserie restoration is almost complete (in Mexico by the way). The rust found under the front cowl was the most challenging aspect of the repairs.
Love your channel and obviously your plethora of MOPAR knowledge, Tony. Even Jamie from Dead Dodge Garage sings your praises and rightly so. Maybe I just have old school tastes but I love first gen Barracudas and later Chargers in 66/67 and would be quite fine with a 273 commando and 318 poly respectively in both but I wouldn't be at all upset if someone handed me the keys to a first year Charger with an also first year Street Hemi in it. I know everything fit better in 67 Barracudas but I'd still rather have one of these first gen Formula Ses. Thanks again for the great videos and MOPAR knowledge.
Champ. I touched all. A 914 a 911. My only comp was a 64 dart w 225 4 barrel and 1.11" swaybare. We both dropped our front ends Forrester camber. We both thruaway front tires each week. Added anheavy swaying changed my breaking and drift
Such a beautiful car dear gosh I'm glad he got it there with that happening! and the D Dart is a TREAT white paint Red interior 275+hp 273 one of the rare +1hp 1Cid engines out there I absolutely love these cars and Gosh they are a bit tight everywhere I know if you take the K member out the heads will hold the engine in the engine bay I've seen it happen. my 65 the exhaust was HACKED badly to make it dual exhaust and it's been through so many 7 1/4 axles ours would snap the shaft in the differential housing and the last one ate a spider gear with the ring and pinion I can't wait to get mine back together it's scattered all across the garage since dad blew it up in 75 those valve covers and everything is just pretty. sorry for gushing I just love seeing people give these cars the love they deserve.
Sweet ! Kiwi would know about the Valiant VC 1967 273ci Regal ,, the first Australian Mopar with this engine . Being down here and Right hand drive they bolted the steering box directly to the chassis rail , not the 'K' frame ,, and I have seen and fixed dozens of the mounting to chassis that have cracked/broken the rail in 1/2 ! ,, with movement seen here from the steering box and the cars dangerous ! . Well done KIWI for taking that death trap off the road , educating the owner why and thanks Uncle Tony for showing us a beautiful classic Mopar !
My Brother and i baught and shared a Dart GT, 273/2bbl. We worked different shifts so that car was on a 15 mile trip to work, and back twice a day. I finally signed it to him, and he drove it for years after I moved away. We still talk about that extremely reliable car
Tony you're slipping!!!! You did not mention one of the coolest aspects of this car was the fold-down rear seat that folded flat and opened up all that space behind the front seats clear to the trunk. We had one used to take it camping and sleep in it great for going to the beach and scuba diving trips that would hold all our stuff that was a very spirited car and a lot of fun to drive.
A friend of my family came to picnic with one. Three of us kids got a ride in it. I loved the clicks of the shifter between gears and the sound of the exhaust. It seemed fast to me even with four of us in it but of course we were just skinny little kids. He showed us how it could go from about 35 to 100 in third gear without shifting. 100! That's the first time I went 100.
I would love to have that car. I always liked the awkward design. I appreciate the electrictronic ignition. Keeps the maintenance easy. Good for going camping..
I test drove a 65 Barracuda Formula S when it was brand new. It was a solid lifter 273 with the 4 speed. If I remember correctly it moved pretty well for what it was but it was hard to really tell how good it was with the salesman sitting in the passenger seat. After the test drive I decided that a 289 271hp High Performance Mustang was more to my liking. I then had to put my new car buying on hold for a while. When I was finally ready to buy again in the summer of 1967 the Ford dealers could not come up with a 289 hipo Mustand. I looked at a 1967 Barracuda with a 383 4-speed but ended buying a SS/RS 350 4 speed Camaro which I still own. The Camaro worked quite well and would give the Gtos, 442s, Roadrunners, Superbees, and etc, a run for their money from stoplight to stoplight.
