The "A Brothers" 1966 Barracuda Formula S Unvieled
It has been many decades since the incredible popular and inspiring '66 Cuda built by the "A Brothers", Mike and Larry Alexander during their heydays from 1957 to 1968 was scene. The 'Cuda was built originally under direction from Chrysler to emphasize the Barracuda's road racing and rally potential. The small-block V8 (273 cubes) complete with four-speed was displayed at the Detroit Autorama in 1966 and was an immediate hit. The car was eventually sold and never heard from again.
Mike Alexander's son, Mike Jr., located the car in Iowa in 2004 and began the restoration process. The car sports today many of the custom touches from '66 along with center-lock forged aluminum wheels with knock-off hubs, pocketed door handles, a clear hood bubble, and a quick-release gas filler cap.
The "A Brothers" have tasted sweet success with "Ridler" award winners of their own with the "Venturian" in '65; the Dodge Deora in '67; and the "Top Banana" Model T roadster in '69. Other successes include the ISCA Championship with Don Vargo's '34 Ford roadster named the "'69er"; at the '67 Autorama the Dodge Deora won 9 awards, which is an Autorama record, and the Deora was turned into a Mattel's Hot Wheels top seller and was used to honor Mattel's 35th anniversary in 2003. The "A Brothers" have a handful of Hall of Fame honors which include the Kustom Kemps of America in '64; the St. Ignace Car Show in '88; the Mega Grand National Grand Final Construction Award in '91; Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame in '93; Daryl Starbird National Rod & Custom Car Show in '95; Circle of Champions, Detroit Autorama '97; West Coast Custom Hall of Fame in '00; and the 1st Annual Award, Top Contributor to Rod & Custom Industry at Autorama in '02.
The brothers began in their father's one-car garage and from there they moved to their first official shop on Northwestern Highway in Detroit. From there they eventually ended up in their second shop located at Littlefield and Grand River in Detroit.