Thus began an eight-year labor of love. Obviously, between the water damage and junkyard condition, it was not a question of what to fix; everything had to be fixed. Once straightened out with a new trunk pan and right-side floor pan, the body went to Joel Cox of Elyria, Ohio. Cox took out the dings and reapplied the stock Hemi Orange paint using a base coat/clear coat acrylic enamel. Having taken extensive photographs during the disassembly, Smith was even able to replicate the Bill Strange Dodge decal on the decklid. The hood is the original, and the Super Bee graphics came from Dale's 'Cuda Shop. A final great find was an NOS windshield that a body shop in southern California had on its locator listings.
Next, the car went to Vic Mills, also in Elyria, where the process of assembling the needed pieces began. These included materials from the Paddock, Year One, Legendary Interiors, Roger Gibson, Eastwood, Stevens Performance, and other aftermarket suppliers; Calvin was also able to secure NOS wheel mouldings and Super Bee badging. At the same time, engine parts, the correct differential (which wasn't in the car when purchased), and four Six Pack steel rims, all properly date-coded, replaced those missing from the original. Mills did a majority of the work in getting the car in the condition it is today, which was completed in May of 2000. It was discovered from the build sheet that the car had been ordered with a higher 3.54:1 ring instead of the standard 4.10:1 ratio; Calvin has now located a second '69 440 Six Pack Dodge, also documented and delivered with this heretofore unrecognized option.
Since he began showing it this year, Calvin's car has generated a great deal of interest. Moreover, the quality of the restoration was such that it took Best of Show at the Chrysler Classic in Columbus, First Place honors in B-Body Dodge at the Carlisle All-Chrysler Nationals, First Place '69-'70 B-Body Dodge at the Mopar Nationals in Columbus, Paddock's Pick at the same event and First Place '69-'70 B-Body Dodge at the Chrysler Classic at Kansas City, not to mention accolades at local shows. In fact, at the Viper Invitational in St. Louis, Smith was even asked to display the gorgeous car with Dodge's latest concept vehicles under the factory tent
So we'd have to agree; whether new in 1969 or "renewed" in 2000, Calvin's Six Pack Bee remains picture perfect.