Although the finishing line was in sight for the muscle car era by 1970, manufacturers continued producing potent vehicles to capture genuine enthusiasts’ hearts, minds, and cash. Today, those cars are some of the most desirable in the classic scene, with vehicles like this 1970 Dodge Super Bee highly sought after. This beauty offers potential buyers some intriguing options, although many would be tempted to return it to its former glory. If you feel sorely tempted by the idea of slipping behind the wheel of a genuine hard-edged muscle car, this Super Bee is listed exclusively on Barn Finds Auctions.
Dodge introduced the Super Bee in 1968 as its affordable muscle car. It based the vehicle on its B-Platform Coronet range, focusing almost exclusively on performance. However, by utilizing some higher-quality components than those destined for the Plymouth Road Runner, the sticker price of the Super Bee was higher than intended. This adversely impacted sales totals, but the result was a more “complete” driver’s car. The original owner ordered this Dodge in Code Y1 Bright Yellow, and it retains its original paint and contrasting Black C-Stripe. If the new owner wishes to preserve its survivor status, that option is viable. The car is rock-solid, with its only rust confined to the trunk pan and a few tiny spots in the lower rear quarter panels. Addressing those flaws would be straightforward and shouldn’t detract from this classic’s originality. The panels sport their share of bumps and bruises, but none are severe, and wholesale panel replacement isn’t warranted. The trim and badges look excellent for their age, and I can’t spot any glass issues.
The originality of this Super Bee continues when we open the doors and examine its interior. It retains its front bench seat trimmed in Black vinyl, and the upholstered surfaces are one of the highlights. They are free from wear or physical damage, and the carpet is also pretty impressive. The headliner has seam separations, and while replacement would seem the obvious choice, a competent professional might be able to address the problem for preservation’s sake. The dash pad and wheel are cracked, and some painted surfaces are slightly damaged. However, that is the extent of the bad news. The good news is that the interior is unmolested beyond the installation of an aftermarket tachometer. The factory AM radio is intact, as is the Rally gauge cluster with the ultra-cool Tick-Tock-Tach.
Lifting the hood is where the horizons broaden considerably with this Super Bee. Occupying the engine bay is the iconic 440ci Six-Pack V8, backed by a three-speed TorqueFlite transmission and an 8¾” rear end equipped with 4.10 gears. This engine features a mild cam and headers, so it probably produces more than the factory-declared figure of 390hp. While Dodge claimed the car should blast through the ¼-mile in 14.1 seconds, the owner had no trouble achieving high-12-second passes down the strip in Boise, Idaho. The V8 under the hood isn’t numbers-matching, but that isn’t bad news. The owner removed the original motor and placed it on a stand, slotting in this one for a spot of fun. This approach has protected the factory V8 from undue stress. The new owner could continue enjoying the car untouched, returning it to its original specifications when they see fit. The owner includes both engines in the sale, along with the Owner’s Manual and Build Sheet. The Super Bee runs and drives well, ready to offer someone some potent classic motoring pleasure.
We only need to view the sales decline to understand why the Super Bee badge disappeared a year after this 1970 example rolled off the line. In 1969, 27,800 buyers handed over their hard-earned cash to drive home in a Super Bee. The following year, that figure plunged to 15,506. Dodge persevered for a final year, but with only 5,054 cars finding homes, the company drew the curtain on one of the great muscle cars. Times change, and high-performance classics that fell from favor in the 1970s and 1980s have gained a new lease on life. This one is a beauty offering the successful bidder many options to consider. If you have a clear vision for this classic roaming around in your head, maybe submitting a bid would be the perfect way to transform the dream into a reality.
- Location: Wilson, Wyoming
- Mileage: 66,210 Shown
- Engine: 440ci Six-Pack V8
- Transmission: Automatic
- VIN: WM23V0G156017
- Title Status: Clean
Bid On This Auction
- Johnny66 bid $34,500.00 2023-04-16 16:23:29
- Mikey T. bid $30,000.00 2023-04-14 13:29:46
- 2manyvettes bid $26,600.00 2023-04-14 12:32:33
- Mark vw bid $26,500.00 2023-04-14 06:55:26
- Dave Ryan bid $26,000.00 2023-04-13 20:15:19
- Mikey T. bid $25,000.00 2023-04-13 20:09:58
- Dave Ryan bid $21,000.00 2023-04-13 19:53:09
- Mark vw bid $20,500.00 2023-04-13 19:28:46
- Dave Ryan bid $20,000.00 2023-04-13 19:25:31
- Mark vw bid $19,000.00 2023-04-13 19:18:01
- Dave Ryan bid $18,000.00 2023-04-13 19:12:50
- Mark vw bid $17,000.00 2023-04-13 17:09:08
- 2manyvettes bid $16,500.00 2023-04-13 17:04:38
- Mark vw bid $16,000.00 2023-04-13 16:45:11
- 2manyvettes bid $15,250.00 2023-04-13 12:39:59
Greg B bid $15,000.00 2023-04-12 19:28:32- 2manyvettes bid $12,000.00 2023-04-12 17:48:28
- Greg B bid $10,000.00 2023-04-12 16:19:48
- 2manyvettes bid $9,000.00 2023-04-12 15:38:58
- Greg B bid $8,500.00 2023-04-12 13:28:54
- 2manyvettes bid $7,500.00 2023-04-12 12:32:35
- chieftbird bid $5,000.00 2023-04-12 12:19:39
- 2manyvettes bid $2,000.00 2023-04-12 12:13:21
How “mild” is said cam???
