Original ’68 Factory Hemi Barracuda Headed to Mecum Auction


As anyone that follows NHRA sportsman drag racing can attest, it doesn’t come much more badass than the SS/AH ’68 Plymouth Barracudas and Dodge Darts. With their high-winding 426-inch Hemi “elephant” powerplants backed by either automatic or four speeds, these machines have bee propelled to some 8.2 second elapsed times at 160+ MPH. These factory-built warriors don’t come cheap though. much like Pro Stock racing, the Hemi battles are very much a rich mans game. and if you just so happen to be a rich man (or woman) and wish to go racing, be sure to check out the Mecum Auction in Kissimmee, Florida later this month.

For more information on the car, visit the auction lot S214 page here.

There, one lucky bidder will take home this well-engineered ’68 Barracuda that carries quite a bit of history, and will certainly save a wad of cash over having one built from scratch. Unlike several of the cars now competing in the class that are clones to the originals, this one is the Real McCoy: one of the 55 original “Checkmate” BO29-code Hemi Barracuda Hurst cars produced in 1968 for Super Stock class racing. Originally campaigned on the east coast, it was later sold to “Bullet bob” Reed of Florida and held the SS/A national record during the 70’s and 80’s, ultimately winning the U.S. Nationals at Indianapolis in 1987. From there, Reed sold the car and it went into storage until 2001.

The owner unearthed the car and found it in most original condition, including Reed’s paint scheme and al of the lightweight factory components. The car received a full-on rotisserie restoration and was updated to modern NHRA specifications and raced by John Gifford in SS/AH through 2008, turning bests in the 8.80’s at over 140 MPH. Among the original components on the car are the lightweight doors and fenders, glass, dash VIN tag and radiator support.

Being a true original ’68 factory Hurst Hemi car, this could serve as quite the collector piece, but for the sake of those of us who enjoy seeing these monstrous machines charge down the quarter mile, we can only hope that its new owner puts in the beams right where it was made to be.

About the author

Andrew Wolf

Andrew has been involved in motorsports from a very young age. Over the years, he has photographed several major auto racing events, sports, news journalism, portraiture, and everything in between. After working with the Power Automedia staff for some time on a freelance basis, Andrew joined the team in 2010.
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