How to Restore a Super Bee

The Dodge Super Bee was one of the finest examples of the Mopar Muscle Car Age. Designed as competition for the Plymouth Road Runner, the Super Bee was a sleek, powerful, yet affordable vehicle. The original Super Bee run lasted just four years; making the rare car one of the most sought-after restored vehicles of its kind.

Instructions

Difficulty: Challenging

1. Make sure a restoration project is worthwhile. If you intend to restore a Super Bee, you can count on spending a great deal of time, effort and cash. No matter how much you love the car, take it to a reputable restoration shop to have it inspected. For a small fee, they can save you from sinking money into an unfixable project.
2. Consider leaving restoration to the experts. Let's face it; the finest restorations are done by folks who restore cars for a living. If possible, hire a well-known and highly recommended shop specializing in Mopar Muscle to restore your Super Bee to its former glory. Expert services can be expensive, but having the job done correctly can also be worth every penny.
3. Buy a Super Bee restoration guide. If you intend to do the work yourself, have a plan. A restoration guide will outline the process from start to finish, ensuring you don't skip essential steps. You can purchase a Super Bee restoration guide online through Amazon.
4. Start from the frame up. Never skip steps. If you intend for the restoration to last, you must strip the car to the bare frame and work your way back. The tiniest bit of rust left untouched (even hidden under paint) will continue to eat away at your beloved Super Bee.
5. Keep the car original. Don't change the engine or transmission unless you absolutely have no choice. A restored Super Bee that matches the original Broadcast Sheet is considerably more valuable than one that doesn't.
6. Utilize NOS (New, Old Stock) parts whenever possible. Authentic parts make the car more valuable. Even used authentic parts are preferable to after-market parts in the restoration community. Use reproduction parts as little as possible.
7. Ask questions, read car restoration tips, and don't be too proud to request assistance. The complete restoration of a Super Bee is a huge project. The important thing isn't how much help you had, it's whether or not the job was done right.

Tips & Warnings

• After the Super Bee passes inspection, do your homework. Take the time to research the costs involved before you begin. (They may be steeper than you think.) It's important to understand the financial commitment you're making to the car. Never start a restoration project you can't afford to finish.