This is a great-looking car. The front end looks absolutely sinister.
One of my favorite Mopars of all time! Has love it or hate it looks, but I love it!
I was going to say that this is one of the angriest looking cars ever made!
68-70 B-Bodies have to be the most masculine cars ever produced.
Front end sucks says the former owner of a ’69 Super Bee!!!
Good question Meow. Maybe a wild mild. Im a 4spd Ford guy, but man the big block Mopars w the torq-flite are a great street machine and a blast. Buddy had a same era Charger 440 autoloader. Fantastic fun car.
Likely mild enough to keep the stock converter
It’s a hughes hydraulic lifter cam with about .540 ” lift.
I’ll see if I have the cam card
The wheels and tire choice aren’t doing this car any favors, but thats easily changed. I remember first seeing these ’70 front clips and thinking how odd it was, but I’ve really grown to like it
The car came with 14” rallye wheels which are included
Also, the exhaust system is from TTI, stainless headers and pipes. It sounds great
To quote Bill Murray, ” Don’t drive Angry “, this car does have an arrogant look about it. I think it all started with the Dodge Monaco, 1966-67, I love the look of this car, it demands to be noticed. I had a 1977 Dodge Ram charger this color, blacked out grilled and rolled steel bumpers. I then bought the Super Bee decals and it looked really nice. Everyone just call it the Bee, and you could find me driving all over Tucson. This car should still bring good money. I used to park it at The Cowpony, a local bar in Tucson. I still miss my Bee.
The 70 loop bumpers were supposed to imitate the bees wings. I love that cars used to change the bodystyles every couple of years and keep it fresh. Nowadays you can’t tell a Honda from a Nissan from a Toyota with the side silhouette profiles. So generic.
I’ve heard that rumor, but questioned it since it was used on all the mid size Dodge line that year . I makes sense they would do that if only the Super Bee used that style , but even base model Coronets used it .
Yes, you are correct, but I think that Dodge may have just marketed that tidbit towards the Bees, since the bumpers do look like Bees wings. In 71 the Super Bee was it’s own model, but shared the Charger bodystyle and the Coronet became a 4 door with a completely different bodystyle, from the there on out until production ceased I believe.
15 years from now, when I lose all the strength in my left leg, I’ll wish I’d bought this car.
This car is in great shape considering the year. Very nice, should fetch a pretty penny on here.
If I had it to spend, this would be in my driveway tomorrow.
When I was a 17 year old, I had a 71 Nova SS with a 4-speed and it was hopped up a little with a cam, headers, aluminum intake and some decent heads for back then. I had my tail handed to me one day when I looked in the rear view mirror and all I saw was a dark green 70 Bee eating my rear bumper off! I loved it then and still do to this day and that’s when I sold the Nova and bought my 1st Mopar…a one owner, 53k original mile, paint interior, etc., 70 Charger and have been on that Mopar wagon ever since. They have their issues just like any other car out there, but if you don’t want to see your car at every show and cruise in, grab something not so mainstream and have fun. All my Ford and Chevy buddies that I haven’t seen in years ask me when I run into them if I still have that Charger and I tell them no, but I have owned several more since then.
Moparmaniac, with a name like that, you probably watch Graveyard Cars. They do more Super Bees / Coronets on that show than any other model.
I have watched that show since the very first episode. I have owned just about all brands of cars over the years, but am attracted to the bold looks of the Mopars and like I said earlier, you didn’t used to see them everywhere you went. I am glad in a way that they are getting their due, but it makes a lot of them out of reach for most people now. I’d love to own the one for sale here, but with it being a V code, it’s going to bring good money and appears to have a solid body. Looks like an honest car and the seller is straight up too.
