When it comes to listing Chrysler’s muscle cars of the 1960s and 1970s, the Dodge Super Bee is sometimes overlooked. It was produced for only four years and was widely outsold by its corporate cousin, the Plymouth Road Runner. But that doesn’t make it any less potent than the others and perhaps more desirable today due to a lower number of survivors. This 1970 Super Bee is a matching numbers car that presents well overall, with a couple of minor flaws. It can be found in York, Maine, and is available here on eBay where the bidding has reached $32,660. But the reserve has yet to be triggered.
The Super Bee materialized in 1968 as Dodge’s version of the Road Runner. And, like the Plymouth, it had a catchy name and graphics. Supposedly the moniker is derived from the mid-size platform, the B-body used by Chrysler, so with its performance capabilities was truly a “Super B” (okay, not as creative as the Road Runner). Production numbers would always lag the Plymouth and in 1970, the year of the seller’s car, no more than 18,000 were built. All the B-bodies were redesigned in 1971 and that would be the last for the Super Bee as Dodge did some consolidation of its performance models for 1972.
Under the hood of the seller’s car is the engine that was standard to the Bee, the 383 cubic-inch Magnum V8 that produced 335 hp. From there, buyers could opt for a 440 or 426 Hemi, but the 383 was built in larger quantities and this one has a 4-speed manual with the nifty “Slap-Stick” shifter. We’re told this hardware is original to the Dodge. No mileage is claimed, just a placeholder of 99,999. The seller says the car runs and drives well, but no mention is made of any mechanical makeovers besides a new gas tank and exhaust system.
The black paint may or may not be original, but the white bench interior is, and it presents well. The body and finish look fine except for a rust bubble that has popped up by the rear window. The car does not benefit from having quality photos taken of it, so all you see here are sections of the automobile, not the whole package. We’re told the wheels and tires are new and the Dodge has an aftermarket stereo that did not require any mutilation of the dashboard to get it in. If you’re looking for a super “B” this one is far from being a project car.
Hmmm? And here I always thought that shift handle was known as a “pistol grip”
And a “slap stick” was in an automatic mopar. Oh well that’s new to me.
It is a pistol grip shifter
slap stick was the A/T handle, pistol grip 4 speed shown
Hmmm? And here I always thought that shift handle was known as a “pistol grip”
And a “slap stick” was in an automatic mopar. Oh well that’s new to me.
Nice car, probably bring big $$
Russ, it’s the “Pistol Grip” shifter pictured.
The slap-stick was the automatic in the console option…
Maybe the antigun lobby doesn’t want us to call it the pistol grip anymore😁
Something is missing under the steering wheel, you can see the guts inside the steering shaft. Maybe the wrong wheel?
It always makes for a spirited debate, but I was told by my brother – a Chrysler engineer in the 1970s – that “Super Bee” refers to the high-performance Chrysler B-series engine under the hood.
I like these more and more everytime one pops up. That ‘angry’ face on the 70’s is solid gold and so much better than any rr or charger or anything else mopar rolled out. If I saw that grill steaming up the road behind me I know I’d get out the way!
Oh, come on! Everybody knows that the name “Super Bee” comes from the “B” engine in a “B” body! And it was a high-performance B engine (the 383 Magnum, same as the special Road Runner 383) — a “super” B engine. So all the way around, the car was a SUPER B(ee)…!
The “Slap-Stick” was the special T-handle shifter in the 727 automatic!
This is a Hurst Pistol-Grip shifter in the A833 4-speed.
Quite different.
38 grand with a Saturday night to go. Second banana?? Then my E36 BMW must be a 15th banana, LOL!!!
Beautiful example, love the color combo, should hit 50k or more.
Wow. I’m a Fairlane Fanatic, but this Super Bee is my favorite Dodge, and I’m likin’ em more all the time. Black is tops, though I’d prefer one of the high impact colors myself.
GLWTA. ~M
Not the first time Russ didn’t know his shifters.