Tony, the race car 273 you talked about, those were rated 275 HP and had a very high lift Racer Brown cam. Sorry, don't remember the lift on those. Back to the Charger/Commando 273, those have a single plane manifold. The cam was .425" lift. And you are right, the A bodies, Dart or Barracuda with the 273 was a well balanced fun to drive car. It just handled well. They came with 13" rims, but the rims had no vents around the center section. Just one bead around the center. You could not put another 13" Dart wheel on them. The reason for the oddball wheel, they used a larger drum than other A Bodies. Brake shoes were the ones for the larger Polara, which is why the oddball wheels. You could, and I did, put 14" rims on them.
Had to watch this one. 2 cars my father always talks about fondly from the 70’s are his ‘66 barracuda 273/4sp. And his 68 valiant post 360/4sp. He and his brother tuned up the ‘66 one day and took it down granville street in Vancouver sideways, taking out sandwich boards with the back end, allegedly.
I own a 65 Barracuda hipo 4 Speed my first car I bought I changed the clutch with a 340 bell housing and put a 3/4 rear in it because it had a small clutch and small rear in it from the factory.
Early Barracudas and AMC Marlins had very cool back glass. They were sometimes mistaken for each other by non car people. I personally loved the 66-67 Charger roofline but couldn't find one. Had a 66 Coronet 440 four door sedan instead, with a built 318 poly.
Had a lot of fun with these cars in the 80's because they were so cheap. Bought a 67 Dart GT with a 273 from the original owner for $600. Still wish I had that car. A friend had a 65 Dart Gt convertible with a 273 he picked up for $500. The 273 was no 340 but it would as still a lot of fun for recent HS grads :)
Looked at the Dart in '66 with the square or rectangle exhaust outlet . Reedman Motors , just north of Philly ,,, ! ,,, yes Tony single exhaust . ,,, Btw , how's that cam ( or the D ) for Mission 318 ,,, ?
We had a 63 Valiant with the Slant 6. No power steering but it was so easy to maneuver. My mother said it was like steering a baby carriage compared to the V8 powered car that replaced it.
I agree with Uncle Tony the early A-bodies had quirky weird styling. A 1968 Barracuda "Notchback is night and day next to this 1966 model. The Symmetry of the later Notchback just looks right.
Kiwi is fixin to get an Excedrin headache on that hitch . Safety man has spoken.
LOL!
self correcting problem
A highschool friend of mine had one of these...same spec as this car.
I remember the sound of this car. It had solid lifters. All my young friends we built muscle cars with in the late 60's and 70's became automotive engineers in Detroit
You didn't grow up in Detroit then become an "automotive engineer". People went to school all across the country then came to Detroit in hopes to become an "automotive engineer". Several people like that were women who didn't even know what a shock absorber was and did, yet become head "engineer" of the mark 8 Lincoln with air bags. That didn't work out so well. I know what you are saying but the truth is way different than the way you said it
@@williamstamper442 What kind of fool are you? I am not going to expose my name or names of my friends on line or where each of us went to engineering school or even all the cars we built. We didn't live in Detroit proper but in the suburbs and my father for example was an automotive engineer as well who worked for Chevy Engineering in Warren, MI at the tech center who brought home all the fastest cars of the late 60's throughout the 70's...from big and small block Camaros and Corvettes including a LS-6 Chevelle I street raced on Woodward. My friends and I also built the fastest car at our high school. I ended up following in my father's footsteps later in life also working at the Tech center in Warren for Chevy Engineering. Detroit is a local reference. Mo Town. The motor city. The home of the American auto industry. Growing up in the Detroit 'area'. Get a clue.
I have forgotten more about cars and likely motorcycles as well than you ever even thought about. I built my first motorized vehicle which was a minibike built from a bicycle and lawnmower engine when I was 12 years old from scratch. I was also given a timing light and dwell/tach meter around the same time period for Christmas and began tuning my parents cars including neighbors cars which had conventional points and distributor. I got my first real job as a machinist working through college because I fixed the president's son's go kart and he was impressed with my mechanical capability when I first started college. No internet. I am 70 years old.
