Imagine this 1970 Dodge Super Bee trolling for victims in the streets of Brooklyn, New York and you’ll get some flavor for how this custom-painted muscle car –and its owner– spent their youth. Originally one of 1268 V-code Super Bees produced with the 440 cid V8 and the Six-Pack induction (a trio of two-barrel carburetors), this one now sports a single four-barrel. The then and current owner describes this heresy, selling the Six-Pack setup, as the act of a “foolish teenager,” but, for a time, rising gas prices rendered many classic muscle cars “gas guzzlers” before their values began to appreciate again. Not everyone likes the ’70-only restyled grille, but it certainly brands the final year of this body style from afar. The listing here on eBay awaits a $35,000 opening bid, an amazing bargain compared to the $125,000 asking price of this similar ’69 ‘Bee we covered earlier this week. Today the car resides in Golden, Colorado at the home of the owner’s brother. The description makes no mention of it, but check out that multi-colored paint-job!
The MSD Ignition box looks like a mid to late ’90s addition. At least you won’t have to worry about the nine foot long ignition wires being too tight. The Edelbrock high-rise intake and Holley carburetor would have been easier to tune than three two-barrels, but a properly-adjusted Six-Pack would provide some semblance of economy in modest driving by using only the center unit, with a healthy dose of thrust awaiting your command courtesy of the two outboard carbs.
By the 1980s, Mopar fans would have given their left-side left-threaded lug nuts for a car like this. I’d have gladly lived in a cardboard box under a bridge to cruise this 440 Super Bee during high school. While not be the ideal car for finding your future mate, no bad girl would refuse a ride in this fat-tired trouble magnet. “Good evening, officer. Is there some kind of problem?”
Oddly no fender tag, option information, or report of which numbers may or may not match accompanies the $35k asking price. A photo of the VIN decodes to a V-code Six-Pack 440 1970 Coronet hardtop, according to the VIN decoder at StockMopar. The interior doesn’t look bad considering what seems to be a long time off the road. Expect rust beneath the carpeting and vinyl top. The B&M shifter (no offense) may be the first thing to go. With fewer than 56,000 miles showing, the odometer may never have rolled over!
The functional twin hood scoops direct air to the hungry Six-Pack 440. Anyone who buys this car without driving it around for a while just as it looks (after making it safe) may be missing the entire point of muscle cars. Will the V-code lure be enough to bring top dollar for this once-potent ‘Bee?
Very cool piece that represents very well maybe a couple of time periods. Ive always thought these were a tough looking car. I like that this one is equipped with (IMO) the better hood and taillights. Never cared for the center hump hoodscoop, these deserve the dual scoops as this car has. Sucks that the six pack is gone but you could source another. Im a bit curious what engine mods were performed but im guessing these were all done a long time ago. Does car currently run? I would probably drive it in this vintage paint for a year or two but would then return it to what im guessing was plum crazy. Not sure if i would restore it to have the column shift again but the b&m needs to go. I wonder what this car ran, looks to have some decent speed parts, fat tires and tow bars out front. Funny thing to me is, as sloppy as the plug wires are they in a way match the paint job. All in all looks like a fun project to both drive then “restore”. Good luck to this one!
The seller needs to give more details in his ad. When was the engine and transmission rebuilt, what’s the condition of the floor pans, frame rails and body? If you want a big asking price, you need to justify it by answering questions like that.
The seller will also need to make sure the paperwork is in order. Far too often the “being sold by a (family member or friend) is a way of getting out of answering important questions, putting potential buyers at easy so they pay more and avoiding state DMV fees or taxes while simultaneously dumping a paperwork nightmare on a new owner.
Hopefully the car isn’t so far gone that it can’t be subjected to a sympathetic restoration. The paint and many modifications are what you would have seen in the mid to late-70’s. Period cars are hard to find and stand out wherever they go.
Steve R
Dumb teenage mistake indeed.
Assuming the Mopar 6 pack induction system is progressive, as GMs was, there is no fuel economy benefit to the four barrel – quite the opposite in fact.
In day to day driving (like back then) you are running on only the center two-barrel. The other two don’t come in until you hit aggressive throttle mode, so really no benefit to the change at all. If the Mopar setup is different, I stand corrected in advance.
The outer carbs are still available new from holley and are vacuum secondary.
Steve R
Absolutely correct. I ran a 69 A12 Six Pack Bee as my primary street ride in the early 1980s. The six-pack gave better mileage at regular cruising than a Holley 4 barrel carb.
The roof looks lumpy.
‘The listing here on eBay awaits a $35,000 opening bid…”
I think they’re going to have a long wait.
