A discussion of the 1960s pony car wars is incomplete without addressing the Barracuda. Plymouth introduced the Barracuda two weeks before Ford introduced the Mustang in 1964, making it the first true pony car by the calendar.

The early Barracudas — the fastbacks with the enormous rear window — are distinctive and undervalued. The 1970 model year brought the redesigned, wider body that could finally accommodate the big engines. The 1970-1971 E-Body cars with the 440 or 426 Hemi are among the most powerful muscle cars ever built and are priced accordingly.

The 1964-1969 cars are more accessible and offer excellent value for a driver. The Plymouth community is smaller than the Ford and Chevrolet equivalents but enthusiastic and knowledgeable.