PS. I also got my first engineering job fresh out of college working in the city of Detroit proper, the Budd Company.
Throughout my career, I rarely met a woman who knew much about cars or their design or certainly hotrodding and this sounds like you.
@@williamstamper442salty
So it's you fellas that are responsible for the absolute ugly slow useless garbage produced in the 70s and 80s? 😂😂
Hello Tony, my first performance car was a 1966 Plymouth Valiant Signet - 273 Commando V8 4 bbl , 4 speed reverse lockout, posi rear no power steering, std drum brakes steel wheels and dog dish hub caps also with growler chrome tip unfortunately I smashed it up, all the car shows I go to I have not seen a car like it. Seeing this 1966 Barracuda brings back memories and the sound of the engine!!! Thanks Tony
My friend’s dad had one on jack stands in the garage for like two decades. It was green with baby moons, and had a 273 Commando with dual quads and a 4 speed.They sure liked talking about how insanely fast it was, but I never saw it off the jack stands!
I love 66 barracudas probably 1 of my favorite mopars
Love those engines. I once bought a Dart wagon with a bone stock 273 4 barrel 4 speed. Guys have since told me that wasn't possible, but mine was OEM and that's what it had.
Yup, 10.25 compression, solid lifter cam, and Carter 4 barrel. You forgot to mention, and I always thought this was so cool, the factory intake manifold was a single plane. These little engines would run to 7,000 rpm and not float a valve.
Oh, and because they were solid cam, they had adjustable rockers. I put 273 rockers on the 340 in my 70 Dart later, bolted right up with the right length push rods.
Some of the 2 barrel intakes were single plane too. I used junkyard 273 rockers and pushrods in a 340 in the 1970's when I was high school.
7000 is very impressive
Had a 66 Dart GT with the 273 Commando and 4speed, Sure grip rear end, no power steering, no AC, no heater, but All the chrome trim,it was like that from the factory,i was pissed when it was stolen
Tony, love your stuff, wouldn’t miss. I’m a Ford guy, 63 Falcon w/347, 38 half ton chopped, channeled ford w/49 flathead, building a f150 farm truck. You are a wealth of information, tons of tips and tricks, yer great.
Thanks, Tony! I enjoy your history! In about 1970, my brother bought a '67 Dart GT with the 273, automatic, and limited slip rear end. Shortly after he bought it, our friends at the salvage yard sold him a 340 to put in it. That was the hottest car any of us ever owned! And with the 273 badge on the side, he suckered a lot of unsuspecting Ford and Chevy drivers in to a street race that left them with there mouth hanging open!
Building a 67 GT right now 340 4 speed swap love seeing comments like these❤
I had a 67 Barracuda Formula S, man I miss that car!
Completely different car though. A '67 is a good looking body style. The notch backs were especially good looking cars. the '67-'69 are actually preferable to my eye over the ever so popular 1970 and up. Smaller makes 'em cooler little racers than those lager E body cars.
@@Dogboy1960 oh I know my cousin had a 64 and a 65. The push button was neat, but annoying. I always thought the 68 charger got its styling from the Barracuda and the Chevelle.
@@Dogboy1960 I was never a fan of the E-bodys, but I'm weird. I like the F-bodys, I had a '77 Volare super six. Had the a833 overdrive and 2.93 gears.
As did I- Fastback 67 Formula S, $400 off a car lot in 1975 , 273/235- factory dual points and a 727 out of a Duster , with 3.23's ; the car had more motor in it than brakes to stop it- and feared very little of anything.
@@ervinthompson6598 factory vacuum performance gauge.😁
I must contradict: I am a GM guy, but I always liked those early Barracudas. A friend of mine had one for several years. He is actually a Buick and Chevy guy. I think his wife loved it, so he bought it. I like the huge rear window. But you are right: It is terribly cramped in the engine bay.
What I liked even more were the Marlins. I never found out why people do not love those. American motors (before Gremlins and Javelins) are quite underrated to this day.