$35k……this guy is on crack..
When your custom paint job can also be mistaken for acts of vandalism, it might be time to rethink it.
HAHAHAHHAHAHAA!!!!! Good one!!
“It breaks my heart to sell it”. For $35K it would break the bank for most people. Yes its a six pack car but needs at least $50K to restore it.
I see the rarity but I don’t see the value. The math just doesn’t work at anywhere near the advertised cost of entry. It would really need to be a labor of love. Nothing wrong with that though.
Unlike the GM Tri-power setups of the early sixties the Mopar six pack setup (much like the Chevy 427 tri-power) was no harder to “tune” than a Holley vacuum secondary four barrel. It’s basically a four barrel with the secondary detached X two.
“Silly String” paint job.
Never a good idea to give a car a “nitch” paint job like that, unless you’re going to drive the wheels off it or die with it.
We had a body man back in the ’70s that did the occasional “Silly String” paint job. As I recall, the trick to it was to strain the paint straight into the gun right from the can with little to no thinner/reducer, which caused it to come out of the orifice in a string.
I never cared for these paint jobs (and this car’s is no exception), but he seemed to have a good time doing them.
Can also be done by setting the fan and atomization air to zero.
Dumb question, will another year nose fit on this? I don’t love the front bumpEr but I love the rest of the car, I would go pistol grip, is that a big huge mouse nest I see? That means everything has to come out of it. I did see the yellow A-12 ? For big bucks
The paint job was cool in a different time period, I was thinking 80’s but yes probably 70’s, engine mods probably eighties, at least these mods if not nineties, the tach sitting in ‘race ready’ position is later as well, B&M shifter, all of it leads me to wonder,
What did the day two version of this car look like in the very early seventies, no way it was left stock. Interesting car that probably has a very interesting past history, from the minute it rolled off the dealer lot and then on over to the Connecting. Or some other street meet.
Always a Chevy first guy, but love those old mopars too!
Another Mopar weed induced coma! For the asking price I would like to believe you could find one without that awful paint scheme. And probably one restored with everything including six pack setup. It is a cool setup but for 125000 I don’t think so. Maybe the 35000 open bid for asking price.
It looks like it sat outside for years with no hood.
Growing up in Valley Stream NY in the early 70’s there were a a couple of cars painted like this. It was know as the endless line. At the time it was very cool.
Brooklyn huh? I think I remember this car cruising Fountain Avenue back in the seventies….
Ah those were the days, when cars were huge, wasted gas, and polluted the air, I miss those days…..
Did anyone ever try painting the horse collars the same color as the cars kind of like Pontiac’s endura?
It’s a factory Plum crazy car – it will sell maybe for not that price but those in the know will ask questions of the seller and then it’s gone. Did someone say Dana ?
Comment as you will………
Just one photo of the side of the Bee, in the proper sunlight, would’ve made my day.
Did lots of custom painting back in the 70’s and 80’s. This was an early version of “drunk pin striping.” Car is base coated a solid color then random colors sprayed all over in a somewhat blended fashion. Then you laid down 1/4” fine line tape to create a pattern. Many were like this and the more difficult, time consuming, ones were straight lines and 90 degree corners interlocking. After pattern laid out, main body color applied, tape pulled and car cleared. Usually clear had mica added to it for even more sparkle.
Love the paint job. Takes you back to a simpler time . When you could afford a used muscle car. Drag the heck out of it use it as intended. When everything was made to modify. Back then I wasn’t so hip with the crazy paint jobs. Sure am now takes me back. B&M shifters were the go to for quicker shifts back in the day . I use one on my 65 Coronet 500. Have the original and thought often to put back in but then loose some of that old school vibe of being a drag car . This car has been neglected parked out back like so many once was cars. No matter which way one would take the build will still need to spend money after purchasing. I would not even pay half the asking price. Would love to see some old motor head bring it back to its racing glory. Groovy paint a must!
DuesenbergDino thanks for your description of how the paint job was laid. Looking at pictures can clearly see it. I can go about my day now knowing I learned something. Someone asked about roof looks wavy. It’s a vinyl roof needing replaced which could open a can of worms.
Its certainly a time piece of the late 70s with that paint job, the Sun tach , Sanyo cassette player and massive bias ply tires on the back !
The paint jobs were done because it was a fad. Just like stupid air shocks and L60 15 tires made by Lee. I was a high school senior in 1973 and my everyday car was a bone stock 1970 FE5 Road Runner with N96. I kept the stock Goodyear Polyglas tires on it. I did make one change, Cherry Bombs, but saved the original Chrysler mufflers. I was an OEM guy then and still am. Cool Bee, but too much money.