By 1968, the mid-size muscle car craze was in full swing. The Pontiac GTO is credited with starting the boom in 1964, but pundits will suggest the Chrysler 300 deserves that honor. But it was a different kind of car more than a decade earlier. The hot Plymouth Road Runner hit the scene in ’68 as did the comparable – and often overlooked – Dodge Super Bee. This first-year edition of the latter needs some cosmetic attention but is said to run great. From Staunton, Virginia, this Mopar find is available here on craigslist for $29,000. Kudos to Barn Finder jonny for the tip!

The concept of the Super Bee and Road Runner was similar. Take the mid-size B-body platform of either the Coronet or Belvedere, put a big V8 engine under the hood, provide limited amenities, and apply some gimmicks here and there (name, colors, horn). Perhaps Plymouth did a better job of marketing their car because Road Runner sales were more than triple those of the Dodge’s during the four years the Super Bee was on the market (1968-71).  Whereas more than 177,000 Road Runners left the assembly line during that period, only 56,000 Super Bees were produced before Dodge backed away. But Plymouth stayed the course for a few more years.

Apparently, the muscle car buyers who arrived at Dodge dealerships during the late 1960s were far more taken with the Charger, which the Chrysler division had no trouble selling plenty of. While the Super Bee didn’t have a horn that buzzed like the Road Runner’s that beeped, they were similar vehicles. A 383 cubic inch V8 was standard equipment, and both cars could be ordered with the bigger 440 or the 426 Hemi. The seller’s ’68 Super Bee has the 383 with an automatic transmission, but no mention is made of whether they’re original to the machine. It’s said to run “good” but a little more information would be nice.

The biggest problem with this Dodge may be the body. The paint is peeling, which is an understatement when looking below the C-pillar on the passenger side. A series of large cracks in the paint is present and could be reflective of poorly applied body filler below. A thorough inspection of the sheet metal and undercarriage would be advised with any purchase of this nature. The rather basic interior “needs TLC” and that would begin with a thorough cleaning. This might be a great candidate for a restoration as far fewer Super Bees turn up at Mopar events than do Road Runners.