The Super Bee was to Dodge as the Road Runner was to Plymouth. The Super Bee followed the Road Runner into the no-frills segment of the mid-size muscle car market in 1968. It was never as popular, perhaps because Dodge had so many other performance models, so the Super Bee took down its shingle after the 1971 model year. This ’70 edition appears to be wearing its original Hemi Orange paint and has a rebuilt 383 V8, though it’s not hooked up. This project is in Antioch, California, and is available here on craigslist for $29,500. Thanks for the Mopar tip, T.J.!
Based on the Dodge Coronet and body, the Super Bee had a bit of the gimmickry that the Road Runner had, like a badass ass “Bee” logo. The car was named after its platform, the B-Body; since it could go fast, it was called the Super Bee (we’re guessing not a lot of time went into this). Sales were a fraction of the Road Runner’s with the third year (1970) coming in at 15,506 units, with 11,540 being hardtops like the seller’s car.
As the story goes, the seller is the third owner who acquired it from the second party in 1977. The car was in service through 1990 and then a slow restoration process was started that apparently didn’t get much further than the 383 cubic-inch V8 engine. The seller is not certain that’s it’s the original motor, but the 4-speed manual transmission is said to be. The Dodge has the N-96 Ramcharger option which is a twin-scooped air induction system and hood.
Besides rebuilding the engine, the second owner had it blueprinted, ported, and polished and the transmission got a refresh along with a new clutch. Once the drivetrain was put back into the car, the seller became ill, and work on the Dodge stopped. We’re told all the parts are there to finish putting it back together.
As the car was garage-kept for many years, there is minimal rust on the Super Bee, mostly the surface variety. Although more is trying to develop around the rear window trim molding. The car sports a bench seat and black carpeting, but half of the latter is missing, and the door panels are nowhere to be seen. The odometer reading is 42,000 miles and the seller is inclined to believe that’s accurate. As far as projects go, we’ve seen far worse, and this would be a car in the minority around GTOs and Chevelle SS cars once restored. But dig the sweet Plum Crazy Challenger in the driveway next to the Super Bee!
Some claim that the Super Bee name is derived from the car’s B-body designation. Others say it’s because the car used high-performance versions of Chrysler’s B-series engine.
That’s not a 383. Its a 413, 426,or 440, and it looks to have a six pack on it.
Definitely looks like an RB engine, not a 383. This is a near-twin to a car I was in love with years ago and could never afford. Now I can afford it but don’t have the time to finish it…Fender tag shows this was a factory 383, 4 speed with the performance axle package. That’s a great combination. Also seems to have been built without stripes or vinyl top, which is even rarer.
It’s really odd that the seller knows so much about the history but can’t tell the difference between a 383 and 440.
Wish this was closer…I’d be on the road to check it out.
Agree with Fred, I wouldn’t shell out that much for something not running