Date: 7/28/98
(9/4/98)
History of Robert's 1968 340-S Convertible

According to Mopar guru Galen Govier, only thirteen 1968 Formula-S (nine are 340s and four are 383s) convertibles remain in the world today. Mine was the last to be "discovered". My gold/gold 340-S convertible (VIN# BH27P8B117123) has power steering, power disc brakes, automatic 727 Torqueflite, and 8 3/4" rear with 3.23 Sure-grip. The power convertible top still works wonderfully. When sold in recent years, 1968 340-S and 383-S convertibles have traded hands in the $20K to $30K range. Would I sell my car, even if offered $100,000? No.

My 340-S survived the decades intact and in almost completely original shape. For example, the original wire wheels, first introduced in 1968, are still on the car. At car shows, my car is assessed as mint or #2.

I bought the car in January of 1997 from a college student, Richard, who lived in Livermore, California (in Alameda County in the San Francisco Bay Area). Richard bought the car in early 1994 when he was in high school in Livermore. Richard seemed to have amazing technical/mechanical knowledge of the car and was a mature person that greatly appreciated the car and didn't abuse it. He maintained the car with meticulous care. Richard held on to all of his maintenance receipts and gave them to me. Richard bought the car in early 1994 from a stockbroker who lived and worked in San Francisco.

This stockbroker, Jim, used the car mostly for his daily commute (just a couple of miles) to work at the Pacific Stock Exchange. I am sure that even at that time, a convertible Barracuda turned heads in San Francisco even though this was before the Nash Bridges television show. Jim had taken very good care of the car and gave Richard his maintenance receipts which were passed on to me. Jim, the stockbroker, bought the car from a person named Eric in Corte Madera (in Marin County in the San Francisco Bay Area) in late 1989.

(9/4/98) Eric used the car for racing and not as a daily driver or weekend "classic showcase." Luckily, Eric didn't cut up the car but apparently had done the usual changes that a weekend racer does - wrong carb, headers, etc.. Previous owner Jim told all of this to me in a phone interview. Jim said when he bought the car, he also received the important parts (e.g., correct exhaust manifold instead of racing headers). Jim did not know the history before Eric so here the trail grows cold (Jim now drives around San Francisco in a clone Hemicuda convertible). Jim did say that around 1990 at a swap meet, he ran into the owner of a Dart who claimed that he owned the Barracuda once upon a time but who also was not the original owner. Jim believes that the car had at least a few owners before Eric bought it. Possibly, I am owner number six or even twelve - I can only guess.

Richard and Jim did agree on one point - they were both confident that the original front license plate was framed with the original dealer's frame and the top fragment survived which I have (see photo below). The ancient, rusty fragment reads "Concord" which is a Bay Area city only a few miles from me. The car seems to have never strayed far from where it was purchased originally.

One unusual original document passed on through the years (which I have) was the original maintenance manual (about 300 pages or so, all there) which is now reproduced by Year One for $50. Although interesting, the original maintenance manual has no profound impact in the world of original documentation.

It seems as if the car was always in the San Francisco Bay Area but I cannot be sure. However, I believe this is a good theory because the car does have its original California black plates from late 1967.

If anybody knows ANYTHING about the history of my car, please e-mail me. 

Incidentally, I drive the car about 2,500 miles/year to car shows and for other summer weekend fun. When I bought the car in January of 1997, it had 97,000 miles on it. It now has 101,000 and is not a "trailer queen." Some even say I have been seen using the car for its original purpose - burning rubber! By the way, when my car was built, I was three years old.

Click the Image	Click the Image	Click the Image	Click the Image
340s Engine	Front	Side view	whole car
the back	backseat	the car	tail
dash	hood	passenger	plate
seats	wheel	trunk