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 New for 1969 was the Ram Charger...  New for 1969 was the Ram Charger fresh-air induction hood. A cable-operated flap controlled from a pull-tab under the dash dictated whether cool air entered the dual Carters or the engine tran off of the warm, ambient engine-compartment air. |
 Needing all the stopping power...  Needing all the stopping power it could muster to bring the massive front-heavy Hemi-equipped Super Bee to a halt, Mopar made power-assisted brakes standard for all Hemi-powered B-Bodies. |
The Super Bee icon was a cartoon bee sporting fat drag slicks, racing goggles, and a helmet. The infamous Super Bee would later manifest itself in the form of plush stuffed toys and branded jackets, T-shirts, and baseball caps for years afterwards.
As the Charger was dominating the fields of NASCAR, the Super Bee Coronet and its sister, the Road Runner, were claiming the streets and drag strips as the victors. With both B-Bodies at the lowest pricing end of intermediate-size muscle machines, most add-ons or extra options to the base Bee or Runner were still within the range of youthful enthusiasts. However, the addition of the 426 Hemi shot the price of the standard 383-powered Super Bee upwards toward the budget of a GTX or Charger.
This particular Y2 Yellow Super Bee had exactly that-the Hemi. Checking the Hemi box not only dropped the infamous elephant between the fenders, but also added stiffer suspension components, larger leaf springs, power brakes, and factory torque boxes that were usually reserved for convertibles. The Hemi option wasn't just an engine selection, but a totally different car from the assembly line.
Michael Giorgio of Altamont, New York, is one of those guys that has had his hands on nearly every kind, make, and model of collectable Mopar, including a '68 Hemi Road Runner, '68 Hemi Charger R/T, '69 Dodge Daytona,'70 Hemi 'Cuda, '70 Charger R/T, '70 Challenger R/T, '70 GTX, '70 AAR 'Cuda, '70 T/A Challenger, '70 440 Six-barrel Superbird, '70 440 Six-barrel 'Cuda, '71 340 'Cuda, '71 Hemi 'Cuda, '71 440 Six-barrel 'Cuda, and a 383-powered '71 'Cuda.
Michael hunted down this nearly perfect Super Bee for both show and drive. This particular Super Bee is one of only 38 post cars built that year with a four-speed, as well as other options like a 4:10 Super Track Pack Dana 60 and an AM/eight-track radio.