To bee or not to bee.....that is the question...no, really!

[moparedtn]

I'm sorry but I would have to disagree with ya on this. The vin defines what the car is and will always be. It may not be a matching #'s car but it was born a Bee.

An original Bee (or GTX or Road Runner or Charger R/T) do not become "clones" with different engines than what they were born with.
Most muscle cars have long since parted ways with their original engines, after all.
If the VIN says Bee, it's a Bee, period.

 

[PP1RT]

Sell the Bee for a little profit and go buy a piece of **** to make a piece of ****!

 

[MOPARENT]

OK! Great feedback here! A little clarity...when I say ratrod, I'm not talking about the homemade-picked-from-the-dumpster mix and match buggies seen at car shows built by the earloop/bearded bros slathered in tats, (no offense) , I'm talking about primered bodies, mooneyes/hurst/cherrybomb decals, chevy/ford kill stickers, shackles, sidepipes, hood scoops, big and littles, useless traction bars, 8 tracks and a shitload of speakers stuffed on the rear deck!.....Don't laugh! Every fast car in my high school parking lot in the late 70's that had a reputation was just like that...and of course, I dug it. I also liked feathered hair, high heels and way too much makeup on the gals from back then and still admire the ones that choose to look like that now! Creating a car that reflects those days would be my goal..... Miss those old days!! Anyone here near or just over 50 will agree!! Ratrod is a poor choice of wording..we need something else that is our own nickname for the type of car I am describing....Open to suggestions!!

 

[moparcurt]

I know it will ruffle some feathers if you decide to rat it out...but it is YOUR car...so ultimately, it is your choice!

Personally....if it was a 30's-40's model, I think it would look pretty sweet done as a rat rod...you could build that Bee any number of ways....stock/pro-touring/pro street/drag...

Keep us up to date with your build....

 

[Dennis H]

After reading this, don't know what mine would be called. Filthy driver I guess. The evolution over years goes unnoticed. 3 point belts, modern tires and headlights, all kinds of electronic crap. Mine attempting to keep the exterior somewhat original with modern components for reliability. ProTouring guys would cringe. Maybe poor mans ProTouring. Not a rat. Like Darius says, modern convenience.

 

[GetX'd]

My opinion of the earlier post I made doesn't change based on what you describe as a rat. I still say keep it a Bee.

 

[PP1RT]

OK! Great feedback here! A little clarity...when I say ratrod, I'm not talking about the homemade-picked-from-the-dumpster mix and match buggies seen at car shows built by the earloop/bearded bros slathered in tats, (no offense) , I'm talking about primered bodies, mooneyes/hurst/cherrybomb decals, chevy/ford kill stickers, shackles, sidepipes, hood scoops, big and littles, useless traction bars, 8 tracks and a shitload of speakers stuffed on the rear deck!.....Don't laugh! Every fast car in my high school parking lot in the late 70's that had a reputation was just like that...and of course, I dug it. I also liked feathered hair, high heels and way too much makeup on the gals from back then and still admire the ones that choose to look like that now! Creating a car that reflects those days would be my goal..... Miss those old days!! Anyone here near or just over 50 will agree!! Ratrod is a poor choice of wording..we need something else that is our own nickname for the type of car I am describing....Open to suggestions!!

sooo....80's trailer trash style?

 

[toolmanmike]

I'm sorry but I would have to disagree with ya on this. The vin defines what the car is and will always be. It may not be a matching #'s car but it was born a Bee.

I have to agree with you but the op is asking for opinions whether to restore it or not. My point is that without the original drivetrain, it will never be "restored" no matter how originally correct the rest of the car is but like you said, it will always be a Super Bee no matter what he does to it.

 

[4mayhemi]

Ratrod is a poor choice of wording..we need something else that is our own nickname for the type of car I am describing....Open to suggestions!!

How bout "fad"

 

[toolmanmike]

OK! Great feedback here! A little clarity...when I say ratrod, I'm not talking about the homemade-picked-from-the-dumpster mix and match buggies seen at car shows built by the earloop/bearded bros slathered in tats, (no offense) , I'm talking about primered bodies, mooneyes/hurst/cherrybomb decals, chevy/ford kill stickers, shackles, sidepipes, hood scoops, big and littles, useless traction bars, 8 tracks and a shitload of speakers stuffed on the rear deck!.....Don't laugh! Every fast car in my high school parking lot in the late 70's that had a reputation was just like that...and of course, I dug it. I also liked feathered hair, high heels and way too much makeup on the gals from back then and still admire the ones that choose to look like that now! Creating a car that reflects those days would be my goal..... Miss those old days!! Anyone here near or just over 50 will agree!! Ratrod is a poor choice of wording..we need something else that is our own nickname for the type of car I am describing....Open to suggestions!!

70's period correct!

 

[snakeyes]

when I was young I never heard the term ratrod we were called hot rods

 

[4mayhemi]

Rat rod Super Bee for inspiration!

 

[4mayhemi]

70's period correct!

