The Super Bee was a limited-production muscle car from Chrysler's Dodge division produced from 1968 through 1971. The Super Bee mascot was resurrected for the 2004 Ram Rumble Bee model.

1968

The original Super Bee was based on the Dodge Coronet. It was a two-door model only and was produced from 1968 through 1970. It was the company's low-priced muscle car, the equivalent of the Plymouth Road Runner, and was priced at $3,027. Although it was available with the Hemi engine, this option raised the price by 33% and only 125 were sold.

The Super Bee included a heavy-duty suspension, Hurst four-speed manual transmission, and high-performance tires. Outside, a stripe (with the bee logo) was wrapped around the tail.

A hardtop version joined the existing pillared coupe body for 1969, and the induction was now a "Ramcharger" cold-air intake. A "six-pack" (three two-barrel carburetor) version of Dodge's 440 in³ engine was added to the offering list. This option fell half-way between the standard engine and the Hemi as a $463 option.

Engines:

• 1968-1970 - 383 in³ (6.3 L) Big-Block V8, 335 hp (250 kW)
• 1968-1970 - 426 in³ (7.0 L) Hemi V8, 425 hp (317 kW)
• 1969-1970 - 440 in³ (6.3 L) Big-Block V8, 390 hp (291 kW)

Production:

1968 - 7,842 - 7,717 (383), 125 (426 Hemi)

1969 - 27,800 - 25,727 (383), 1,907 (440 Six Pack), 166 (426 Hemi)

1970 - 15,506

1971

Since the 1971 Coronet was only available in four-door and station wagon versions, 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 $3,271. 4,144 were produced, plus 22 with the Hemi engine.

Engines:

• 1971 - 383 in³ (6.3 L) Big-Block V8, 300 hp (224 kW)
• 1971 - 440 in³ (6.3 L) Big-Block V8, 385 hp (287 kW)
• 1971 - 426 in³ (7.0 L) Hemi V8, 425 hp (317 kW)

References