1964 Plymouth Barracuda Facts, Figures, and Specifications
Check out this companion article by Martyn Schorr: “1964 PLYMOUTH BARRACUDA: FIRST PONYCAR – Car Guy Chronicles“
The 1964 Barracuda Arrives –
The Pony Car Wars Begin!
April 1, 1964, is the birthday of the Barracuda. It was an adaption of Valiant sheetmetal to a uniquely styled roof, deck and rear window. The Barracuda’s roof received a wrap over look, which was mated to an oversized, curved rear backlight that gave it a fastback shape. For this year only, Barracudas carried all three identifications – Plymouth, Valiant, and Barracuda.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Resources
Equipment or products directly related to this car. Click to view:
Need New Springs or Shocks?
Get the Exact Springs for your Plymouth Barracuda
Click Here for
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Facts – Body Paint Color Codes
Click on the Paint Code Name to See the Mix Codes for the appropriate color:
1964 Plymouth Barracuda
| A Barracuda Gold | |
| B Ebony | |
| C Light Blue | |
| D Medium Blue | |
| E Dark Blue | |
| H Sandalwood | |
| J Light Turquoise | |
| K Medium Turquoise | |
| L Dark Turquoise | |
| M Medium Gray | |
| P Ruby | |
| T Signet Royal Red | |
| V Chestnut | |
| W White | |
| X Light Tan | |
| Y Medium Tan |
Collector Car Insurers
Click on the links below to find your car’s value or get a quote:
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Facts and Specifications
General Year Information – 1964 Plymouth Barracuda
Barracuda Launched April 1, 1964
Based on Chrysler’s A-body, the home of the Valiant, the Barracuda debuted on April 1, 1964. The new model used the Valiant’s 106.00″ wheelbase and the Valiant hood, headlamp bezels, windshield, vent windows, quarter panels, doors, A-pillar, bumpers and the trunk, however some of the glass, including the fastback rear window, was new. The most effort was placed on creating that distinguished rather large rear window. Its creation was a collaboration between Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) and Chrysler designers. It was the largest single glass vehicle window installed on a standard production car to that time.
Powertrains were identical to the Valiant’s, including the two versions of Chrysler’s I-6 engine. The standard engine CID “LA” V-8. The compact and relatively light engine was equipped with a two-barrel carburetor and produced 180 HP. The Barracuda’s sold base price of $2,365.
The 1964 model year was the last year for push-button control of the optional Torqueflite automatic transmission. This year also marked the first use of the smaller “Torqueflite 6” (A904) transmission behind a V8.
The sporty, new ‘glass back’ coupe went head-to-head against Ford’s new Mustang but lost in the sales race. The success of the Mustang has obscured the fact that the Barracuda actually predated Ford’s introduction by two weeks. In the abbreviated sales season for the 1964, Barracuda totaled 23,443 units compared to the 126,538 Mustangs sold during the same time.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Factoids
Click a Tab to See the Details
Designers created a rather large rear window as a single piece of automotive glass. It was a collaboration between Pittsburgh Plate Glass (PPG) and Chrysler designers. It was the largest single glass vehicle window installed on a standard production car to that time.
The 273 CID LA lightweight wedge V-8 bowed in the Valiant and was carried over to the Barracuda. It was the first LA engine, beginning this year and offered through 1969, rated at 180 HP. It had a bore and stroke of 3.625″× 3.310″. It used mechanical lifters when introduced. The cylinder heads featured wedge-shaped combustion chambers with the usual intake and exhaust valve for each cylinder. Spark plugs were located in the side of the cylinder head, between the exhaust ports. See the 1964 Barracuda AMA Specifications Sheet for more information HERE.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Facts – Models Offered
Click a Tab to See the Details
Barracuda – The Barracuda was an adaption of Valiant sheetmetal to its uniquely styled roof, deck and rear window. Trim features, front to rear, were distinct to this model. They included a split, negative space grille with center insert and horizontal outer division bars; wide rocker sill panels and a chrome band across the rear window base, housing a center medallion. “Plymouth” in block letters appeared on the trunk and “Barracuda” in script was set on on the sides of the cowl. Front fenders with a slimmer, V-shaped feature line were used.
Standard equipment included bucket front seats; bucket shaped rear bench seat with folding back rest; special finned wheel covers with simulated knock-off hubs, round, chrome backup light housings and the base 175 CID I-6 was the starting Valiant power team, with the 225 CID I-6 and the 273 CID V-8 as options.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Facts – Engines
Click a Tab to See the Details
170 CID I-6. Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Four main bearings.
Displacement: 170 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.400 x 3.125 inches.
Compression ratio: 8.50:1.
Horsepower: 101 @ 4400 RPM.
Torque: 155 @ 2400 RPM.
Valve lifters: Mechanical.
Camshaft Timing: 232°, Exhaust: 228°, Overlap: 8°. Valve Lift: Intake 0.371″, Exhaust 0.364″.
Carburetor: (manual transmission) Ball & Ball one-barrel: BBS-34675S or Holley R-2885 A; (automatic transmission) Ball & Ball BBS-3676 S or Holley R-2886 A or Holley R-2886 A.
225 CID I-6. Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Four main bearings.
Displacement: 225 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.400 x 4.125 inches.
Compression ratio: 8.20:1.
Horsepower: 145 @ 4000 RPM.
Torque: 215 @ 2400 RPM.
