Hey everyone, Vinny here. In this segment titled “Hot Deals on Hot Wheels,” I am going to be highlighting vehicles I find on the internet that are interesting or worth buying. If our readers are anything like me, they like to look at cars, motorcycles, trucks, vans, or anything with wheels that’s for sale, even if they aren’t going to buy. We’ll call it window shopping for car people. In the past, I have noticed some great deals on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Ebay. Instead of hoarding them for myself, I thought I would share some of these gems with all of you.
1969 Plymouth Barracuda:
First on the chopping block is this really cool 1969 Plymouth Barracuda fastback drag project out of Winnetka, California.
WHY ITS COOL:
The second generation of the Barracuda was made from 1967-1969. What started out as a car based on the Mopar A-body chassis (shared with the Valiant), later got a heavy redesign, and was set atop Chrysler’s E-body chassis (shared with the Challenger). With several iterations being offered in the form of a fastback, hardtop coupe, and convertible, these second generation Barracudas are still a desirable muscle car today. These Mopars are becoming harder and harder to find, which makes this one stand out, because the seller has already begun a very cool project.
WHY ITS A SMART BUY:
The link to the Barracuda pictured above is ”https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/d/mopar-race-1969-plymouth/6686840372.html” Although, we can’t guarantee that it will be there when you read this, because it’s a great deal. The owner is asking a paltry sum of $6,500, considering all the work that has already been done. In my opinion it’s a steal, this would be a smart buy due to the fact that these cars are becoming more rare as time goes on. Far gone are the days of little old ladies selling their late husbands muscle cars for pennies. People know what these are worth, and are willing to pay for them in restored condition. For the right buyer, this would make a great candidate for ’60s era drag car.
Super Stock, anyone? Image borrowed from Flickr.com
WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT:
The great thing about old muscle cars is their limitless potential to be made into a restomod, drag car, autocrosser, or just restored back to stock. Everyone has their own taste, and if I were given the opportunity to build this Barracuda, it would definitely be turned into a Hurst Super Stock clone like the one pictured above. As soon as I saw this posting, I knew that is how I would build it. It’s a fastback, and it already has the stance, and much of the accoutrement that make up a Super Stock car. In 1968 Chrysler partnered with Hurst to build approximately 50, 426 Hemi powered Barracudas for Super Stock racing. Suffice to say, they are rare. They came equipped from Hurst with thinner chemcor windows, fiberglass fenders and hood-scoop, lighter seats, rear seat delete, acid dipped doors and bumpers, and could only be had in grey primer and black fiberglass, leaving the paint up to the new owner. While this Barracuda doesn’t have all of that, it is still a great candidate, especially with that 440 sitting between the frame rails.
1976 Chevrolet Step-Side C10:
Next, we have a little piece of white lightning in the form of an LS powered ’76 short-bed, square-body out of Los Angeles, California.
WHY ITS COOL:
Traditionally, the square body (third generation) C10, ranging in year from 1973-1987, have been overlooked for those of the older, second generation variety. But, in recent years, they have grown exponentially more popular. This can probably be attributed to the high cost of the older models, and the fact that having such a long production run makes the third gens extremely plentiful. Chevy made a ton of variations for the third generation, and this one happens to be a step-side. Other offerings include the crew-cab, long-bed, and fleet-side.
WHY ITS A SMART BUY:
The link to the C10 pictured above is, ”https://losangeles.craigslist.org/sfv/cto/d/1976-chevy-step-side-short/6687744974.html” This one has already been treated to the ever popular LS swap, making it a great candidate for further modification. With an asking price of just 4,500 dollars, this LS powered C10 is a deal! While it isn’t the 6.0, or even the 5.7, the 5.3 liter LS should make adequate power for this old truck. It would even be the perfect start for a turbo build. If you want to build your dream truck, this might save you some money if you were already anticipating a modern powerplant, and since these trucks are steadily gaining popularity, purchasing this one at such a low price could prove to be a smart investment for anyone looking to build a car or truck to flip.
Dig those stripes! Photo from Flickr.com.
WHAT YOU CAN DO WITH IT:
While it seems fashionable these days to slam a truck like this and put them on big billet wheels, if I were given the opportunity to build this one, I would go against the grain a little bit. I have always loved the graphics on ’70s era trucks. There were sport versions of the C10 that included upgraded appearance packages with bold lines and color blocking. I would like to see a truck that melds the style of a modern street truck with ’70s graphics. Incorporating those large billet wheels and a slightly lowered stance, but maintaining the ’70s aestethic everywhere else. Something like what is pictured above. I think this would be the perfect truck to do it with.
This has been the first installment of, “Hot Deals on Hot Wheels.” I will keep hunting for used treasure, and keep all of you up to date on the best deals the internet has to offer. So, if you’re in the market for a used vehicle, see the potential in rusty things, or just want to see some cool rides, keep checking back with us. Let me know what you think of my choices in the comment section. How would you build them, and why?
