Before the Ford Mustang became a cultural icon, another car beat it to showroom floors — and almost nobody remembers it. The 1964 Plymouth Barracuda arrived two weeks ahead of the legendary Ford pony car, staking its claim as America’s first factory-fresh sporty compact. It had a striking fastback roofline, a massive wraparound rear window, and a name that sounded like it meant business. Yet history largely forgot it. Understanding why tells you everything about what it takes to win a segment, not just launch one first.
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