Super Bee

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ALL BUZZ NO BEEP BEEP

Background:

The Dodge Super Bee followed after the creation of Plymouth's successful Roadrunner Chief difference's were the use of available tail stripes or available "C" stripe in 1970 only, classy wheel lip moldings & incorporation of Charger Ralleye instrument cluster, all these were standard equipment. The nifty tic toc tac was an option to compliment the gauges.

Super Bee's had a standard "power bulge" hood to set apart from other Coronets. In 69 & 70 distinctive Ram Charger hood scoops were offered as well. Super Bee's used the mid line Coronet trim level so they always had carpet & never a "taxi cab" interior. 1968 used 2dr coupes only adding 2 dr hardtop as well in 1969, unlike Road runner never a convertible.

The 383 4 bbl Magnum was the standard engine with 335 hp however cars w/ air conditioning had a 330hp engine. A 426 Hemi with 425 hp was the only engine option in 1968. In 1969 a 440 6 pack was offered using 3-2 bbls & 4.10 axle ratio. In 1971 the 383 was detuned hp wise to 300 hp while a 340 was also offered. A 4-spd was the standard trans in 1968-69 while 3spd was entry level starting 1970.

First Generation

In 1968 the two MOPAR divisions, Dodge and Plymouth, began to engage in a bit of sibling rivalry. The result was the Dodge Super Bee, a direct competitor to Plymouth's Road Runner. Although a capable budget muscle car, it never was as successful as the Road Runner. The original Super Bee was based on the Dodge Coronet. It was a two-door coupe model only 1968 through 1970. It was the company's low-priced muscle car. The Super Bee included a heavy-duty suspension, an optional Mopar A-833 four-speed and high-performance tires. Outside, a stripe (with the bee logo) was wrapped around the tail. The 1968 model only came as a two-door coupe and two engine options, the base 335 hp 383 Magnum,& the 426 Hemi rated at 425 hp.

A hardtop version joined the existing pillared coupe body for 1969, and a new optional twin-scooped air induction hood was now available and became known as the "Ramcharger". This particular option was coded N-96 and was the counterpart to the Plymouth Road Runner's "Coyote Duster" air induction hood. A "six-pack" (three two-barrel carburetors) version of Dodge's 440 cubic inch engine was added to the offering list mid-year. This option fell half-way between the standard engine and the Hemi. The 1969 model year gave Chrysler customers several engines to choose from. The base 383 hp (high performance), 440 Six Pack, and the 426 Hemi.

1970 the Super Bee received a cosmetic redesign and was given a new front end that consisted of a twin-looped front bumper that Dodge PR referred to as "bumble bee wings". The engine choices, as well as the "ramcharger" hood carried over from 1969. The 1970 cars from Dodge were chock-full of new and improved options; for example: a "double hockey stick stripe" variant of the bumble stripe was offered in addition to new high-back bucket seats, steering column-mounted ignition as well as a "pistol-grip" Hurst shifter on four-speed models.

Second generation

In 1971 the Super Bee model was moved to the Charger platform. Since the Charger already had an R/T muscle car version, the Super Bee was slotted in as the low-priced entry in the line at US$3,271. 5,054 were produced which includes the 22 with the Hemi engine.

1971 was the first and only year that a small block engine (340 4-bbl) became available in the Super Bee

Although the 440 Magnum (4-bbl) was not an available option on the Super Bee for 1971, 26 are known to have been built.

Model Successor

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1970s Mexican Super Bees

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First generation (Mexico)"

Around 1970, the Mexican-market Dodge Dart had a Super Bee package; Super Bees were based on the Demon/Dart Sport semi-fastback Mopar A platform until 1976, and the F platform (based on the Dodge Aspen coupe) between 1977–79 (sold in Mexico as part of the Dodge Valiant Volare series).

Production 1970–1976.... Assembly Toluca, Mexico.... Body style(s) 2-door coupe Platform A-body ... Engine(s) 340 in³ LA V8.... Transmission(s) 4-speed manual... Torqueflite automatic ... Wheelbase 108.0 in.... Length 192.5 in ... Width 71.6 in .... Height 54.0 in.... Related Plymouth Valiant.... Chrysler Valiant... Dodge Dart ... Second generation (Mexico) ... Production 1976–1980 ... Assembly Toluca, Mexico... Body style(s) 2-door coupe ... Platform F-body .... Engine(s) 318 in³ LA V8... 360 in³ LA V8 ... Transmission(s) 4-speed manual... TorqueFlite automatic... Wheelbase 108.7 in .... Length 198.8 in .... Width 73.3 in .... Height 53.3 in .... Related Dodge Aspen .... Plymouth Volare

"Second generation (Mexico)"

Production 1976–1980 ... Assembly Toluca, Mexico... Body style(s) 2-door coupe... Platform F-body .... Engine(s) 318 in³ LA V8.... 360 in³ LA V8 .... Transmission(s) 4-speed manual.... TorqueFlite automatic .... Wheelbase 108.7 in ... Length 198.8 in.... Width 73.3 in.... Height 53.3 in... Related Dodge Aspen Plymouth Volare

Related Models

• Dodge Coronet R/T
• Plymouth GTX
• Plymouth Road Runner
• Dodge Charger

Competition

• Plymouth Road Runner
• Olds 442
• Pontiac GTO
• Chevorlet Chevelle SS
• Ford Torino GT
• Mercury Cyclone

Body Styles

• 1968 2-Door Sedan
• 1969-1971 2-Door Hardtop

Technical:

Class

Mid-Size Budget Muscle Car

Platform

B-Body

Engines

340...383...440...426 Hemi

1968

383 ( 335 hp ) 426 Hemi ( 425 hp )

1969

383 (335 hp ) 440 ( 390 hp ) 426 hemi (425 hp)

1970

440 ( 390 hp ) 426 Hemi ( 425 hp )

1971

340 ( 275 hp) ...383 (300 hp)....440 ( 370 hp )...440( 385 hp).... 426 (425 hp)

Transmissions

4-speed manual

Torqueflite automatic

Specifications:

Length, width, height, wheelbase

1968 /1970.........117-inch wheelbase

Year by Year Changes, Production Numbers, and Cost:

1968

cost from 68 to 70 were around ....$3,027

Production numbers...1968: 7,842–7,717 (383)......... 125 (426 Hemi)

1969

Production numbers...1969: 27,800–25,727 (383).... 1,907 (440 Six Pack).....166 (426 Hemi)

1970

Production numbers...1970: 15,506

1971

Production numbers 5,054 ......... cost....$3,271.

22 with the Hemi engine.