"It's a scenario that I never thought would happen to me. I believed I was the kind of person who would get a project car and finish it as soon as I possibly could. Little did I realize that "as soon as I could," never came this time.
Several years ago, I introduced our Project Super Bee and told you of my plans to build a killer ride. I had high hopes of the things I would do to the car and could envision the end product. Again, little did I know that time would not be kind to my directing any working efforts towards the car. Over the years, the car had been relegated to storage under a canvas tent, in my home garage, and in various rental units for some time. During its stint under the tent, it also endured five hurricanes that all passed directly over the Bolig house. So I had to make a decision. I could either sell the 'Bee to someone who actually had the time to complete the project, or find someone to help me finish it.
Lucky for me, I found a shop that agreed to take on the project. Jack Irons of Unlawful Racing in Ortonville, Michigan, and I were talking one day while installing one of his triangulated four-link rear suspensions in the 'Bee and one thing led to another when he finally said the magic words: "Why don't you just let me do the paint and bodywork?" That was all it took. He said it, and I wasn't letting him back out. The 'Bee was going to get finished after all.
It was decided early on that this car was not going to be a concours-style restoration. The original engine and transmission was already missing, so it could never be completely correct. So from the beginning, a restomod type of ride was the plan. We would build the car by using the latest and greatest parts available, and build a killer ride that we could drive anywhere. The car was to look almost stock but would be updated in ways you might not necessarily notice at first. By the time you read this, the car will be finished, and many of you will have already seen it-hopefully not broken down along the side of the road. So let's get started, as we finally dive into the Project 'Bee, and show you how it all came together.
1 I learned about the possibility...
1 I learned about the possibility of buying the ’Bee when scouring some salvage yards in Pennsylvania one day. When I looked at the car, I bought it. In hindsight, this is the first time that Paula didn’t travel with me to Carlisle. I bet she doesn’t make that mistake again.
2 The 'Bee came with two...
2 The 'Bee came with two truckloads of parts. Not many of them were usable for our project, but parts is parts.
3 Over the years, I am embarrassed...
3 Over the years, I am embarrassed to say that the ’Bee could’ve been better cared for. This was during the first hurricane of 2005. Notice the power line pole that has broken off and is hanging just above the ’Bee. Luckily, it didn’t drop.
4 We met up with Jack to...
4 We met up with Jack to transfer the ’Bee to his trailer at the 2009 Mopar Nationals so he could take it to his shop, Unlawful Racing, to get some rear suspension work done. Little did I know how big this snowball was about to get. Neither did Jack. Sorry, buddy.
5a There was a patch of 16-gauge...
5a There was a patch of 16-gauge metal that covered most of the trunk floor...
5b ...There was only a “small”...
5b ...There was only a “small” hole, but at least the patch covered it.
6a The rear crossmember behind...
6a The rear crossmember behind the bumper was gone-almost completely...
6b ...It didn’t take much...
6b ...It didn’t take much cutting and grinding to get it to fall off. Just as Jack finished building the new rear panel by hand, the aftermarket announces it has released one. That figures.
7a The Dutchman panel between...
7a The Dutchman panel between the rear window and the trunk lid was a little more than soft...
7b ...Apparently the seam...
7b ...Apparently the seam has leaked for quite some time. We’ll show you how we replaced it in an upcoming issue.
8 OK, why would anyone weld...
8 OK, why would anyone weld the striker catch to the body, especially when Dynamic Renovations makes a patch for the area? OK, maybe they didn’t in 1980, but luckily for us, they do now.
9 In the Nov. ’09 issue,...
9 In the Nov. ’09 issue, we showed you how we repaired our cracked doorjambs and welded catch-plate area with plates from Dynamic Renovations.
10 The rear most portions...
10 The rear most portions of both rear wheel houses were severely rotted and required some surgery.
11a Way back in the July...
11a Way back in the July ’07 issue, we installed an Alter-K-tion front suspension, and now it needs to come back out for paint and body...
11b ...That’s right, it’s...
11b ...That’s right, it’s been a few years since we worked on the ’Bee.
12 Since we aren’t planning...
12 Since we aren’t planning an OE type of restoration, all the unnecessary holes will be welded shut and smoothed.
13 Stay tuned.