By 1971, the writing was on the wall for the mighty American muscle car. The specter of tightening emission regulations and crippling insurance costs saw buyers begin to turn their backs on these classics, and sales results reflected this desertion by the buying public. From a high of 27,800 “Bees” in 1969, the total collapsed to a mere 5,054 in 1971. It seemed a sad end for an icon, although it reappeared during the new century’s first decade. Out feature Super Bee rolled off the line in 1971 and is an original survivor. Its paint has seen better days, leaving buyers with options to ponder. The Super Bee is listed for sale here on eBay in Evans, Georgia. The bidding has climbed to $30,100, which is short of the reserve.

Based on the Coronet, the first Super Bee appeared in the 1968 model year. The company perceived it as an affordable muscle car to compete directly with the Plymouth Road Runner. However, sales volumes fell short of the company’s expectations. By 1971, the Super Bee migrated to the Charger’s platform, as Dodge had elected to limit Coronet production to sedan and station wagon variants. This change did nothing to help sales figures, and as they plummeted during 1971, the company chose to retire the Super Bee name at the end of that model year. Our feature car is an unmolested survivor wearing its original shade of Light Gunmetal. As is often the case with paint of this type, it is heavily faded and patchy and would benefit from a refresh. That brings us to a choice the next owner needs to make. Considering its originality and rarity, should they follow that path, or could they be better served considering preservation? It is possible because the lack of rust or panel damage makes this option appear viable. The vinyl top, trim, and glass look okay. The Magnum 500 wheels aren’t original, but sourcing the factory items should not be difficult.

One aspect of this Dodge requiring little attention is its interior. The seller recently treated it to new seat upholstery, dash pad, headliner, carpet set, sun visors, and rear parcel tray. The original door trims look okay, and the impression is positive. There are no aftermarket additions beyond a 1971 buddy seat, although this requires the brackets if the buyer intends to retain it. There is no evidence of wear or other problems; if the new owner elects to preserve the exterior, this will provide excellent contrast.

One significant change Dodge introduced in 1971 was to include the 340ci V8 into the Super Bee range for the first time. The company designed the strategy to appease the vocal insurance lobby, but it was an unpopular option among potential owners. Only 307 buyers ticked that box on their Order Form, but it wasn’t the rarest motor. This classic’s original owner selected the legendary 440ci Six-Pack V8 backed by a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission. With 385hp at the driver’s disposal, the ability to devour the ¼ mile in 14.2 seconds is no surprise. I said the 340 wasn’t the rarest engine choice because only ninety-nine buyers opted for the Six-Pack. Of those, sixty-nine selected that motor backed by the automatic transmission. The seller indicates that the Super Bee is numbers-matching, and while it runs and drives with no vices, it isn’t perfect. The engine runs well, although it could benefit from a refresh. The transmission leaks slightly, but it isn’t bad. It sounds like pulling the engine and transmission for a refresh would be wise, although it may not be an urgent requirement.

By the time this 1971 Dodge Super Bee rolled off the line, the buying public knew it was heading into new and uncharted territory. However, nobody could have foreseen how profound the impact would be of the upcoming emission regulations. It would take decades for manufacturers to claw back lost ground, and some owners turned their backs on their cherished muscle cars out of a sense of social responsibility. Thankfully, many survived, and unmolested examples command big money in the current market. If anything surprises me about our feature car, it is that it has only attracted eighteen bids. I expected considerably more, but with time remaining on the auction, some potential buyers could be biding their time. With that thought in mind, watching this listing might be worth the effort.