The 1965 Plymouth Barracuda was the second model year of Plymouth’s fastback sporty compact, and only the second year the nameplate existed. It was still closely tied to the Plymouth Valiant platform but already carving out its identity as a competitor to Ford’s Mustang.
- Class: Compact sporty car (early pony car)
- Platform: A-body (shared with the Valiant)
- Body Style: 2-door fastback coupe only (no convertible or hardtop yet)
- Wheelbase: 106 inches
The Exterior was mostly carryover from the debut 1964 Barracuda, but with small updates like, Cleaner trim details, New grille design, and Updated badging. It Retained the huge 14-square-foot wraparound rear window (largest piece of automotive glass in production at the time). Fold-down rear seat made for a large cargo area—part of the Barracuda’s practical appeal. The Interior borrowed heavily from the Valiant but with sportier touches.
Engines & Performance
- Base engine: 225 cu in Slant-6 – 145 hp
- Optional small-block V8s:
- 273 cu in V8 – 180 hp (2-barrel)
- 273 cu in “Commando V8” – 235 hp (4-barrel, high-performance version)
- Transmissions:
- 3-speed manual (floor or column shift)
- 4-speed manual
- 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic
The 273 Commando made the ’65 Barracuda genuinely quick for its size and a true rival to early Mustangs.
Total 1965 Barracuda production: ~64,596 units. Significantly more than the 1964 launch year (~23,443 units), showing Plymouth was gaining ground in the pony car race. Still, Ford’s Mustang outsold it massively, meaning the Barracuda remained more of a niche competitor.
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