I'm a GM guy. But I love these 'strange looking' early 60's Mopars. Especially the early 60's Mopars with the canted headlights and the crazy shapes
Mopar A Bodies Forever!!!!! 🇺🇸
A bodies rock
@@cmintsurfer Absolutely Sir!!
I'm not a Mopar guy, but I remember a silver one of these at the old porter drag strip. I always thought it was the best looking Mopar I've ever seen,
The Inland shifters look soooo cool! and the single exhaust and sound is EPIC! UT, that looks like the proper repop rear resonator-tip combo.
65 barracuda 273 commando 4 speed first car still have it
Lucky man.
Well done!
Nobody wanted these?? Seriously? Lmao...😂
Mine was a 67. Grandpa won the POS in a poker game.
Thoise v8 leopards, suk more fuel than my wife suk my mothly salary
This was good. While 17 years old talked Dad down to a used car lot to buy an Austin Healey, my dad spotted this 1965 Barracuda Formula S and he talked me into buying it. It was Fast, never shifted into 4th before 100 mph. It always broke everything from the tranny back, broken axles and such. It was more fun than my 69 SS 396. This explained why I had drive train problems back then. Thanks for that. That being said I wouldn't mind trying it again at my elder age.
cheers,
My dad has a 66 barracuda. He got a few years ago, was a 225 3 speed 7.25” rear. Now is a 408 stroker 600hp, 8.75” rear 4.30:1 gear, 4spd 833.
It took me a little time to come round to the 1st gen but I absolutely love them now quirky is the word as you say Tony maybe a car only mopar guys could love but I do remember a red one with fat and skinny cragars and a beautiful stance .....it was pure magic ❤
When I was a kid the neighbors bought one of these with the 273 and 4 speed. Their kids thought it was so cool. A Baracuda woooo. I always thought it looked weird. I am a Mopar guy and still think it looks weird lol.
I understand what you said and agree completely
YEP! it looks like a Valliant with a fastback slapped onto it! I like them a little better 35 years down the road same for the 66-67 Charger....Used to hate them now...Think they are kind of cool🤓
I've always liked 'em, and always thought they looked weird too. They look WAAYYY better with the rear wheel arches opened up a bit.
I am pleased to see this because I have a same colore green 66 Formula S, 4 speed council, power disc brakes power steering, AC car. It also has some other options.
That's exactly what it was - a fastback Valiant. In fact, the first few were badged as VALIANT Baracudas.
In Canada on 1975 I had a 66 Valiant fastback, it had a 273, auto transmission. One of those cars I regret selling!
Hey do you remember how many times the magazine "Car Toons" had 65 barracudas in the stories? The artists must have really liked them!
I'd be ok with an early 273 A body !
And 16 sec quarter miles
@williamstamper442 Thanks for that highly intelligent response.
always liked the A body mopars i always thought it was odd they didnt get hotrodded more this explains why pretty good
I have. 66 barracuda here in Australia, love it, not and S , but a 273 904 console care, love it UTG
Here's a curious bit of trivia. The first OHV V8 Chrysler made was the 1951 Hemi, 331cu in and 180HP with a 2 barrel. A few years later it was upgraded to a 4 barrel and 235HP.
13 years later they brought out the 273 with the same 180HP 2 barrel and 235HP 4 barrel.
The 273 was a 318 block with a small bore and the same crankshaft and rods as the 318. They put thicker wrist pins in the pistons to bring the weight up so they did not need to rebalance the crank.
Those cool valve covers with the black wrinkle paint and aluminum trim rivetted on had a purpose. To dampen any valve noise from the solid lifter cam.
The 273 was Chrysler's first engine to use thin wall casting.
Those early hemis must have had very solid blocks, cranks etc. They used them alot in the front engine dragsters in the 50's and 60's ..supercharged.
@@bourbonlover7158 You aren't kiddiing. Don Garlits won many drag races with a stock block, stock crank, stock rods, stock heads, early hemi supercharged on nitro making 1500HP reliably and consistently.
