The Risky Ride: Restoring a Rare 1969 Hemi Super Bee After a Flawed Purchase
Richard Boeye, like many baby boomers, found himself yearning for the muscle cars of his youth. This desire led him to purchase several vehicles from the 1960s, though he later admitted to insufficient due diligence before acquiring them. One such acquisition was a stunning 1969 Dodge Super Bee, a member of Dodge’s legendary Scat Pack. With its eye-catching twin-scooped hood, playful cartoon bee medallions, distinctive yellow paint adorned with a black wraparound “bumblebee” tail stripe, and, most significantly, its formidable dual-quad 426 Hemi engine paired with a four-speed transmission, it represented a true piece of Mopar history. However, its apparent beauty masked hidden issues.
A Purchase Based on Appearance, Not Inspection
Years after buying the 1969 Hemi Super Bee, Richard candidly acknowledged that he “relied on visual inspection” and the seller’s “representations,” which he found to be “very inaccurate.” Despite the superficial appeal, something was fundamentally wrong with the car from the start. Richard estimates he drove the car maybe two miles in four or five years, sensing a problem. The shifter was locked in reverse, and the iconic Hemi engine simply didn’t run correctly.
Remarkably, the Hemi engine was a genuine J-code, and years later, Mopar restorer Frank Badalson confirmed its authenticity. Frank verified the “13-digit VIN stamped in the side of the block, like it should be,” and the same for the transmission, confirming they were numbers-matching components. Frank described this specific Bee as “super rare,” referencing a production quantity of only 38 such models. He noted that finding a numbers-matching four-speed version is even harder, as “easily half of those are going to be non-numbers-matching.”
The car’s paint was deemed “pretty good,” and the interior was “generally okay.” From the outside, the 1969 Hemi Super Bee looked inviting, but beneath the surface, problems lurked.
Richard offered a cautionary perspective, stating, “It can be very expensive for a buyer over 50 to revisit his youth by buying a car he doesn’t know anything about.” His experience underscored the potential pitfalls of impulse buying in the classic car market. For help with another classic, a Boss 429, Richard turned to Mustang expert Bob Perkins. For the Super Bee, he sought out Frank Badalson of American Performance in Richmond, Virginia, one of the leading Mopar restorers globally.
Unearthing the Hidden Flaws: A Forensic Examination
Frank’s initial assessment began with photographs, but authenticating numbers and truly understanding the car’s condition required an in-person “forensic examination.” Richard shipped his 1969 hemi super bee from Denver to Frank’s shop, leading to a series of unexpected discoveries once the car was raised on a lift.
Richard Boeye's yellow 1969 Dodge Super Bee Hemi parked outdoors, viewed from the rear three-quarter angle.
Problems were immediately apparent. The exhaust’s H-pipe was scraping paint off the driveshaft, which had been crudely “bead-blasted and then sprayed silver”—an “easy way out,” not the correct procedure. The speedometer cable wasn’t properly routed or secured, melting against the hot H-pipe.
The transmission had been painted silver, which Frank called “the amateur way.” This paint was “chipping and rusting away” because it had only been bead-blasted before painting, which Frank found “unbelievable” for such a valuable muscle car. He explained that original transmissions were not painted; the proper procedure involved boiling, cleaning, metal prep, color codes, and careful assembly for an authentic look, not a 30-minute spray-bomb job.
As Frank delved deeper, more issues surfaced. The transmission rods used incorrect hardware, and the idler arm was a generic aftermarket part with a grease fitting, unlike the original component. Even basic components showed signs of corners being cut. For example, the lower control arms, which should be Cosmoline-coated, had been painted black. The tie-rod adjusting tubes were aftermarket and painted silver, while the disc brake dust shields, originally natural galvanized, were painted black. Generic U-joints with grease fittings were used. A particular annoyance for Frank was washers welded onto the driveshaft for balancing, another “easy way out” that was clearly not factory. The driveshaft itself had been desecrated with silver “spray bomb” paint.
Even the engine, the coveted 426 Hemi, had issues beyond not running. While the block was numbers-matching with a final assembly date of February 9, 1968 (date code 2387), it was painted what looked like Chevrolet orange instead of the technically correct “early Hemi Orange.”
More seemingly minor, yet revealing, errors were found. Frank questioned why someone would use a pitted leaf spring bracket on a supposedly restored show car when correct replacements were readily available for a small cost. He highlighted the wasted labor in prepping, priming, and painting the incorrect part instead of simply ordering the right one.
Image showing Mopar restorer Frank Badalson examining a component on the 1969 Dodge Super Bee Hemi.
The most significant problem, however, was internal to the Hemi. Pushrods were “banging and chipping away at the rocker arms.” Frank was mystified, stating, “Of course the poor guy said his car doesn’t run. It doesn’t run because it has all this wrong stuff in it.” Richard confirmed, “He told me he just simply could not enjoy the car.”
The Path Forward: Restoration or Correction?
The central question for Richard was how to proceed. He had already paid for a car that was presented as “restored.” Could the numerous mistakes be corrected without undertaking a complete, ground-up restoration? Some issues, like the non-running engine and transmission problems, absolutely required fixing. But there were many other incorrect or amateur fixes. Richard had to decide how many of these less critical problems he wanted to address.
