440+6! 1970 Dodge Super Bee
Earlier in the week I covered this 1970 Dodge Coronet 500 convertible and I have taken note of all of the back and forth comments. One thing that I stated at the outset is that most of the ’70 Coronets that we cover here on BF are usually Super Bees or R/Ts and performing an open-ended search on today’s find, a 1970 Super Bee, bears that sentiment out. So, with the 500 convertible fresh in our collective minds let’s examine this sharp-looking Bee. It’s located in Westminster, Massachusetts and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $45,200 with the reserve not yet met.
As most know, the Super Bee was Dodge’s answer to Plymouth’s Road Runner – a stripped-down, less expensive version of the R/T. It was a short-lived model, existing in the Coronet line from ’68 to ’70 and then moving over to the Charger for just one year in ’71. Total Super Bee production reached about 15K units in ’70 with that number divided across two different body styles, a hardtop and a coupe. Keith Martin’s Sports Car Market estimates that 1,268 of the total were “V-Code” cars meaning equipped with the 440 “Six-Pack” engine.
We’ve debated back and forth about the Coronet/RT/Super Bee’s double-loop front bumper so I’ll pass on making any more comments about that. The seller advises, “This is great car not a show car paint prob better than your average driver car has imperfections some trim ding or a scratch this car is not for nit picker…” It looks good! The seller mentions that the paint, Code K5 Dark Burnt Orange, has been recently cut and polished. The underside is exceedingly clean and there is no indication of rust – the bane of this generation of Dodge and Plymouth cars. The vinyl top is an interesting piece, it’s a “gator-skin” version.
Unfortunately, the V-Code 390 gross HP, 440 CI V8 engine is not original to this car. It’s a 1968 vintage block and it has been stroked out to 496 CI. A TorqueFlite three-speed automatic transmission sits between the big RB engine and the eight and three-quarter rear differential which is spinning 3.55:1 gears. No mention is made as to how this Dodge scoots but I have to believe it’s fast!
Inside is a bucket seat environment sans center console. It’s in very nice overall condition with sound vinyl upholstery and a matching carpet. Auxillary gauges and an aftermarket tach have been added along with an add-on racing shifter.
So, the seller tells us that his price is “firm” though I’m not sure what that means in an auction other than his reserve, whatever it is, may be firm. As stated earlier, the current bid is $45,200 and the 1970 Dodge Coronet 500 convertible that I previewed the other day had a BIN price of $45,000 – that puts things into perspective. The non-original engine is of no concern to me providing that this well-documented car is priced accordingly. I wouldn’t want to pay a matching numbers price for numbers that don’t match. At least that’s my thought, what’s yours?
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Comments
Absolutely agree. Many of us have the dream to buy something in good/ reliably rebuildable condition then finish it like this, original drivetrain notwithstanding then slip in a good motor/drivetrain and call it our own.
The way we’re reading this the seller has pretty much done that for us here-just up to the readers to determine if it’s something they’d have done and cough up the cash if they like it that much..
Some of us though will have to be content in just being able to stand by and cheer them on.
GLWTS! It’s a beaut.
Good write up J.O. Fast you say .. 😏
Guarantee this is a beast on the streets. Don’t know if that shifter snaps things off much quicker, than the stock Torq-flite, but the 3.55 gear means it won’t mind a few trips on the highway as well.
Good looking SuperBee 🐝
I believe that is the wrong hood based on the fender tag (N96).
Yep, wrong hood and air cleaner lid.
Ramcharger
Really classy shade of orange on that Bee. Like it. All the mechanicals appear to have been done right. Too rich for my blood. What’s that TV remote doing on the seat though?
That’s the correct hood for the N96. The TV remote? My guess is it’s for the TV in the shop/garage where it’s stored. Love the color combo. Beautiful car
One of my all time favorites. Good combination of looks and go. Pretty much turn key for someone who wants to enjoy their purchase right away.
There were some really beautiful cars built in the 60s and early 70s and this one is one of the best looking IMHO.
Brian, this one looks an awful lot like the one once belonging to your long ago neighbor, and my friend J.S. Not sure what he ever did with his. But the last time I saw him Jim he was driving a baby blue Vega station wagon. . .
I remember it well.
Perfect!