To borrow your phrase, 70's style can be real cool, but one of these examples looks timeless bitchin, one does not so much IMO:

 

[moparedtn]

After reading this, don't know what mine would be called. Filthy driver I guess. The evolution over years goes unnoticed. 3 point belts, modern tires and headlights, all kinds of electronic crap. Mine attempting to keep the exterior somewhat original with modern components for reliability. ProTouring guys would cringe. Maybe poor mans ProTouring. Not a rat. Like Darius says, modern convenience. View attachment 511665

I just LOVE Dennis' Bee!

 

[toolmanmike]

After reading this, don't know what mine would be called. Filthy driver I guess. The evolution over years goes unnoticed. 3 point belts, modern tires and headlights, all kinds of electronic crap. Mine attempting to keep the exterior somewhat original with modern components for reliability. ProTouring guys would cringe. Maybe poor mans ProTouring. Not a rat. Like Darius says, modern convenience. View attachment 511665

Y2? I love it. It's only that way once.

 

[451Mopar]

Ok, I scored a 69 superbee...no motor, or trans, missing everything, needs a lot of metal work, but all the rails are good, solid aprons, firewall, etc...So, should I build the car to the level that is expected of these somewhat rare mopars, or should I say screw it and just build the rat that I wanted? I was honestly just looking for a base 'net, but came across this bee for short coin....its ruff but ready to build. Leaning towards the rat build, but love to hear the feedback from different parts of the USA!

I am having the same considerations about my '69 R/T hardtop. It was a stripped out bracket car at one time, and I got it really cheap. Because the entire trunk and lower quarters needs replacing, I was thinking of back halfing the car and make it a real race car with cage and fiberglass front end? Then I though that may be talking it too far for an R/T and started thinking more of a pro-touring car and bought a 6.1L hemi for it, but it has been sitting for a few years as I had to rebuild the Chargers engine, and then I started messing with the Convertible. I never bought any of my cars with the intention of selling them, so I modify them as I please. After I die, the next owner can restore the car if they wish to.

 

[biomedtechguy]

First, it shows some "conscience" that you ask the question, and that's good. If ANY car, even in bad shape, but with solid "bones" is rare, like A10, etc in the case of a 69 Bee, it demands restoration.
Having said that, I have a 70 V-code Track Pak Roadrunner, post car, 4 speed. It looked good enough when I bought it to win a Top 50 trophy at Mopars at the Battleship, basically just like I got it, and I have won Top 50 ever since, but I know it will never be Best of Show. I have 2 friends with Best of Show 70 Roadrunners, and my kind of fun doesn't equate to that route, although I respect and admire their cars, I would go nuts trying to do a car like theirs. It has a 71 440 with aluminum 6 bbl intake, and Dana 60 w/3.54s.
When I test drove it, it pulled right which got worse on braking. The trunk pan has some rust, that was painted over and a couple of other issues.
I decided to focus on safety, preservation, improvement, and since it didn't have a numbers matching motor, I felt like that was my "pass" to do what I want to it. So disc brake conversion in the front was #1, replaced the lower control arm that was bent #2, and so on.
I have a Passon 5 speed for it going in in the next couple of weeks before Crusin' the Coast. I get to enjoy it crusing, at car shows, on the track, and plan on a Street Lynx rear suspension, replacing the bench seat with custom buckets, etc. I will put a stroker in it in the future, but it MUST use the 6 bbl setup, and I already have a N96 hood and some of the associated parts for that.
I will enjoy it by appreciating what I have guilt free because of the non-numbers matching motor, but I will "honor" its heritage by keeping the carb/intake setup-although I may do a 6bbl throttle body one day that uses the factory air cleaner.
Long story, but I hope that you get something from that perspective. I don't anticipate ever replacing it and I'm 55, so I want to do what makes ME happy. It is MY car after all. If it would have been numbers matching and I could have afforded to buy it, I would have kept it "day 2" stock with bolt-ons that could be removed to return it to factory original, or pulled the motor and archived it so I could beat on it without fear.

 

[biomedtechguy]

Every fast car in my high school parking lot in the late 70's that had a reputation was just like that...and of course, I dug it.

Creating a car that reflects those days would be my goal..... Miss those old days!! Anyone here near or just over 50 will agree!!

I do, and THAT is EXACTLY what you should do. Trust me, it will be your own time machine, and my car makes me feel like a teenager again.

 

[Dennis H]

After reading this, don't know what mine would be called. Filthy driver I guess. The evolution over years goes unnoticed. 3 point belts, modern tires and headlights, all kinds of electronic crap. Mine attempting to keep the exterior somewhat original with modern components for reliability. ProTouring guys would cringe. Maybe poor mans ProTouring. Not a rat. Like Darius says, modern convenience. View attachment 511665

The Coronet and I both think it's 1969. Time Machine it is.

 

[biomedtechguy]

I have been going to Crusin' the Coast since it began 21 years ago. Usually just one or two days, always the biggest day-the 2nd Saturday of October. I hadn't had a vacation in 5 years when I got my 70 Roadrunner. I decided to spend the whole week of Crusin the Coast there, for my vacation. With over 7,000 registered cars, and the typically beautiful weather that time of year, I was all in. I even got a Mohawk so every morning when I looked in the mirror I would KNOW that I was on vacation!
It was one of the best weeks of my adult life. Immersing myself in that experience, by day 2, in my mind I was back in high school, crusing the street scene, with 6,999 other people that were having a similar experience.
PRICELESS!