@@mrdanforth3744 A great testament to the engineers.
I think it’s amazing looking it’s got some great lines. It’s it’s one of a kind I like it. I like how it looks.
I'm a fan of '60s GM styling. A few hours with the right designer and the Baracuda would have been very popular. The budget constraints probably are the why it's a compromise. They spent too much on the big glass.
I had a 65 273 valant 2 door. Loved that motor
Cool cars I have 3 valiants and 65 is one I would like to add to the collection
I could listen to Uncle Tony with all his knowledge, go on and on about these cars.
When my 65 Valiant steering box did that, it was because the K Member cracked around one of the steering box bolt holes. I hope that this one is just loose.
I used to have a stash of those valve covers, air cleaners, and pie tins. Wish I still had them!
I own a '66 Valiant. According to the OEM parts catalog, an 8 3/4" rear end was available for these cars as an option.
Does yours have a 8/3/4 or a 170 or 225 or 190 slant six 3 on the tree?
I love those beautiful cars
Love your history of Mopar stuff the most. Not really a car guy btw, but I watch all your vids!
My friend's dad had a 66 with a 273, but not the Formula S. We (friend and I, not his dad) found that you can put a racing go-kart in the back seat area by folding down the seat, and wriggling the kart in thru the passenger door. I don't think his dad ever knew about that, and that was a good thing. (We did put blankets down to protect the upholstery).
i love the fast back and that huge rear window in these they are beautiful!
Thank you for sharing your seemingly endless knowledge. I'm a casual car guy but your videos are interesting AF. Watch all the time
I remember putting plugs and wires in a Ford Ford Maverick with a 302 in it for a friend back in the day that was tight fit.
I restored a 65 Dart GT , 273 4bbl, 4spd , 8 3/4 sure grip ,391. Been enjoying it since '96. Nos muffler & resonator. He's right about the sound.
My dad had one of these cars.. He still talks about it to this day!! Wish I could find one and restore it for him..
@@brianmaynard7320that would be cool
I've never been a Mopar fan, but I loved the early Barracuda and Chargers.
Love the ‘66 Barracuda! Lost a basic one with 225 auto with console when I was 16 (thanks mom 😢)
Lol get rid of it you got to much junk the neighbors think we are a junkyard
My 67 dart came with a 273 ci. Wish it was a commando. 7 1/4 rear end. Grandma car. Glad they widen the frame. The 360ci fits nice
I had a 67 Coronet with a 273 and 7 1/4 rear and a 68 Coronet with a 273 and an 8 3/4 rear.
neat little Barracuda! Hopefully the right buyer will show it the same or more love
Just a stunning green on that unique body style, I really like it! Who cares what motor it is if it’s just a fun cruiser? Looked pretty clean 👍
Hey Tony, the original Barracuda was the third best looking car to come out of the Chrysler factory ! No. 1, 59 Fury ,no. 2 , 64 Canadian Fury 3. Alex. Expat Canuck in Australia
I love those cars! I’ve owned three 1965 barracudas. The first one was in high school (1976) and had a slant six in it and I took it out and put a 383 with a 727 trans. It fit, but I only had an eighth of an inch between the exhaust manifold and the wheel wheel on both sides. I had to rebuild a transmission tunnel. The exhaust side on the driver side was not going to work so I just got an exhaust manifold for the passenger side and put it on the driver side and made the exhaust come out the front and pipe come underneath the string box. What hot car!!!! But I did tear up the 7 1/4 inch rear and blew it up, but it did last for a little while I was surprised.
YESSSSSSS!!! Finally! Someone who knows just how GLORIOUS the 273 cars with the single exhaust resonator system sounds! But of course Tony would know. 😏 For anyone reading, watch the TH-cam link below to see just how incredible this exhaust system sounds. Just go to the 22:08 mark for the idling sound, and then watch from 25:45 to 30:35 for a series of acceleration clips. Yes, the car in the video is a 340 car, but it gives you a taste of just how amazing these cars sound.
