1967 Plymouth Barracuda
 

2006 Autocross @ Warminster County Park
 SCCA Solo Event on the former Runway, Warminster Pa.  2006 photo by Andrew at GreatSave9

"You'll never want to go straight again.

And why should you? . . .
. . . Go straight?  Be our guest. . . It's a great way to get from one curve to another."

from 1967 Plymouth Barracuda ad


    This is an ongoing project to make the car more competive in autocross and be enjoyable to drive on the road. The pages here will hopefully provide some insight and reference for others with similar goals.  In the mid 1960s Scott Harvey and other engineers started road racing and rallying Chrysler Corps compact cars on their own and were eventually backed by the company.  Much of what was learned then has become arcane; difficult to find and difficult to apply, but not entirely.  My project started with Mike Martin's book Mopar Suspensions and has advanced with hard experience, more books on handling, and insight from a small network of similar enthusiasts connected by the internet.

For the first time in many, many, years, I seriously competed for a series trophy.  Result was a first place win at one event, and second place for the 2006  Philadelphia Region Summer Series in Street Modified.  I really have to thank my competition, because that's what made it both fun and worthwhile.  :-)   (results at: www.phillyscca.com/solo2)

This project started with a 6-cylinder car purchased because it had a clean body. (However, a Formula S or '68-9 340 package would have been an easier starting point as I eventually learned) The suspension, drivetrain and engine were replaced with the equivalent of the 340 performance package, except the front roll stiffness was increased.  As I was rebuilding the Barracuda, a co-worker got me started autocrossing. It was not soon enough. As it was, my Barracuda ended up just slightly overprepared for the Street Prepared class, and the car was entered in C-Prepared. Since 2001, it is running in the new Street Modified class which has more regional competition and since I am unwilling to cut sheet metal. 


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