Rare 1969 1/2 Dodge Super Bee A12 Roars Back to Life After 35 Years

The Road Runner was notably more popular than its Dodge sibling, but the Super Bee still moved a decent amount of cars. 1969 was the nameplate's best year, with 27,800 units, followed by 15,506 examples in 1970. But while the 1969 version is somewhat common, some options are quite rare to find.

The HEMI Super Bee is arguably the scarcest when it comes to powertrains. That's because only 166 units were ordered with the mighty 426-cubic-inch (7.0-liter) V8 engine (rated at 425 horsepower). That's less than 1% of the total production that year. While not quite as rare, the A12 Super Bee is also a hard-to-find gem.

A mid-year introduction, the A12 package bridged the gap between the entry-level Super Bee, powered by the 383-cubic-inch (6.3-liter) V8, and the 426 HEMI variant. Output-wise, it did it thanks to a beefed-up 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB-block engine.

Known as the Six-Pack, this 440 ditched the four-barrel carburetor of the regular RB in favor of a trio of two-barrel carbs and an aluminum intake manifold. The result was an output increase from 375 to 390 horsepower. Torque came in at a healthy 490 pound-feet (664 Nm), a figure identical to the HEMI's.

But the bundle wasn't just about a more potent mill. These M-code cars also featured a Dana 60 axle with a 4.10 gear ratio, heavy-duty transmission, and improved brakes. Dodge also went with a drag-style, lift-off hood with a big scoop in the center. It was finished in black for a striking contrast with the front fenders.

Although it was notably more popular than the HEMI, the A12 package is decidedly rare compared to the standard Super Bee. Specifically, of the 27,800 cars sold in 1969, only 1,907 were ordered with the 440 Six-Pack. There's no statistic on how many soldiered on through 2024, but highly original examples with numbers-matching engines are getting increasingly harder to find.

But while some rigs lost their Six-Pack units on the way, others are still locked up in barns, waiting for a second chance at life. The HEMI Orange example you see here is one of the lucky ones. As in it found its way back on the road after more than 35 years in storage.

There's no info as to why it was parked back in the day, but the muscle car is now up and running thanks to a complete restoration. And unlike many Super Bees that were fitted with replacement mills, this one retains its factory 440-cubic-inch V8. It's also as accurate as they get and comes with a ton of documentation.

Now part of the Galen V. Govier registry, this Super Bee is ready to hit auto shows and Mopar events as one of the finest A12 cars out there. Check it out in the videos below.