Me too – been in love with them (Barracuda in particular) when I first passed a ’73 ‘Cuda 340 in white every day while going to school. I wasn’t a car guy at the time and that is the only car I wanted. Luckily, I ended up getting a ’73 Barracuda, 318 on the column as my first car and I loved that car. Dad would not let me buy the built ’70 340 with the fresh rootbeer brown paint – that still stings a little, but father knows best.
So, the love affair with Mopars continues, although my driveway is now filled with Fords.
Nothing wrong with Fords. I have had a couple of Mustangs but have always loved the 66-7 Fairlanes too and the 70-1 Torinos.
Beautiful car! Reminds me of my 69 Charger in my high school. How do these auctions work? Can you speak directly with seller? I’ve participated on the other site, but never here. I’m curious if the original engine on the stand is also a 440 six pack, among other things? Thanks. Jim
Greg B, I see you are bidding. What are your plans for it? GLWB
I actually had a ‘70 Dodge Superbee that I had bought from the original owner in the late 90’s. Much like this one but mine had a 383 that I had rebuilt. I completely restored it and it also had the N96 hood.
I was just reviewing this one again and if I had it I would be tempted to completely restore it. Would be a good candidate being a V code with the original engine and broadcast sheet. It’s very tempting!
Jim jim, yes the original motor is the 440 six pac. It has the cast iron intake manifold where the 440 in the car has the aluminum Edelbrock. The original motor has the dual point distributor, cast iron intake, and exhaust manifolds that’s unique to the six pac
Owner
I bought a 70 Coronet R/T used, in 1971. Black vinyl on red body with black buckets interior. It came with a radio (AM only) and heater. 383/335 with the deers foot/pistol grip 4spd. I always got looks at the local burger joints in Mt Prospect. I loved that car but apparently someone else loved it more than me. It was MIA one morning from the parking lot of my apartment bldg. I initially thought one of my buddies somehow moved it on me but no, it had been stolen. My uncle (insurance agent) informed me a year later the VIN showed up in a police report from a busted chop shop in Milwaukee. At that point I stopped looking for it on the road.
BTW, what was the difference between my 70 Coronet R/T and the Super Bee?
The Coronet R/T came factory with a 440 magnum base engine. The six pack, as well as Hemi were the options. It had a little more bells and whistles than the Bees. The Bees were intended to be entry level muscle with the 383 magnum as the base but optional 440 six pack and Hemi as their option.
Thank you Moparmaniac for the information. My brother said it was not an R/T but a Coronet 500 (as described above). Could have sworn it was an R/T . . .
The years cloud our memories don’t they?
The description indicates the car has the original Tic-Toc tach, plus an aftermarket tach. Does the Tic-Toch still work?
The tic toch works but wasn’t accurate so I added the aftermarket tach
The temp gauge doesn’t work but the other’s work although they need to be restored – the plastic is hard to see through
Question for refurbishers~~~,,, Do you find original copper core rads,,,for these ?? or modify to aluminum after market? I have parts for similar autos. Cuda , Challenger, Coronet and the like. Ne Pa.
Is there a panel not damaged or suffering from needed panel replacement?
Hard to say, but does it matter? It’s original paint. Looks rust free. Prob not a car for you.
Nothing wrong with a Coronet 500 either. They were trimmed out as good or better than a standard R/T. A lot of people take a 500 and clone an R/T out of them because they had the nice interior like the R/T’s had. With that 383 you had in yours, it would run with a Super Bee with the same 383 engine and yours being a 4-speed, pistol grip, I bet it was a hoot to drive. Too bad someone just took it from you to chop it up. Can’t stand a thief, especially when you work hard for what you have and someone just takes it away from you.
Randall, “The years cloud our memories don’t they?”
Oh, man! And it just seems to be getting cloudier . . .
Keep coming back to this. So beautiful, especially in its current state. Rick, how long have you owned the car?
I found it sitting outside in a farmers bone yard in 1996, and finally made a deal to buy it in 98. His uncle bought it new so I’m the third owner.
My dad bought a ’69 Bee off the showroom floor in Murray, UT. 383 4 barrel, 4 speed, copper color. I loved that car, 69 Mopar is still my favorite body style. He rolled it one night going to work in 72 and that was the end of the Bee but I bought a 68 GTX 440 4 barrel, 3 speed auto in 77 as my first car, paid $400 for it and ran that thing every Friday and Saturday night on State Street for a few years. Miss my old Mopars. Thanks for taking me down memory lane.
I’ve lowered my reserve, the next bidder will meet the new reserve and be able to purchase
Nice car sir