Although the Super Bee underwent a major makeover in 1970, the deterioration that became increasingly apparent in the early years of the new decade continued. The Super and its Plymouth siblings were severely impacted by the steady decline of the performance vehicle trend.
In 1969, Dodge produced nearly 30,000 Super Bees; but, a year later, sales dropped sharply to 15,500 units. Another decrease to about 5,000 units occurred in 1971.
The carmaker made an effort to maintain the Super Bee’s performance focus despite the evident reduction, therefore the engine lineup stayed mostly unaltered. Three different engine options were offered for the 1970 model year: a 440 Six-Pack with 390 horsepower, a 426 Hemi with 425 horsepower, and a 383 with 335 horsepower.
The assembly lines with a 383 four-barrel unit paired with a 4-speed manual transmission. The powertrain is long gone, and while most people are tempted to walk away at this point, it’s not all bad news. The lack of an engine allows a Super Bee owner to upgrade the performance under the hood, so if you can find a correct Hemi, you could turn the car into a monster on wheels.
The Super Bee left the factory with the Plum Crazy finish, but the desirable paint is already a thing of the past. The car needs a complete restoration, and despite looking rough, it seems to check the essential boxes for a solid candidate.
The state of the metal is the first thing you need to examine. The undersides are already rust-infested, and some of the floors need to be replaced. You may keep the original arrangement when restoring the automobile because the N96 hood that came with it still exists.
Still, the Super Bee is far from a finished vehicle. Several components are absent, indicating that this project is not for the timid. It needs work done on all the necessary components, with the most difficult task being locating the right parts to finish the car. With a white top and interior, it was a unique configuration that might complicate the overhaul when it came off the assembly lines.
You can find it in Newton, Kansas. You’ll need a trailer to take it home, and the vehicle should get on it easily as it rolls and steers easily.