Whatever the ’67 BARRACUDA: PLYMOUTH’S POTENT PONYCAR lacked in power, it more than made up with slick styling and ride & handling!
Suddenly the Ponycar market was chock full of new style and power choices. Not long after the ’67 Camaro’s public introduction a potent 302-inch small-block in Z28 trim and big-block 396 engines with up to 375 horsepower appeared. Plymouth upped the ante with a redesigned and very slick Barracuda in fastback and notchback coupe and convertible body styles. Formula S model, above, was tested at Chrysler Proving Ground.
Its wheelbase and overall length – 108 and 188 inches, respectively – were exactly the same as the new Camaro and Firebird. It was a little short of power though. Engine choices included a 273/235 small-block and, for the first time, a 383/280 big-block. The Formula S option offered image plus overall performance upgrades.
Since the new Barracuda’s engine compartment was configured for a small-block 273, the 383 had to be “shoehorned” in, and not without shortcomings. There was no room for free-flowing exhaust manifolds, power steering pump or AC compressor. The “choked” 383 ended up being rated at 280 horsepower. We tested a one-off, pre-production 383 Barracuda with 3.55 gearing for the December 1966 issue of Hi-Performance CARS. We were not happy with the heavy manual steering. Our best time was 95 mph in 15.2 seconds. Some tuners swapped 440 engines into ’67 Barracudas, to match the big-block Camaros’ performance.
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Check out information on 1966-1970 Chrysler “B” and “RB” V-8 engines @ https://over-drive-magazine.com/2024/08/15/1966-1970-chrysler-corporation-b-and-rb-v-8s/