However, as good as the car sounds in this video, a 273 actually sounds even better. Between the 273's solid lifters, its smaller bores, smaller valves, smaller combustion chamber, etc., it has its own sound and is its own animal amongst Mopar small block engines. So, as good as this 340 with the resonator sounds, the 273 sounds even meaner and more vicious. It's something you have to hear in person to truly appreciate for yourself. Tony is right in saying 273 single exhaust resonator cars were the best sounding cars of the muscle car era. Nothing even comes close IMO. The 340 in this video is awesome, but I assure you a 273 is even better:
th-cam.com/video/I7aoHyDEC8s/w-d-xo.html
I grew up in the late 60s and 70s era of hot rodding. I remember when the gas crunch hit, you couldn't give away big block cars. Man, the cars I saw cut up and junked back then.
That's a nice survivor car. I bet once that steer issue is fixed, that's a fantastic driver car.
Thanks for the vid UTG !
Wish I could find me a Kiwi’s Garage or an uncle Tony in Tucson, Arizona.
My 66 Dart GT factory 4 speed 273 4v now has a warmed up 340 :---) Love this car!!
You always hear about the slant 6's but really rarely the 273. Thanks for posting I learned a lot !
Cruising main in my custom '63 LeSabre, dude in his '66 Barracuda S teased me with his cut-out high revving screamer. That itchy, jumpy jerking mopar was impressively quick.
Uncle Tony´`s Mopar trivia knowledge is damn impressive.
I bought a 65 Dart Charger in 1970. It had the 273 High Performance V8 which I rebuilt. I installed fenderwell headers and the 8-3/4" rear-end from a roached out 68 340 Dart I scrapped. It ran 14.70s, and I held the KOA National Record in AHRA. I used to beat 383 Roadrunners on the street. They'd swear it was a 340 but I told them look at the casting numbers on the block. I really embarrassed them!😂
14.70s even in the 70s was not what we consider "quick". My 350 cube Oldsmobile engine in a 3700 pound car ran 13.70s and would have run circles around your car.
However with that said I admire you being honest and throwing out real world numbers. I certainly wish things now were that way back then.
i built a 273 for a 1965 four door Valiant. With a four speed and 4.56 rear end it ran a best ET of 12.72 @ 108 MPH. Sold it to the famous Renteria Brothers in 1980. Oh, forgot to mention I installed Cyclone fenderwell headers and they just dropped in from the top in ten minutes time.
273 vs 350 is giving up 80 cubic engines and a lot of average torque throughout the rev range.. I do remember a guy running a well worked 273 that ran low 11s so your comparing a stock 273 to something you built and massaged, because I dought your olds 350 ran that time fresh from the factory either.. lol😊
@@kevindoherty2716👍
Thanks
My deceased ex father n law ALWAYS talked highly of the 273 Formula S cars and like myself he was a diehard Ford man, lol! The 2nd gen Barracudas are really sweet, love those!!!
I have the valve covers from a 273 I kept they are on my spare 318 bored .060 ready for next build, went with 1988 318 roller camshaft in Trailduster 4 speed manual
Here in Australia we only had 4 two door vehicles, TORANA, Holden Monaro, Ford Coupe, ValiantCharger, I did own a two door TORANA but it was a 4 cylinder, it was my first car, thanks for sharing ,all the best to you and your loved ones
I am having a d dart motor being built had one in the 80’s fun to drive!
We have a '65 Formula S automatic that had factory A/C. A previous owner installed the 8 3/4 rear end. A rotisserie restoration is almost complete (in Mexico by the way). The rust found under the front cowl was the most challenging aspect of the repairs.
Always good to see you and kiwi together Tony.
Love your channel and obviously your plethora of MOPAR knowledge, Tony. Even Jamie from Dead Dodge Garage sings your praises and rightly so. Maybe I just have old school tastes but I love first gen Barracudas and later Chargers in 66/67 and would be quite fine with a 273 commando and 318 poly respectively in both but I wouldn't be at all upset if someone handed me the keys to a first year Charger with an also first year Street Hemi in it.
