Original price: Approx. $4,000.00
On loan from: James Stewart Hope Estate, Renton, WA
Number made: Approx. 1,000, 2-door hardtop, manual transmission
Engine, etc. V-8; 440 cid, 390 hp; “Six-pack” – three 2-barrel carburetors (a $463 option); 117” wheelbase; 3,412 lbs.
This car was a prototype for marketing and sales venues of the Dodge muscle car “Scat Pack” series. True to the stripped-down style of hot rods, air conditioning and cruise control were not offered.
The R/T [Road and Track] Coronet configuration was available in 1969 and the Super Bee was introduced. The “I’m all engine – the body’s just here to keep rain off the driver” image of the Super Bee drew attention away from the Coronet R/T. The Super Bee’s fiberglass lift-off hood with a scoop was painted matte black and was held down with NASCAR tie-down pins. The hood did bait cops and made checking the oil a two-person job. With their Hemi suspension, Super Bees handled surprisingly well.
Competition came from the Plymouth GTX and Road Runner which both sold substantially more cars in 1969. Both the Super Bee and Road Runner were built to rule the track and the street. They were great alternatives to the much more expensive and harder to tune 426 Hemi.
Dodge introduced the Coronet in 1949 and it was the official pace car of the Indy 500 in 1954.
In 1956, the Coronet was restyled, made longer, wider, and lower to the ground. Tri-colored paint jobs were common and it had a wraparound windshield. The car was restyled in 1957 (lower, larger tail fins) and in 1958 (improved engines, headlights were now quad units). In 1959 it had even larger fins and more exaggerated headlights. Length, width, and wheelbase were all enlarged. New options included a swivel-seat which would swing out to meet its occupant.
By 1966, the Coronet was shortened by an inch and bucket seats became standard. The grille from the Charger was used on the 1967 Coronet. Over 10,000 were sold that year.
In 1969, the Coronet had a smoother, rounder profile. Quad headlights were set in the full-width grille and tail lights were in a full-width panel.
By the early 1970’s the muscle car era was ending due to government regulations, safety concerns, and an impending oil embargo. Engine sizes declined and Dodge offered only 4-door Coronets in a sedan or station wagon style. Production of the Coronet ceased in 1976.
Sources: http://www.classiccardatabase.com/specs.php?series=7887&year=1969&model=31628
http://www.conceptcarz.com/vehicle/z10958/Dodge-Coronet-Super-Bee.aspx
http://musclecars.howstuffworks.com/classic-muscle-cars/1969-dodge-super-bee-six-pack.htm
http://www.oldcarbrochures.com/static/NA/Dodge/1969_Dodge/1969_Dodge_Coronet_Brochure/dirindex.html (Original sales brochure)