What Are the Differences Between a 1964.5 and a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda? Not Many But We Show You!

We just picked up this 1965 Barracuda from a local estate sale and thought it would be a great example to show the differences between a 1964.5 Barracuda and a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda. Pretty cool car, factory 273 car with a floor shift auto transmission and somebody put an A-Body 8 3/4 in it at some point. No engine or transmission now but pretty complete otherwise, great start of a classic car auto restoration.
Major differences between them are (sure we missed a few):
1964.5
Push button auto (when not 4 speed or console floor shift)
Bolt on wipers
Fender emblem long tail
Valiant emblem on the back
Individual gauges on right
Ball and trunnion driveshaft
1965
Column shift auto
Clip on wipers
Fender emblem short tail
Two gauge binnacles, small gauges all together in one circle
Slip yoke driveshaft, B&T on 4 speed only

[@kenjohnson3641]

Interesting ty 😃

[@justralphajerseyguystuckin3671]

Wow- I didn't know these difs, thanks for sharing this with us.

[@rocketresto]

Made a couple mistakes in the video, thought the k members were different slant 6 to v8 like the 67-72 cars but they are the same either way.

[@justralphajerseyguystuckin3671]

@@rocketresto >Very interesting- glad to know that- if I ever find a nice one to restore...which is almost impossible these days 😞

[@rocketresto]

We have two 😊

[@bigwrenchtech]

I’m glad you made a video of this! I know the differences on mustangs but not barracudas. And I’m glad you already have my car on the trailer.😂😂😂😂

[@rocketresto]

Better hurry @deaddodgegarage is currently trying to buy it.

[@OlderNotNecesarilyWiser]

Really interesting, thanks for posting this!

[@rocketresto]

Thanks!

[@davidkeeton6716]

There is no such thing as a 64.5 or 64 1/2 Barracuda. It was marketed and sold as a 1964 model. Period. I know. I was there. My mother bought a 1964 Barracuda in April 64. They had been on the dealer lot since around Christmas 63. We still own this car. Ford called the Mustang a 64 1/2 as it originally came out in late April or May of 64. Your details in the description appear accurate to me. Good job!

[@rocketresto]

Thanks!

[@Runnerup5.68]

My first Barracuda was a 64 with 273 push button 904 and on the rear below trunk lid had the Valiant emblem...

[@spoofdom]

I have a couple of 64 Dart GTs. They mostly sit due to other projects and life, but I think these first gen A-bodies are cool. my hard top is a pretty great car. Original V8. Has a push button, cable 727..!?! yea! and has A-body 8 3/4. Been in NM its whole life. It came with a 340 my mechanic friend built. but now has a stout little 318. the 340 is in the shed waiting. Still has the 9" drums and single reservoir, which when it was running was sketchy as hell. The other Dart is a Convert V8 auto, Cali car, that was an art car most of its days, body needs help, but supper solid everywhere else. Interiors just do not live in the SW sun, so all the vinyl is cooked. Anyway love your guys programs and passion. Keep up the good work I'll keep watching.

[@rocketresto]

Thanks! I’ll get an early A convertible at some point, never had one and love convertibles.

[@dantupper1784]

8 3/4?- great score! Yup, just one K-frame V8 or /6 Crazy thing is with 273 motor mounts the big Chrysler gen1 Hemis fit in there. The taller deck and different exhaust face angle cleared steering gear. Sold off all the gen1 stuff looong ago- most ended up with nostalgia drag racers in your part of the state, some to B.C., rest to the land down under.

[@rocketresto]

Good to know!

[@davidkeeton6716]

Didn't know that a rear distributor hemi would fit in a 64 Cuda. My brother had both at the same time. If he had thought it would fit he would have tried it. Oh well...

[@dantupper1784]

@@davidkeeton6716 Former coworker of mine, Carl- his high school automotive program had cars and trucks donated to it- and that's what they had to work with. So 392 into early A-body, poly pushbutton 727, 8.75 out back, used 'mix-n-match' exhaust manifolds-whatever that meant- industrial, car, truck, or farm equipment sourced I don't know, did have some photos if it running and driving around, though. Manual brakes, steering & stressed out torsion bars!

[@dflf]

It took Plymouth until 1967 with the 2nd gen Barracuda to really complete with ford and Chevy in the pony car market.

[@ThisValiantAdventure]

Great video. Uncle Tony did a nice video a while ago about Chrysler/Plymouth failing to make the first few years of the Barracuda sporty enough in order to save money.

[@rocketresto]

Save a buck - loose interest of buyers. Ford buyers wanted a MUSTANG not a Falcon (even though it's the same car). Mopar buyers wanted a BARRACUDA but got a dressed up Valiant.

[@ThisValiantAdventure]

@@rocketresto exactly. Bad miscalculation.

[@12Georgia83]

😎

[@fixinonitgarage]

How many times do you think they're knocked that glass over on DCK before it finally broke?

[@rocketresto]

Was definitely not the first take.

[@sixtee5cuda98]

Obscure 1964.5 vs 1965 difference: Firewall stamping below and to the passenger side of the heater motor has a right angle in 1964. For 1965, firewall stamping bumps are extended, almost touching the heater motor.

[@sixtee5cuda98]

A couple more: 1965 radio has rectangular channel selection push buttons. 1964 has round push buttons. Heater controls on a 1964 pull out/push into the dash. On a 1965, they move left and right.

[@rocketresto]

Thank you, great stuff!

[@moesizlac2596]

Mustang vs Barracuda production: Mustang Barracuda 1964 - 121,000 23,000 1965 - 559,000 64,000 1966 - 607,000 38,000 TOTAL 1.28 mil 125,000 Mustangs out sold Barracudas 10:1 (on average) So the Barracuda is "rare".