I know everything fit better in 67 Barracudas but I'd still rather have one of these first gen Formula Ses. Thanks again for the great videos and MOPAR knowledge.
Champ. I touched all. A 914 a 911. My only comp was a 64 dart w 225 4 barrel and 1.11" swaybare. We both dropped our front ends Forrester camber. We both thruaway front tires each week. Added anheavy swaying changed my breaking and drift
It still has the AM radio! I find that amazing. Figured for sure there would be some aftermarket unit in the dash.
Such a beautiful car dear gosh I'm glad he got it there with that happening! and the D Dart is a TREAT white paint Red interior 275+hp 273 one of the rare +1hp 1Cid engines out there
I absolutely love these cars and Gosh they are a bit tight everywhere I know if you take the K member out the heads will hold the engine in the engine bay I've seen it happen. my 65 the exhaust was HACKED badly to make it dual exhaust and it's been through so many 7 1/4 axles ours would snap the shaft in the differential housing and the last one ate a spider gear with the ring and pinion I can't wait to get mine back together it's scattered all across the garage since dad blew it up in 75 those valve covers and everything is just pretty.
sorry for gushing I just love seeing people give these cars the love they deserve.
Thanks again Mr Tony!!!
Ut looks like a fun unit to power shift, break the rear end and use rest for parts.
I like the styling of the first gen Barracuda a lot. It's a little awkward, but it's unusual and distinctive kind of like a Rambler Marlin.
Love those first generation Barracuda's. First car I ever had sold from underneath me.
Sweet !
Kiwi would know about the Valiant VC 1967 273ci Regal ,, the first Australian Mopar with this engine .
Being down here and Right hand drive they bolted the steering box directly to the chassis rail , not the 'K' frame ,, and I have seen and fixed dozens of the mounting to chassis that have cracked/broken the rail in 1/2 ! ,, with movement seen here from the steering box and the cars dangerous ! .
Well done KIWI for taking that death trap off the road , educating the owner why and thanks Uncle Tony for showing us a beautiful classic Mopar !
The preceding model (AP6) Valiant was the first with the optional 273 V8
@@erroneouscode yep , but we never got those in NZ.
i had a 65 dart gt with the same manual trans and same engine...absolutely loved that car...
My Brother and i baught and shared a Dart GT, 273/2bbl.
We worked different shifts so that car was on a 15 mile trip to work, and back twice a day.
I finally signed it to him, and he drove it for years after I moved away. We still talk about that extremely reliable car
Nice rumble! I like the back end of the Barracuda, especially the backlight ( rear windshield). But the grill.. it screams Valiant. Ugh. Nic car tho.
I had a customer with one of these that was completely stock down to the paint... Yeah it was a little rough but it was a damn good sounding car
Tony you're slipping!!!! You did not mention one of the coolest aspects of this car was the fold-down rear seat that folded flat and opened up all that space behind the front seats clear to the trunk. We had one used to take it camping and sleep in it great for going to the beach and scuba diving trips that would hold all our stuff that was a very spirited car and a lot of fun to drive.
That trailer hitch ball has a eye on Kiwi’s skull cap
Yes!
A fountain of knowledge. Thanks Unko!
A friend of my family came to picnic with one. Three of us kids got a ride in it. I loved the clicks of the shifter between gears and the sound of the exhaust. It seemed fast to me even with four of us in it but of course we were just skinny little kids. He showed us how it could go from about 35 to 100 in third gear without shifting. 100! That's the first time I went 100.
YEP ! Love 1 gen Barracudas!
I just bought a 64 lve always loved these car's
I would love to have that car. I always liked the awkward design. I appreciate the electrictronic ignition. Keeps the maintenance easy. Good for going camping..
Many years ago; i aligned a 1965 Barracuda with that 273-4V, test drove it and was flabbergasted.