Valve lifters: Mechanical.
Camshaft Timing: 232°, Exhaust: 228°, Overlap: 8°. Valve Lift: Intake 0.371″, Exhaust 0.364″.
Carburetor: (manual transmission) Ball & Ball one-barrel: BBS-3677 S or Holley R-2887 A; (automatic transmission) Ball & Ball BBS-3678 S or Holley R-2888 A.
273 CID 2-Barrel V-8. Overhead valves. Cast iron block. Five main bearings.
Displacement: 273 cubic inches.
Bore and stroke: 3.625 x 3.310 inches.
Compression ratio: 8.8:1.
Horsepower: 180 @ 4200 RPM.
Torque: 260 @ 1600 RPM.
Valve lifters: Mechanical.
Camshaft timing: Intake 240°, Exhaust 240°, Overlap: 16°. Valve Lift: (Intake) 0.395″, (Exhaust) 0.405″.
Carburetor: Two barrel: (manual transmission) Ball & Ball BBD-34767 S (automatic transmission) Ball & Ball BBD-3768 S.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Facts – Chassis Features
-
- Wheelbase: 106.0 inches.
- Overall length: 188.2 inches.
- Overall width: 70.1 inches.
- Overall height: I-6: 53.8 inches; V-8: 54.0 inches.
- Front tread: 55.9 inches.
- Rear tread: 55.6 inches.
- Tires: I-6: 6.50 x 13, V-8: 7.00 x 13 – black or whitewall tubeless.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Facts – Powertrains
- Three Speed Automatic Transmission Ratios
- All: 1st – 2.45:1, 2nd – 1.45:1, 3rd – 1:1, Reverse – 2.20:1.
- Three Speed Manual Transmission Ratios
- 170 CID I-6: 1st – 3.22:1, 2nd – 1.82:1, 3rd – 1:1, Reverse – 4.15:1.
- 225 CID I-6: 1st – 2.95:1, 2nd – 1.83:1, 3rd – 1:1, Reverse – 3.80:1.
- 273 CID V-8: 1st – 3.02:1, 2nd – 1.76:1, 3rd – 1:1, Reverse – 3.05:1.
- Four Speed Manual Transmission Ratios
- 170 CID I-6: 1st – 3.09:1, 2nd – 1.92:1, 3rd – 1.40:1, 4th 1:1, Reverse – 3.00:1.
- 225 CID I-6: 1st – 3.09:1, 2nd – 1.92:1, 3rd – 1.40:1, 4th 1:1, Reverse – 3.00:1.
- 273 CID V-8: 1st – 3.09:1, 2nd – 1.92:1, 3rd – 1.40:1, 4th 1:1, Reverse – 3.00:1.
- Rear Gear Standard Ratios
- 170 CID I-6: 3 & 4-Speed SMT – 3.23:1, Optional 2.93:1, 3.55:1.
- 170 CID I-6: 3-Speed AMT – 3.23:1, Optional 3.55:1.
- 225 CID I-6 3-Speed SMT – 3.23:1, Optional 3.55:1.
- 225 CID I-6 4-Speed SMT – 3.23:1, Optional 2.93:1, 3.55:1.
- 225 CID I-6 3-Speed AMT – 3.23:1, Optional 2.93:1, 3.55:1.
- 273 CID V-8 All Transmissions – 2.93:1, Optional 3.23:1, 3.55:1.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Facts – Powertrain Options
-
- 3-speed manual transmission standard.
- 4-speed manual floor shift transmission ($180).
- 170 CID 145 HP one-barrel I-6 standard.
- 225 CID 145 HP one-barrel I-6 ($47).
- 273 CID 180 HP two-barrel V-8 ($131).
- Heavy-duty 48-amp battery ($8).
- Sure-Grip positive traction rear axle ($39).
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Facts – Significant Options
-
- Buffed paint, ($17).
- Heavy-duty shock absorbers and suspension package ($17).
- Power brakes ($43).
- Power steering ($82).
- Radio, AM Transaudio ($59).
- Remote control outside rear view mirror ($12).
- Safety padded instrument panel ($16).
- Tinted glass, all windows ($29).
- Tinted glass, windshield only ($14).
- Variable speed wipers and washers ($17).
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Downloads and Images
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Facts – Related Document Downloads
Files directly related to the Barracuda line will appear below. Click to Download:
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Brochure
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Print Ads
1964 Plymouth Valiant AMA Specifications Sheets NOTE Does not Include V-8 Specs
1964 Plymouth Valiant & Barracuda V-8 AMA Specifications Sheets
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Introduction – Car and Driver Magazine
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Intro & Road Test – Car Life Magazine
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Exposed – Motor Trend Magazine
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Facts – Related Images
Related Images to the Barracuda line will appear below
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Front View
The 1964 Plymouth Barracuda’s Front View. Its grille and front fascia distinguished it from the sister Valiant.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Rear View
The 1964 Plymouth Barracuda’s Rear View shows off its huge rear window – the hallmark of the new car. 23,443 were sold in the abbreviated year.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Interior
The 1964 Barracuda Interior was only slightly upgraded from the Valiant, with a bit more stainless trim and a different seat pattern.
1964 Plymouth Barracuda Dash
The 1964 Plymouth Barracuda Dash was only slightly different from the Valiant. It is important to note that in this year only the automatic transmission was controlled by the push buttons on the left of the steering wheel.