The first generation Plymouth Barracuda based on the Valiant line was produced in the middle of 1964, beating the Ford Mustang to the market and starting the pony car war. By the end of 1965, the Valiant moniker was dropped and would become just Plymouth Barracuda.
In 1965, AMT saw the hype for the full-sized car and produced a 1/25 scale model kit for just one year. In late 2025, Round 2 released the all new-tooled AMT 1/25 scale 1965 Plymouth Barracuda Craftsman Plus plastic model kit. Even though it is a curbside kit (no engine), it comes with a separate hood should you want to drop a motor into the engine bay.
By the way, the newly tooled engine bay comes equipped with the correct square and flat shapes and a new firewall, a much needed upgrade from the original 1965 issue. Not to pick nits, but the windshield wiper motor on first generation Barracudas was under the dashboard, not attached to the firewall as it is in this kit.
Of the three main assemblies, I thought the tub-style interior came up a bit short. Hearkening back to the early annual kits, the simplicity of the tub interior means a sacrifice in detail. In this case, shallow door moldings with non-dimensional armrests. It did provide window cranks and door handles, however, and separate seat belts, which were a nice touch.
The dashboard looked great, with excellent definition. The radio details were pronounced enough for paint, but you can decide to shave it off and use the supplied decal instead. The steering wheel was molded well, requiring little cleanup.
The two piece bucket seats and rear seat are crisply molded. The buckets were missing some accents present on the real car. You’ll have to drill the mounting holes from the underside of the transmission tunnel via recessed guides for the center console.
The chassis presents plenty of detail. An 8 3/4-inch rear end with springs and driveshaft come as a single part that joins with the rear shocks. I filled big holes in the top of the shock plates before painting. Front K frame with spindles, tie rod, lower A-arms, and torsion bars came as a single part for the front suspension. Both subassemblies attached to the chassis with positive locators. An engine plate with oil pan and transmission provides enough detail if painted to create the illusion of something more, if you don’t pick up the model.
A single-piece exhaust system finished the underside. I was pleased to see the exhaust tip came with the middle opened up, so there’s no need to drill it out. However, you will have to drill out the mounting holes for the exhaust system.
I thought the body looked pretty clean. On my sample, the upper rear quarter panel chrome trim appeared misshapen. The only seam line I noticed was one that started in the middle of the B-pillar, going through the trim, and turning down onto the rear quarter panel. Both were in difficult places to correct.
On the decal sheet, the markings were sharply printed and in registration. I was excited to find four factory-applied racing stripe colors on the decal sheet, and intended to use the black ones down the center. I placed them, but couldn’t get them to settle to my satisfaction, even with setting solution and the application of a hair dryer. I couldn’t coax it down over the central hood ridge and complex curve at the front. In the end, I went without the central stripes.
If you use the stripes, you’ll want to trim the window-ward edge to match the windshield’s curvature. In my sample, the stripes appeared a little translucent, which may affect their final color.
Overall, I thought the AMT 1/25 scale 1965 Plymouth Barracuda Craftsman Plus series plastic model kit well worth the wait. It’s a curbside kit designed for a quick, easy build that provides for a nice looking replica for any fan of early Barracudas. Fun for a beginner, in the hands of an experienced modeler, it can serve as the foundation for a more detailed build.