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Plymouth launched the Barracuda on April 1, 1964, and the first thing anyone noticed was the glass: a big, curved fastback rear window that defined the car. One early Barracuda, though, did not keep its roof. A gold 1964 example described by the seller as a Chrysler design-team prototype is live on Bring a Trailer at no reserve, and its story is far more interesting than the $22,500 it had reached at the time of writing.
The listing says the car was modified circa 1964 by the Chrysler design team, which removed the main roof section to create a targa-style open-air layout. The windshield and header stay put, as does the rear window and the arched sheetmetal panel sitting ahead of the open area. It was meant to carry a removable soft panel in a Landau style, which is why the car is billed as the 1964 Barracuda Landau Prototype.
A Design Study From the Barracuda's First Year
Bring a Trailer puts 1964 Barracuda production at 23,443 cars for the abbreviated model year, and this Plymouth was pulled out of that stream and turned into a question: how far could the new fastback be pushed toward open-air motoring?
Independent coverage backs up the outline. Mopar Insiders reported that Chrysler designers reportedly received the car to explore a more open-air version, with the roof modified to accept a white Landau-style covering over the front of the passenger compartment. Carscoops described the car as an open-top experiment built soon after launch to test interest, one that management rejected before it reached showrooms.
The same car was also listed at Mecum's Nashville sale on September 26, according to Mopar Insiders, as part of the Johnson's Horsepowered Garage collection. Carscoops notes there is no detailed ownership history available, and neither outlet describes documentation, so the prototype origin rests on the seller's description and the car's obvious one-off construction rather than a published paper trail. Buyers should read the listing and the comments closely before bidding.
What You're Actually Bidding On
Underneath the cut roof, this is an honest early Barracuda. The 273-cubic-inch V8 was rated at 180 horsepower with a Carter two-barrel carburetor, and it sends power through a TorqueFlite three-speed automatic with the push-button controls mounted to the left of the steering wheel. Steel 13-inch wheels with styled covers, power-assisted drum brakes and a Valiant-branded AM radio round out the equipment.
The finish is Gold over gold vinyl. The seller says the paint is a repaint over the original Gold, notes chipped paint on the body and pitting on some of the trim, and flags a worn driver seat. The fuel and coolant gauges do not work. The odometer shows roughly 52,000 miles, about 15 of which were added by the selling dealer, who acquired the car in mid-2026. It is offered in Michigan with a clean Tennessee title.
The catch is the roof itself. The accompanying soft panel is damaged and does not fit the car properly, so a new owner will need to make a call: preserve a design study exactly as it survives, or commission a proper panel and let the Landau idea finally work as drawn.
Why the Story Matters
By the end of the 1960s, lift-off roof panels were becoming a selling point. Cars like the 1978 Pontiac Trans Am with Hurst T-tops carried the idea well into the next decade. A Plymouth that got there first, in the model's launch year, offers a glimpse of a path Chrysler considered and shelved.
It also adds a surprising chapter to a nameplate Motorious readers know well. If you want to see what the car looked like when Plymouth was building them to sell, check out the 1968 Barracuda Formula S with a 383 and four-speed we covered recently, or the rusty 1964 Barracuda rescued after a decade in hiding.
Auction Details
The 1964 Plymouth Barracuda Prototype is being offered at no reserve. As of Tuesday morning, October 27, the high bid was $22,500 after 13 bids. The auction ends Saturday, October 31, at 1:52 p.m. ET.
Photo: Bring a Trailer listing
