What is the rarest Dodge Super Bee?
The rarest Dodge Super Bee is the 1968 model fitted with the 426 cubic inch Hemi engine, often called the Hemi Super Bee. Exact production numbers are elusive, but most historians and collectors place the count in the low double digits to a few dozen units, making it the pinnacle of scarcity within the Super Bee family.
What makes the Super Bee rare?
The Super Bee was Dodge's performance-oriented take on the Coronet, introduced in 1968. While thousands were built with standard V8s, the combination of a high-performance 426 Hemi engine and a factory-installed Super Bee treatment was limited by cost and market demand, creating lasting rarity. Production figures are not officially published in detail, but historians and auction data consistently point to the Hemi-equipped cars as the scarcest examples within the Super Bee family.
1968 Hemi option and production realities
In 1968, Dodge offered the 426 Hemi as a rare, high-cost upgrade for the Super Bee. The cars built with this engine carried unique attributes—top-tier tires, option packages, and often manual transmissions—that make them stand out today. The exact number of 1968 Hemi Super Bees remains debated among enthusiasts and registries, but it is widely acknowledged to be a small subset of all Super Bees produced that year.
Below is a quick reference of the rarest variants within the Super Bee lineage and why they stand out.
- 1968 Dodge Super Bee with 426 Hemi engine and optional 4-speed manual transmission (the "Hemi Super Bee")
- 1969 Dodge Super Bee with 426 Hemi engine (a limited continuation of the Hemi option in the second year of the model)
- Other low-record-production configurations featuring the most aggressive option packages or limited color/trim codes
These variants are sought after because the combination of high-performance powertrains and limited production creates a scarcity that persists in collector markets today.
Market value, provenance, and how to verify authenticity
Rarity translates into value, with Hemi Super Bees often fetching premium prices at auctions and private sales. Verification typically hinges on the car's build sheet, broadcast sheet, VIN decoding, and matching numbers for the engine and drivetrain. Reputable restorers and registries maintain detailed records to help buyers distinguish true Hemi Super Bees from later restorations or misidentified cars.
How to identify a rare Super Bee
Look for factory documentation indicating the Hemi engine and Super Bee badging, verify the VIN and fender tag against the exposed build sheet, and check transmission codes. Original Hemi cars will usually show specific engine stampings, intake and exhaust manifold configurations, and option codes that align with Dodge's late-1960s production specifications.
The rarity of the Hemi-equipped Super Bee has made it a core target for collectors, with ongoing discoveries and confirmations at auctions and registries around the world.
Summary: The rarest Dodge Super Bee is commonly understood to be the 1968 model with the 426 Hemi engine, followed by scarce 1969–early 1970 Hemi or other high-performance configurations. While exact numbers vary by source, these models remain the pinnacle of rarity within the Super Bee lineup, prized by collectors for their limited production and historical significance.
In the end, the Super Bee's legend rests on the bold risk Dodge took in offering such extreme performance in a mid-size body, and the Hemi-equipped cars embody that risk in its purest, most coveted form.
What is the rarest 1970 Super Bee color?
This Super Bee is an extremely rare car due to the Panther Pink finish. A short-lived spring color during the 1970 model year, Panther Pink was the least popular hue on Mopar muscle cars. It was considered too feminine for a high-performance vehicle at the time.
What is the rarest Super Bee?
Only about 5,054 Super Bees were built for 1971 (4,325 for the U.S. market), making the '71s the rarest of the four-year run.
What is the rarest color Superbird?
Only an estimated 43 Petty Blue Superbirds made total! Galen Govier verified it's an original Petty Blue car. It is the most desirable and rarest color.
What is a 69 Super Bee worth today?
The value of a 1969 Dodge Super Bee varies significantly based on its condition, engine, and rarity, with prices ranging from approximately $32,900 for an average-condition car to over $385,500 for a 426 Hemi model. Other factors like the 440 Six Pack engine or specific trim levels will also affect the final price, as will options like a numbers-matching engine and transmission.
Value by condition and engine
- Average condition: Around $32,900 for an average-retail 383 model, with a good condition base model around $58,367.
- Excellent condition: Can be $49,600 or more for average-spec cars.
- 426 Hemi: The 1969 Hemi model is the most valuable, with prices reaching up to $385,500 or more.
- 440 Six Pack: Also highly sought after, with a 1969 model priced at $54,500 in good condition, according to HotCars.
- 383 Magnum: The most common engine, with an average retail price of around $32,900 for an average condition, according to J.D. Power.
Other factors impacting value
- Options: Features like a 4-speed manual transmission, specific color, or the "A12" package can significantly increase the value.
- Originality: Cars with their original numbers-matching engine and transmission are more valuable, and having documentation like a broadcast sheet will also increase the price.
- Restoration quality: A high-quality restoration on an already rare or desirable model can result in a higher price.
- Market trends: As with any classic car, the value is also influenced by current market demand.