Have a 65 Ford Falcon 289 wouldn t mind one of these Barracuda with the 273 this one here s a beauty awesome Tony thanks for the history
I test drove a 65 Barracuda Formula S when it was brand new. It was a solid lifter 273 with the 4 speed. If I remember correctly it moved pretty well for what it was but it was hard to really tell how good it was with the salesman sitting in the passenger seat. After the test drive I decided that a 289 271hp High Performance Mustang was more to my liking. I then had to put my new car buying on hold for a while. When I was finally ready to buy again in the summer of 1967 the Ford dealers could not come up with a 289 hipo Mustand. I looked at a 1967 Barracuda with a 383 4-speed but ended buying a SS/RS 350 4 speed Camaro which I still own. The Camaro worked quite well and would give the Gtos, 442s, Roadrunners, Superbees, and etc, a run for their money from stoplight to stoplight.
Back in high school I helped put a 318 into that 1966 baracuda !
Tony, the race car 273 you talked about, those were rated 275 HP and had a very high lift Racer Brown cam. Sorry, don't remember the lift on those. Back to the Charger/Commando 273, those have a single plane manifold. The cam was .425" lift. And you are right, the A bodies, Dart or Barracuda with the 273 was a well balanced fun to drive car. It just handled well. They came with 13" rims, but the rims had no vents around the center section. Just one bead around the center. You could not put another 13" Dart wheel on them. The reason for the oddball wheel, they used a larger drum than other A Bodies. Brake shoes were the ones for the larger Polara, which is why the oddball wheels. You could, and I did, put 14" rims on them.
I really like the rear glass on these cars. Nice swept back.
Had to watch this one. 2 cars my father always talks about fondly from the 70’s are his ‘66 barracuda 273/4sp. And his 68 valiant post 360/4sp. He and his brother tuned up the ‘66 one day and took it down granville street in Vancouver sideways, taking out sandwich boards with the back end, allegedly.
I own a 65 Barracuda hipo 4 Speed my first car I bought I changed the clutch with a 340 bell housing and put a 3/4 rear in it because it had a small clutch and small rear in it from the factory.
Great history lesson UT. Thanks!! 👍
❤ kiwi is the man .Awesome. UT knowledge is deep
I owned a 67 Belvedere and a 67 Barracuda, both with the hypo 273 automatics. I had plenty of fun with both.
Early Barracudas and AMC Marlins had very cool back glass. They were sometimes mistaken for each other by non car people. I personally loved the 66-67 Charger roofline but couldn't find one. Had a 66 Coronet 440 four door sedan instead, with a built 318 poly.
The 273 LA was first available in 1963 for the 1964 model year. The last LA was the 5.9 available in Dodge trucks in 2003. Quite a run!
That was the magnum motor right
Tony, the 273 commando was a great engine for the 66 D Dart. That is the car I want one day
Had a lot of fun with these cars in the 80's because they were so cheap. Bought a 67 Dart GT with a 273 from the original owner for $600. Still wish I had that car. A friend had a 65 Dart Gt convertible with a 273 he picked up for $500. The 273 was no 340 but it would as still a lot of fun for recent HS grads :)
They didn’t all just have 71/4, u could order with the 83/4 anytime u wanted. Some slants came with the 83/4 behind the 4 speed.
Looked at the Dart in '66 with the square or rectangle exhaust outlet . Reedman Motors , just north of Philly ,,, ! ,,, yes Tony single exhaust . ,,, Btw , how's that cam ( or the D ) for Mission 318 ,,, ?
We had a 63 Valiant with the Slant 6. No power steering but it was so easy to maneuver. My mother said it was like steering a baby carriage compared to the V8 powered car that replaced it.
I was thinking about how this engine gets no attention just the other day !
I agree with Uncle Tony the early A-bodies had quirky weird styling. A 1968 Barracuda "Notchback is night and day next to this 1966 model. The Symmetry of the later Notchback just looks right.