Dave Walden's Barracuda Sedan

I know this car has been discussed plenty here already.

It's coming up at Mecum in May at Indy:

https://www.mecum.com/lots/1116053/...ontent=297440669&utm_source=hs_email

And I had to click the link. That top just dont get it.

Any guesses on what it will bring?

I just seen that it has 1 mile but is a 340 car. Id bet it would be fun to drive.

It's not something we would buy too many doors.Can appreciate all his hard work,God bless him.But I'm thinking 25,000 or so it's not something people want,now for the people who have museums or wantt to add it to thier collections ok then I guess the price will go up. Saw it at its debut at carlisle didn't care for it.

It has rolled through I think every Mecum for the past few years. I know it was at Kissimmee in January and didn't sell

It's worth whatever the owner can get for the usable parts.

That said, a pal needs good a 1970 Barracuda hood for his car........

man that is god awful. said it in the past and i'll say it again.. its a perfect example of just because you can, doesn't mean you should....

I wonder if anyone is ambitious enough to buy it and put the proper roof on it

Absolutely.

No disrespect to the man and his dream but the roof absolutely kills it. Front to back, the proportions look pretty good, but top to bottom? If I remember correctly, he used B-body doors, but their glass and framework is simply too tall. Had he kept the windows close to the height of a standard 2 door 'Cuda, he would have had a winner (well, at least more so than now). Look at the 2 door, the side glass comes almost even as the top of the windshield. On this, it's what? 4 - 6 inches higher?

I'd love to see someone put a better-proportioned roof on this.

If you put it back to original and documented it as having been the 4-door car it would probably be worth more than it is today !!

He started with the center section of a newer 4-door B-body that had been parted.

I like a lot of 4 door cars but not this one. The back doors look like Coronet doors. I think of AMC when I see those handles on a 4 door. Just to soft looking. Has an old LTD or Galaxie 500 (whatever they were called in '70-'71) 4 door vibe too.

I have to admit I agree about the roof.

Part of it may be that I am so used to seeing the 2 door rear side window but that part above the windshield is way off.

Still the work was well done.

He was a master for sure and I dont recall if he ever let out any possible ideas that would of been different and I know this has been run in the ground. I just never grasped the short height of the front glass.

What if a bunch of people created a go-fund-me page just to get it finished off in a crusher. I love things that are different, but, I make an exception for this thing. It just needs to be gone.

And yes the C pillar ain't makin it.

You know it!

I can appreciate the vision, the talent, the drive, and the craftsmanship. The final result is unfortunately pretty awful.

With that roof height he should have finished it off as a wagon.

There is a humanitarian side to this.

While Dave was making his decisions about his 'vision' for this, he had a brain tumor.

So he was not in his right mind.

He created multiple accounts here to agree with himself, argue with himself at times & he also insulted others, myself included.

The more the cancer progressed, the more angry he got towards others. The admin & moderators here did a great job of removing his posts / multiple accounts when he was having angry episodes.

His widow came to the Carlisle show after his death & sought me out to apologize for his behavior towards me.

She knew that his cancer affected his thinking, so did I so I bear him no ill will.

May he rest in peace & I hope his family remember the good times.

Cancer sucks, no matter who it eats into.

I just started this to let members know the car was coming up again soon.

I understand some members not liking the end result. I never spoke to Dave or had any interaction with his business so I can't comment on him personally.

Sorry if this has offended anyone.

Wow.... in this day and age of WHATEVER. Folks should just relax, were just car guys talking about a car and giving light opinions.

Many know about the struggles DW had and I do not see anyone here showing any disrespect to anyone. At least from my chair all posted is just honest thoughts and info. Unfortunately great people in hobby/business are leaving us for the next chapter, its just how life works.

How much was the wheelbase changed?

Sorry to hear about this cancer is a horrible thing.God bess him,God bless his family and friendsmay he rest in peace we've lost family friends to cancer and some are currently fighting it.May he rest in piece God bless him.John and Ellie

Well said Barry. Cancer does affect a person's judgement and thinking.
I can personally attest to it, as a very close family member went through this, before they died.
I appreciate his hard work and effort into his dream. Just not for me, though.

Well said

I don`t mind it but I like oddball stuff.

The car will probably bounce around from place to place. Until someone / someplace ends up with it cheap . Maybe an oddball museum / collection will want it for a Unique display piece .
Seems no one else wants it

I can seriously respect his vision and passion. But the car was an epic fail in overall appearance , IMO

I've often wondered what a second generation E body might have looked like. I figured it would be based off the B body but as a shortened Cordoba.

I knew Dave was sick with cancer, but I didn't realize he was dealing with it during the build.

Knowing this, maybe the doors were used 'as produced' to save time and effort? (thinking of the time it would take to modify the doors themselves and their glass).

Much respect to the man and his vision.

The work was really well done.

I think the reason the doors and probably the windshield look a little off is tempered safety glass.

You can't really cut it without it cracking, so making custom glass windows gets expensive or impossible for a one of one production.

Altering the curvature of the glass makes it that much more impractical.

At least that is my understanding of the glass and its problems.

Sad to hear he had such a hard time.

It's really sad he put so much time and effort into it and in the end didn't get to enjoy it.

Hopefully whoever does get it truly enjoys it and respects the work and story behind it.

Could the car even be licensed and titled to drive it? What is it actually titled as with the VIN number what it is and how it was built? Often wondered about that.

https://www.hemmings.com/stories/four-door-1970-plymouth-barracuda/

Someone buy it and chop the top!

KKOA puts a top chopping clinic on every year at their event in Salina.

Seems I recall a story about how the 68 Roadrunner was such a hit, somebody in sales wanted to make it a package available on all 69 B body Plymouth. Including wagons.

This car strikes me as a similar theme.

He created a VIN for what he though it would've been had Chrysler actually made the car. It's not a real/legit VIN, nor did he attempt to pass it off as such.

I like the Challenger wagon…

https://www.autoblog.com/2008/02/20/ebay-find-of-the-day-challenger-wagon/

I think that is kind of cool!

It'll be for sale again at Mecum Indy.

https://www.mecum.com/lots/1116053/1970-plymouth-barracuda-sedan/?

I watched a vid last night where a collector in North GA had that car and many others from that collection.

Looks a bit better in a semi normal setting. He briefly talked of some of the changes over reg. cuda parts. Much more then Id thought was done/changed.

Id probably drive it.

Does anyone know the whereabouts of the black Valiant he did? That thing was awesome.

my dad still has his 69 sport satellite wagon I have always thought be fun to do an a12 themed wagon just for fun.

Instead of a "Lift-Off-Hood" it could be a "Fold-Down-The-Back-Seats-And-Put-The-Hood-There" where it would be safer and not blow off of the roof Or you could lash it to the roof rack

He should have put a Camaro front on it, then it wouldn't be our concern !!