In 1968, Dr. David and Jenny Farrior of Beaufort, NC traveled over the bridge to Dick Parker's Dodge & Plymouth lot in Morehead City to pick out their new Barracuda...
Dr. Farrior, a local optometrist of the area, bought a new white '68 Barracuda late in the model year for his wife's transportation. It was a base 318 automatic model with few options, but due to the humid summers, a Montgomery-Ward A/C unit was bolted on. The dealer had to "sell" the idea of it having a stripe. Over the years, the Barracuda was driven by Mrs. Farrior to and from her job as a teacher. When she retired and stopped driving around 1975, the car was parked in their front yard on blocks and wasn't moved again. This is where I come in........
In 1984, I got my driving permit and started looking for a car to fix up. I had helped my father in my younger years restore '65 & '66 Mustangs and a '67 Camaro. Now I wanted something old and different. I had seen many '70-'73 Barracudas in Hot Rod and Car Craft and had it set in my mind...
I had to have a Barracuda!!!
The search began.
Now remember, it's the mid '80s and car prices are at their highest price. We looked at several different makes and models, but that 'Cuda was stuck in my mind. However, we soon realized that a '70-'73 Barracuda just wasn't affordable or practical for a new driver and I was not really taken with that funny-looking fastback Valiant that was offered from '64-'66. Then I get the call from one of my dad's friends from the Antique Car Club....
So, we hopped in my dad's 1967 Camaro Convertible and drove off....Here is what we found:
A sap covered '68 Barracuda with 35,000 original miles, mildewed covered interior, and a 318 that hadn't been started in 10 years. How much???? At first.. "Not for sale", Then I talk with the wife who peeked out to see what was going on, "Well, maybe so.... Let me tell you about the little dog that used to ride with me...." Then a few peanut butter and jelly sandwiches later, IT WAS MINE (for $1200-wow).
Take a look at that interior. 100% original. PLUS mildew!!!!!!!!! A Perfect Project!!! With a rebuilt carburetor, and a jump from dad's truck (yes that is the original battery) it started!!! IT CONTINUED TO RUN (well maybe on about 6 cylinders)!! We finished the deal and limped it home where we could do something to it........
The first order of business is to get that horrible mildew off the exterior. What does it take? How about A LOT soap and Clorox. YES CLOROX! I was planning on painting it anyway, so who cares if you use Clorox? (Oh, by the way, that's my dad, not me. Boy he must love me!) Check out the factory side stripe!!!
Once Scrubbed, the Barracuda was brought into the garage where we scrubbed away the dirt dobber nests from the wheel wells and bottom, emptied the doors and cowl from leaves (2 trashcans full). We then rebuilt the drum brakes so I could drive it to school. Thank goodness that the factory was smart enough to undercoat the bottom to prevent rust. Here you see us working on the brakes. Boy, don't I wish I was that skinny again!!!
