While most performance Mopars from the muscle car era were notable for their tongue-swallowing acceleration on the drag strip, there was more to the heritage than that. After all, The King and the Isaacs were running rings around the competition in NASCAR, records fell at Bonneville, and several were even built for SCCA competition.
In this final variation, the cars had to go around corners as well as the Mustangs built by Carroll Shelby himself. While they did so with some success, it is still a portion of Chrysler's history that has often been overlooked.
Nonetheless, for Danny Cox of Knoxville, Tennessee, the handling aspect was of prime importance. In the past, this 46-year-old general contractor had actually campaigned a few cars in local vehicle handling events. When he had an opportunity to purchase a solid '66 Barracuda in 1988, the eventual plan was to make it into a highly streetable corner-turner that could hold its own at the car show level. To that end, the completed project that began in 1996 has fulfilled all the criteria.
The '66 model is unique in several ways. Only 38,000 were built (not a giant figure in automobile production), a one-year transitional model between the Valiant-based '64-'65 editions and the '67 A-Body restyling program. In addition to the distinctive back window of the first three years, it featured new trim, bumper, and grille pieces, all of which help make this particular year stand out from the crowd.
The vintage sheetmetal had only minimal parking lot dings-no rust or major damage. Once prepped, it went to Eddie Lowe of Knoxville, who covered it with PPG PR4 red lacquer and several layers of clearcoat. The vinyl top was in good enough shape and didn't need to be replaced.
The stock suspension has been modified for autocross use. This includes Monroe front shocks, a Year One front sway bar, and Monroe rear shocks. Meanwhile, the braking system was updated with front disc brakes from a '74 Volar, and the factory power steering was blueprinted.
Meanwhile, the original 273 mill came out and was treated to a full prep and build by racer Gary Brunner of Maynardville, Tennessee, using a D-Dart motor for parts. This included an .060-inch overbore, a set of 12.5:1 compression TRW pistons, and a Mopar Performance crank. The camshaft is a hydraulic lifter Direct Connection unit, which in turn actuates valves in a set of '71-vintage D-Dart heads. The engine uses a stock-appearing Edelbrock/Carter AFB on top of an Edelbrock intake, with the stock 340 exhaust manifolds hooked into the 211/44-inch exhaust system. A Mopar Performance ignition kit rounds out the engine hardware.
Transforming engine power to motivation, a TorqueFlite A904 transmission coupled with a 2,500 rpm stall speed torque converter feeds the 275 horses to an 831/44 rear that uses a 2.94 ring and pinion set. Magnum wheels shod with Michelin radial tires keep the car solidly locked to the pavement.
In keeping with the creature comforts on the machine, the interior was redone using seat covers from Legendary, an NOS dash pad, and new carpeting from Auto Custom Carpets. One unique piece is the dealer-option air conditioning, which was left intact in deference to the hot Tennessee weather.
Dan gives credit to a number of sources for helping him out with the car, but the primary ones are his local friends from the East Tennessee Mopar Club. Since finishing it, he has yet to be able to take it up against anybody on the road courses, but the car did claim first place honors in the A-Body '65-'66
Modified division at the East Tennessee Mopar show last June. And that's just sitting still! Imagine how well it would do if it could show off!