Having successfully gotten his 1969 hemi super bee into Frank’s shop, Richard didn’t want to abandon the project. He understood that being “underwater” financially on a classic car is not uncommon in the hobby. While his initial purchase was flawed, his love for the Hemi Super Bee remained strong. He drew a parallel to real estate principles, where investors carefully evaluate money spent versus value added. He noted that in real estate, appraisals use comparable sales to determine value ranges, and a similar process of adjusting for differences could be applied to classic car auction results to estimate a car’s value range.
Richard strongly recommends that anyone buying a classic car, especially a rare one, hire a mechanic technician to inspect it on a lift or during a viewing, and to ask the seller detailed questions. He wisely advises, “Remember that you may have to spend thousands on the car after your purchase to cure the postponed maintenance.” This advice is crucial whether you’re looking at a dodge challenger in india or a vintage Mopar.
Bringing the Bee Back to Life
Over the subsequent two years, Frank Badalson performed what could be described as a partial restoration. He didn’t need to strip the car down completely; the paint and bodywork were salvageable. Instead, he focused on meticulously correcting the numerous errors introduced during previous restoration attempts, possibly by different owners.
Close-up view of the 426 Hemi V8 engine in the 1969 Dodge Super Bee.
The result of Frank’s extensive labor was a properly sorted and authentic 1969 hemi super bee. More important than the additional money Richard invested was achieving his goal: owning a correctly restored Hemi Super Bee that was truly enjoyable. He now gets the coveted “thumbs-up at a red light,” and the car is undoubtedly worthy of show trophies. The journey highlights the importance of expert knowledge and patience in bringing a valuable classic back to its former glory. This attention to detail is key, whether dealing with classic muscle or even discussing the potential of future vehicles like the 2024 dodge charger ev.
1969 Hemi Super Bee Specifications
Here are the key details of Richard Boeye’s restored Super Bee:
- Owned by: Richard Boeye, Denver, CO
- Restoration repair: Frank Badalson, American Performance, Richmond, VA
- Engine: 426ci/425hp Hemi V-8
- Transmission: Chrysler A833 4-speed manual
- Rearend: Dana 60 with 4.10:1 gears and Sure Grip
- Interior: Black vinyl bench seat
- Wheels: 15×6 steel with dog dish hubcaps
- Tires: F70-15 Goodyear redline
- Special Parts: Black tail stripe, 26-inch radiator, Super Track Pak (Dana axle, Sure Grip differential, dual-point distributor, heavy-duty 4-speed with Hurst shifter, and heavy-duty cooling)
Detailed interior shot of the black vinyl bench seat in the 1969 Dodge Super Bee Hemi.
These photos illustrate some of the numerous restoration mistakes Frank Badalson identified and corrected on the 1969 hemi super bee, ensuring its authenticity and performance. Understanding the nuances of such classic cars is a skill exemplified by experts like Frank. For those interested in the evolution of Dodge performance, exploring the specs of classic models provides valuable context for modern vehicles, including potential future iterations like the 2024 dodge challenger electric.
Close-up view of the driveshaft showing paint scraping issues identified by Frank Badalson during the 1969 Dodge Super Bee Hemi restoration.
Image showing shims near the shifter linkage on the 1969 Dodge Super Bee Hemi, highlighting a correction made during restoration.
Detailed view of the carburetor linkage area on the 1969 Dodge Super Bee Hemi engine.
Close-up showing the pushrods and rocker arms inside the Hemi engine from the 1969 Dodge Super Bee, illustrating the internal issue found.
Image showing a melted speedometer cable near the H-pipe on the 1969 Dodge Super Bee Hemi, one of the amateur mistakes found.
Detailed view of the shifter handle mechanism in the 1969 Dodge Super Bee Hemi.
Image highlighting the generic aftermarket idler arm with a grease fitting used on the 1969 Dodge Super Bee Hemi.
View of the transmission on the 1969 Dodge Super Bee Hemi showing the amateur paint job that was chipping and rusting.
Front three-quarter view of the restored yellow 1969 Dodge Super Bee Hemi.
Conclusion: A Lesson in Classic Car Ownership
The story of Richard Boeye’s 1969 hemi super bee serves as a valuable lesson for anyone venturing into the world of classic muscle cars. While the allure of a vintage dream machine is powerful, relying solely on appearances and seller representations can lead to significant unforeseen expenses and frustrations. The expertise of seasoned restorers like Frank Badalson proved invaluable in correcting the numerous issues plaguing the car, transforming it from a problematic purchase into a prized, authentically restored example. Richard’s experience underscores the critical importance of thorough pre-purchase inspection and the potential necessity of expert intervention to truly enjoy these automotive icons. This principle applies equally when considering investing in classic Mopar models like the 1969 dodge daytona or exploring the realm of modern muscle like the 2024 dodge challenger electric car. Ultimately, for Richard, the investment in proper restoration was worth it to finally experience the joy of owning a correctly sorted Hemi Super Bee, a true legend of the muscle car era.
