1969 Plymouth Barracuda Savage GT

[1969HO455]

I own a rare musclecar called The Savage GT and have started a Facebook page to share what I know about these unique cars and hopefully connect with other owners. I am looking for cars and parts for these as I restore mine back to original. Please contact me if you know of any parts, cars, pictures, stories, etc.
Follow along and like my page to catch updates as I add content.

https://www.facebook.com/barracudasavagegt/

Back in the mid to late 1960’s there emerged a few small companies that developed niche supercars and offered them to the public as a special version of the musclecars they could find through the dealer. Shelby, Baldwin Motion, and Yenko offered special cars through a dealer network - representing Ford, and Chevrolet. But, for the Mopar contingent there seemed to be a void. As the 1967 and 1968 Plymouth Barracudas gained in popularity, an idea was born by a small company, Auto Craft, out of Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin - lead by a young enthusiast George Prentice, Jr. They wanted to build a complete road car to compete head to head with the Shelby Mustangs. They based their car on the 1969 Plymouth Barracuda fastback. This special car was called the Savage GT. The car featured many custom touches, as well as performance mods. The exterior was updated with a special front fascia, special hood, sidepipes, and a integrated rear spoiler. Savage emblems were strategically placed in the grille and tailpanel. Also added were special set of custom wheels, Dunlop high speed radial tires and suspension mods that included adjustable sway bars, traction links, and staggered shocks. Inside, the car received a special roll bar with Shelby style retractor harnesses, column mounted tach, and a custom wood steering wheel with Savage GT medallion. Under the hood they added hand-built and dyno tuned fenderwell headers, a Weiand high-rise intake manifold, Holley 4-barrel carb, and dual point distributor. One source tells about the 340 engines being dyno tested at Mr. Norm’s Grand Spaulding Dodge in Chicago - where they were pushing 375 HP. Production figures estimate that there were only about 13 cars total built. (8) 340, (4) 383, and (1) 440. I have discovered 6 cars that have survived. Check out my Facebook page for the story and pictures of cars and details about them.

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/11/full-13757-51463-savagegt1.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/11/full-13757-51464-savagegt2.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/11/full-13757-51465-savagegt3.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/11/full-13757-51466-savagegt4.jpg

[mockingbird812]

Very cool and welcome aboard. Which version do you have? Any pix?

[68l30]

Look like the same rims Nickey offered....Cool stuff!


BIG

[SS427]

I saw this on FB and was intrigued. I vaguely remembered seeing one of these as a kid but not sure if it was one of these or just a modified Barracuda. Neat car and will love following along.

[1969HO455]

Thanks for your interest. Very little is known about these cars and it has taken 10 years to get what I know. I will continue to update my Facebook page so stay tuned. There are pictures there of alot of cool literature, and cars that have been found. Mine was originally F8 Dark Green Metallic 340 4-speed. I have found and talked to the original owner who remembers alot of things about it. He sold it to a musclecar dealer in South Dakota in 1972 which I tracked down and authenticated. Then I have found all owners since. It was turned into a drag car at some point and some pieces are missing that I am looking for to return to it's original look.
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/11/full-13757-51500-69_savage_barracuda_rear_1.jpg

[1969HO455]

The rims are 14x6 wire-mesh mags made by Rader/ Trans America. They were also put on the Mercury Cougar XR7's.. and known as "The Recall Wheel" as they were prone to failure shortly after. Chrome steel outer and aluminum center. http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/11/full-13757-51505-savage_wheels_dbr_1200_2.jpg
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/11/full-13757-51506-savage_wheels_dbr_1200_1.jpg

[markinnaples]

Interesting car, and it looks Day 2 - Sweet now <<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif

[bbbentley]

Love 69s. Your car has a nice stance and is sweet. I will never forget, probably 'cause I still have it, my first hot rod / musclecar magazine I bought in Florida, while on vacation at 8 years old because it was raining and I was bored. On the cover was a 69 440 'Cuda, full head on shot, with the caption, &quot;Nose Heavy Neck Snapper&quot;. At that age, I was not exactly familiar with why a car would be described like that? I was intrigued, nonetheless. Guess I was starting my delinquent adolescent era at that time (still in it 47 years later-ha). Funny how some things stick with you? I would love to have a 69 and a 70 &quot;Cuda. Neat cars.

[442w30]

I assume you're on Moparts.com?

[bbodyrich]

Thanks for your interest. Very little is known about these cars and it has taken 10 years to get what I know. I will continue to update my Facebook page so stay tuned. There are pictures there of alot of cool literature, and cars that have been found. Mine was originally F8 Dark Green Metallic 340 4-speed. I have found and talked to the original owner who remembers alot of things about it. He sold it to a musclecar dealer in South Dakota in 1972 which I tracked down and authenticated. Then I have found all owners since. It was turned into a drag car at some point and some pieces are missing that I am looking for to return to it's original look.
http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/pics/usergals/2016/11/full-13757-51500-69_savage_barracuda_rear_1.jpg

Looks like a car that was in Huron, SD at one time.

[1969HO455]

Here is a graphic I put together recently

[1969HO455]

Of the 6 known survivors this is the only 383.

[1969HO455]

Here is the original Savage GT brochure along with the air cleaner and Dixco tachometers installed on the Savage GT cars.

[1969HO455]

I put this graphic together after a recent visit to Wisconsin to see 3 Savage survivors. The backdrop is one of the original shop locations where the cars were built in West Bend, Wisconsin.

[1969HO455]

Here's a breakdown of the known survivors:

#1 - 340/4-speed, R6 (Scorch Red), built C09 (Dec. 9, 1968)

#2 - 383/Auto, T5 (Bronze Fire Metallic), built 108 (Jan. 8, 1969)

#3 - 340/4-speed, F8 (Ivy Green Metallic), built 115 (Jan. 15, 1969)

#4 - 440/4-speed (orig. 340/4-speed), was repainted black in the 80's, orig. color unknown at this time, (no fender tag info)

#5 - 340/Auto, R6 (Scorch Red), built 109 (Jan. 9, 1969)

#6 - 340/Auto, B5 (Blue Fire), built 109 (Jan. 9, 1969)

[markinnaples]

Those Barracuda's are pure late 60's/early 70's awesomeness. Thanks for sharing.

[fsc66]

See below:

[Tenney]

Way cool! Mannix could've made good use of one 'o these - did they do any 'verts?

[Diamond_Don]

1969HO455 - I saw this picture and it looks like it could be your Savage ?? !! Very cool.

[1969HO455]

Yes, this is my Savage I've owned since 2006. I have tracked down the original owner who bought it late spring of 1969, then moved to South Dakota in 1972 and traded it in to a musclecar dealer there. It was repainted silver and sold. It was turned into a drag car in the 70's. Some of the original fiberglass parts went missing and I have been looking for the original parts to return to the car. I purchased another Savage that is pretty rough but has all the fiberglass parts I need so am in the process of restoring the parts and putting back on my car. I will leave my car in it's drag configuration. Here's the original ad I found when the dealer had it for sale in 1972.

[markinnaples]

Awesome find! Congrats!