When eBay called on Hot Rod Garage co-host Alex Taylor to build a classic muscle car for F1 racer Lando Norris, she was up for the challenge. After all, Taylor grew up building screaming fast cars. Her high-school car was a 1968 Camaro - opens in new window or tab. with 1,200 horsepower under the hood. With the power of the eBay Motors platform on tap, the new build was a snap.
Norris behind the wheel of the extraordinary eBay Plymouth Barracuda.
Taylor Motorsports, her dad Dennis’s business, produces custom safety components for racers worldwide. The younger Taylor’s task was to create a car that Norris could drive to the Circuit of the Americas race track in Austin for the 2024 Grand Prix. For a builder accustomed to brutal straight-line speed, the build was a different animal. Taylor said:
F1 is a totally different world than anything that we do.
Also, the car had to be streetable and reliable—bringing maximum cool to common roadways.
The Plymouth Barracuda evolved through three generations, with a production run that ran from 1964 to 1974. Launched on April 1, 1964—16 days before the debut of the Ford Mustang—the Plymouth Barracuda could be considered America’s first pony car, even though its namesake is a fish.
The iconic car’s third generation (1971-1974) is widely acknowledged as the best of the run. Throughout its life, power output ranged from 100 to a rip-roaring 425 horsepower. Many enthusiasts believe the HEMI Barracuda is the greatest street-racing machine ever created.
Father-Daughter Builder Team
To get the job done, Taylor teamed up with her dad. It was a father-daughter build that played out on a world stage. She told us:
My dad and I raced together, and we worked together here and there. But lately, it's been busy. I haven't worked with him like that in the last couple years because I've been so busy working on the show.
The 1973 Plymouth Barracuda and all of its bolt-on components were purchased on eBay Motors. The build proves the age-old principle: Less is more.
The original 340 cubic-inch V-8 engine remains under the hood, with a set of ceramic-coated full-length Doug’s Headers routing spent gasses through the Pypes 2 ½-inch exhaust system - opens in new window or tab.. A set of Holley RetroBright - opens in new window or tab. seven-inch round modern-white LEDs light the way. The brakes and suspension were updated with top-notch aftermarket components from Wilwood and QA1.
Goodies include:
The 2-½-inch Pypes aftermarket exhaust slithers over the QA1 rear suspension.
Alex and Dennis worked with what arrived, finessing the car to fit the parts within a tight timeframe. They handled most work in-house. The team tweaked the car's existing exhaust components to clear the aftermarket suspension setup. After swapping in the rear QA1 link, the team extended the exhaust hoop over the top of the axle and rotated the tailpipe with some finesse. The collaboration worked like a charm. Alex said:
We don't even need to talk. We just know what we're doing.
Crowd-Sourced Modifications
After the car was largely complete, it was shipped from Dennis Taylor’s shop in Booneville, Ark., to Austin, Texas. The car was expertly wrapped in a familiar hue, using high-quality orange 3M-brand wrap - opens in new window or tab..
The wooden MOMO Heritage steering wheel and highly bolstered Corbeau A4 seats deliver a winning trifecta of class, style, and purpose.
The team added a set of brilliant last-minute mods in the eBay Motors tent near the track. Voting screens in the booth allowed fans to vote on two options for each part. The mods with the most votes were promptly installed.
The fan-selected staggered wheel and tire combo is 15-inch American Racing VN105 Torq Thrust D - opens in new window or tab. alloys wrapped with Cobra Radial T/A GT tires - opens in new window or tab.. It’s a traditional look. A set of Corbeau A4 Racing Seats - opens in new window or tab., a MOMO Heritage California wood steering wheel - opens in new window or tab., and a new set of ACC carpets - opens in new window or tab. deliver a respectful update to the car’s original interior.
Headed to Vegas
F1 drivers like Lando Norris pilot fighter jets on wheels. Their cars exist to test the limits of four-wheeled performance.
Nonetheless, the muscle car era brought an unrivaled combination of simplicity, beauty, and brawn. That time will never be equaled, but those beasts weren’t easy to drive. Thankfully, aftermarket mods allow those mighty machines to live on—with new technology enabling more control than the day they rolled off the assembly line.
The power of the eBay Motors platform reanimates time-honored classics, with an endless flow of products to fuel the future of enthusiast motoring.
The brilliant orange restomod makes its next appearance at the Virgin Curio hotel in Las Vegas on November 18. That’s when the Barracuda goes up for auction on eBay Motors - opens in new window or tab.. All funds go to the Society of Women Engineers - opens in new window or tab.. Bidding ends on Sunday, November 24.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.