1971 turned out to be the nameplate’s final model year in showrooms, turning the Super Bee into a short-lived muscle car and a prized collectible. Granted, it’s not incredibly rare overall, but the HEMI-equipped examples are not only hard to find but quite expensive too.
That’s because Dodge sold only 355 examples. And yes, I’m talking about all four model years, with the 1971 version topping the scarcity chart with just 22 units.
Cars equipped with the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) Six-Pack RB are also relatively rare with a few thousand units built over three years (the engine wasn’t available in 1968), as is the 340-powered Super Bee, sold in 1971 only. This leaves the 383 version as the more common offering. In 1969 alone, for instance, Dodge sold 25,727 units fitted with the “Magnum” big-block.
Granted, A4 Silver isn’t the most appealing exterior color for a muscle car hailing from the golden era. At least not when it comes to Dodge, which offered a wide palette of flashy colors like Plum Crazy, Sublime, Go Mango, and Top Banana.
How rare? Well, there are no color-based production records to run by it’s common knowledge that A4 Silver cars were usually built with black interiors. Likewise, blue upholstery was commonly specified with B5 Blue cars.
So what’s the deal with this car? It just came out of long-term storage after sitting in a garage for about 20 years. The Super Bee has seen better days. But it’s in solid condition given how much time it spent off the road.
The original 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) V8 engine is still under the hood. That is good news for the person who will put this Super Bee back on the road. This Mopar, picked up at a swap meet, just got a second chance at life.
And hopefully, we’ll see it run and drive again soon, while still sporting its unlikely silver-over-blue color combo. Check it out in the video below.
