Dodge introduced its Super Bee in 1968 as an affordable muscle car. Buyers could order their new vehicle with various engines that offered excellent performance, and spotless examples command respectable prices in the current market. Our feature car rolled off the line in 1970, and although it is solid, it requires some love to return to its former glory. The Super Bee is listed here on Craigslist in Allen, Texas. You could take it home by handing the seller $39,000. I must thank eagle-eyed Barn Finder T.J. for spotting this classic for us.
Dodge offered some subtle shades to cloak the panels of the 1970 Super Bee, but Sublime wasn’t one of them. That is what this car wears, and it featured a White vinyl top and white stripe for contrast. The vinyl is gone, and the paint is well beyond its best. The buyer faces stripping the panels to bare metal if a perfect finish is their aim. However, before they pick up their spray gun, there are rust issues requiring attention. These are visible in the lower rear quarter panels, with some spots appearing around the back window. I see spots suggesting replacement floors might be on the agenda, with the same true of the trunk pan. None of these problems are unusual, although the solid rails are encouraging. The original owner selected the Air Grabber hood, and it shows no evidence of significant rust or other nasty surprises. Some trim and chrome pieces require restoration or replacement, but the glass has no issues. It will take time and effort to return this classic’s body to its best, and I believe the new owner will probably employ a rotisserie process to ensure there are no chances of future problems.
Surveying the photos provide some insight into the impact this Super Bee had in 1970. The original owner selected White vinyl trim, adding bucket seats, a console, an AM radio, and the ultra-cool Tic-Toc-Tach. As with the rest of the vehicle, the interior requires significant TLC to regain its lost youth. The only missing piece I’ve identified is the trim around the radio. A trim kit would seem the most cost-effective answer to the upholstery woes, and cost containment could be a significant consideration when assessing this Dodge’s potential value. However, the interior would undoubtedly look stunning once the work is complete.
I admit I felt excited when I began reading the listing for this Super Bee because the original owner chose what I believe to be the best drivetrain combination available in 1970 on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Many enthusiasts focus on the Hemi, and its stunning performance makes that easy to understand. However, this car rolled off the line equipped with a 440ci Six-Pack producing 390hp, a four-speed manual transmission, and a Dana 60 rear end. That made it a performance beast because although it couldn’t quite match Hemi-equipped acceleration levels, its ability to scorch the ¼ mile in 14 seconds means it was no motoring slug. Therefore, you can imagine my disappointment when the photos revealed the Super Bee is no longer numbers-matching. The Dana 60 is intact, but the 440 under the hood is a 1970-vintage 440 that should produce 375hp. There is no transmission, meaning the buyer needs to go shopping to return the car to a mechanically complete state. If they elect to retain this motor and source the correct transmission, it will still return sub-15-second ETs. However, it will lack the sheer visual impact and some street cred when the new owner lifts the hood.
Taken at face value, the generally solid nature of this 1970 Dodge Super Bee appears to make it an excellent restoration prospect. However, losing its original 440 Six-Pack will negatively impact its potential value. Considering the work required and the parts the new owner needs to source for a faithful refurbishment, instincts tell me the asking price might be optimistic. Another consideration is that values in the classic market have recently softened, making me believe the seller may struggle to find a new home for this Dodge. Do you agree, or do you think a buyer might be just around the corner?
I believe the seller will be owning this car for a long time
That’s a lot of money for not a lot of car.
A LOT of money is right!. But i like it. I hate to say it, but this might be a good car for a modern drivetrain at this point.
I just sold one of the nicest V code (440 6 pack) 70 super Bees on the market and I had trouble getting $55k for it after 2 weeks on eBay. Amazed me but I know it costs a lot more than $15k to bring this one to that level. GLWS
NOM, no tranny, all that rust….nay said the horse.
39000? Be smoking some good Mopar weed. You would be in over your head in this rusty pos. Why do they think it is worth that kind of money? 15000 max. And me myself wouldn’t pay that.
Mopar weed – HA HA!
This is a prime example of people watching too many Mecum auctions. Medium money for a car that needs a ton of work is ridiculous.
If it was a 1 of 500 car in this condition, it could possible get 30k but it isn’t and it wont.
I would think this car would get a new Six-Pack set up to make it right again (even though not a numbers car). But not for that kind of money. It’s so sad, it wasn’t that long ago, this would have been the price for a decent finished car. Then again, I’m old. I remember when this was a $2000 car in this condition.
$39,000? I’m going along with the Mopar weed comment. I’m not seeing the highly optioned that was mentioned this is mid level
$12000 mebee
$12000 mebee lots of work here!
I agree with Rod Lustila. 12 to 15 grand maybe. Way to much to do and source to get the car to a favorable condition. It definitely needs the correct motor, you need a transmission and there is quite a bit of rust repair that needs to be done. That whole interior needs to be done . Add to that when the rust is taken care of, a nice pair t job needs to be done. Why spend that kind of money when you can get one a lot closer to bei g right for that money. Yes someone try is smoking the Mopar weed to ask that crazy price. I agree the price of those old mopars is very high because not enough left but the price on this one just doesn’t make sense and is seriously optimistic!!
This would be a great car finished! Sure, it is a lot of money but if he sells it for any cheaper, a dealer will end up with it and then it will be $50k. Sad, but the constant comments about not worth that kind of money are typically the people that don’t have the disposable income and are just upset they are out of the game! good luck with the sale!
They’re not upset that they’re out of the game. They’re upset at being priced out because they would buy, refresh and drive the car, not try to get auction-show rich off it.
Traded my parent’s high school graduation present to me, a 1970 Opel GT for my 1970 Plum Purple Super Bee when I was in the Air Force. After discharge and attending college, I traded the Super Bee and $600 for a 1972 H2 Kawasaki 750 Triple. The Super Bee may be worth tens of thousands these days but I don’t have it anymore. I still have my H2! When it’s worth tens of thousands, I may sell it!
Tom, your H2 triple is worth thousands NOW. Next to early 79s Honda 750s, Kawi triples are bringing huge money. A 73 H2 recently sold for $29,000. I owned two new Kawi triples in the 70s and owned a 1972 Arctic Cat EXT mod racer with a 440 Kawi triple that did about 85 moh on snow. Wish I kept my triples. This Bee is a ton of work. The days of $100,000 Mopars is over, except for pedigree Hemi cars.
Yeah, you keep saying that, but the days aren’t over. Just look at any auction
This has been For Sale for a good while now – pretty sure it was featured here at least once.
Just down the street from the Jeep guys………
$39K for a car with rust, engine out no word on whether it runs or not, no tranny. This guy is reading from the junk car traders hand book. If some one pays that kind of money for another junk yard special they need their head examined! Some one could make a fortune selling a junkers special retail pricing guide using cars like these as role models.