Drug home a 69 Super Bee - in boxes

[hunt2elk]

Been looking for the right 1969 Super Bee project for about 7 or 8 years now and finally got to the point that I realized I would have to compromise a bit or I would never own one. Even put off buying one and instead did a 69 Charger and a 70 Duster in the meantime while trying to find the perfect car. This was my list of must haves in the order of preference.
Original 69 Bee with fender tag - check
Southern car with minimal rust repair needed - check
Car that has not been restored already - check
4-speed car - NO
R4 red, T5 copper, or V2 Hemi orange - NO
M46 side scoops - check
Black bucket seat interior - Close
WM21 Coupe - check
Bulge hood - NO
No vinyl top - check
Manual steering - NO
Manual brake - check
And what I ended up purchasing: 69 post car that spent its life in California, 81,400 miles, Y2 yellow with a black rump stripe, side scoops, Ramcharger fresh air, tic-toc-tac, black bench seat interior, auto on the column, factory undercoating, numbers matching motor that has been rebuilt, power steering, manual brakes, dual exterior mirrors. The car had one lower quarter panel patch, one lower rear window corner patch, and one quarter panel puncture repaired last winter along with a coating of epoxy primer(supposedly) applied last winter. Otherwise the car is rock solid. Everything with the car is original except the transmission. The metal repairs are not up to my standards, so the car will get stripped and metalwork redone along with going on a rotisserie to do the bottom. Also am going to replace the center of the trunk pan although a lot of people would leave it alone.
I am struggling a bit as to what to do with the car, mainly the paint. It is only a 383 car, but still don't want to hurt the value if it ever gets sold one day. The original motor will get set aside and instead a 451 will go under the hood. An automatic does not work in my world, so that will get changed to a 4-speed (I believe this will help the value). Find a floor shift manual steering column and convert to manual. Probably try to find a set of buckets. Right now am leaning towards painting the car R4 red with a white or black rump stripe - any and all opinions and comments are welcome on this subject.

 

[kiwigtx]

Looks like another great project you have there.....congrats.

 

[hunt2elk]

Some options...……..

 

[Speedbird]

It seems to me that yellow of some form with a black stripe is the appropriate color combination for a Super Bee.
But if you are going to change the color, my vote is a light bronze for several reasons.
I could give them if it matters.
Other than that, whatever.

 

[eric383]

Cool project and good luck. I personally like the Y2 yellow but the red is nice too. I'm glad I don't have to make that decision.

 

[Cncguy1]

Nice find!

 

[69L48Z27]

Great car, congrats! I'm good with the yellow too but red would be a good choice.

 

[moparnation74]

Cannot beat a solid car.....Great score!

Paint it the color that makes you happy........

IMHO the R4 is a huge improvement over the yellow........

 

[WileE]

Either choice, either way, the answer is GREAT COLOR on a great car !

 

[dvw]

Build it and paint it how you want it. You may never sell it, who knows. Who cares what others want. Don't build by committee. Follow your gut.
Doug

 

[KB9GIB]

Simple for the color. the fender tag tells what color she would love to stay. going to be a sweet car no matter the color. Good find.

 

[63RedFury]

Any color but yellow. Nice find....

 

[vintage chromoly]

I’d leave it the factory color.
I like the yellow.

 

[1969CoronetR/T]

I have a red 1969 Super Bee with a white stripe and a yellow (Y2) 1969 R/T with a black stripe. They both look great, but I like the yellow and black combo a little bettter. Maybe since I live in Pittsburgh...

 

[Ironbuilt]

Looks like I am the odd man out here, but I really like the Copper. Best of luck no matter what you choose.

 

[moparedtn]

Love it, congrats!

Question for those who actually buy and sell these critters (or are knowledgeable on marketplace activities):
Are these "pedigreed" cars still worth the most if they're bone stock original or has the market changed?

 

[moparnation74]

Love it, congrats!

Question for those who actually buy and sell these critters (or are knowledgeable on marketplace activities):
Are these "pedigreed" cars still worth the most if they're bone stock original or has the market changed?

To the high end collectors...the true ones that spend the big bones.....your opinion of a "pedigree" is not the same as theirs.....Even if the car was restored to perfection....BTW I love any and all 68/69 Dodge Super Bees......One of the best looking B bodies IMHO...

That aside to build/buy a car based on the current/future market is a very dumb idea.......It will be a loss at any stretch......

This day and age one should only buy and build a car they want and the way they want it.....

Currently, I see a lot of cars that are not selling....even for decent asking prices.......the market today is showing the muscle car boom is over..........

 

[oldbee]

Any color but yellow. Nice find....

Gotta agree!!

 

[moparedtn]

To the high end collectors...the true ones that spend the big bones.....your opinion of a "pedigree" is not the same as theirs.....Even if the car was restored to perfection....BTW I love any and all 68/69 Dodge Super Bees......One of the best looking B bodies IMHO...

That aside to build/buy a car based on the current/future market is a very dumb idea.......It will be a loss at any stretch......

This day and age one should only buy and build a car they want and the way they want it.....

Currently, I see a lot of cars that are not selling....even for decent asking prices.......the market today is showing the muscle car boom is over..........

Although I agree with most of what you say here, my friend, I don't agree the "boom" is over.
In fact, it's danced many times before - and always with how the economy, and especially the stock market, is doing.
I mean let's face it - the big bux, gotta have the one of one car types are investors more than they are enthusiasts.
Right now, the economy is doing very well, so things like car investments are cooling off.
Next time we get an economy wrecker in office like we had for the previous 8 years, they'll pick right back up again I'm sure.

You and I and all our friends here, though - we're enthusiasts. We do it for the love of the cars and the hobby.
We can't totally ignore the market forces, but they aren't why we do what we do.

That's why I asked the hypothetical, though:
Since I have no clue how the investment market works, other than what I see on TV and in Hemmings, I am curious as to
whether pedigree cars (my definition of that is any of the known factory musclecars - R/T, SuperBee, RoadRunner, GTX, GTS Dart, T/A Challenger,
etc.) are at their highest value on the market if they're kept/restored exactly as they left the factory - OR can certain modifications be made
to one that actually increases their value?

 

[moparnation74]

Although I agree with most of what you say here, my friend, I don't agree the "boom" is over.
In fact, it's danced many times before - and always with how the economy, and especially the stock market, is doing.
I mean let's face it - the big bux, gotta have the one of one car types are investors more than they are enthusiasts.
Right now, the economy is doing very well, so things like car investments are cooling off.
Next time we get an economy wrecker in office like we had for the previous 8 years, they'll pick right back up again I'm sure.

You and I and all our friends here, though - we're enthusiasts. We do it for the love of the cars and the hobby.
We can't totally ignore the market forces, but they aren't why we do what we do.

That's why I asked the hypothetical, though:
Since I have no clue how the investment market works, other than what I see on TV and in Hemmings, I am curious as to
whether pedigree cars (my definition of that is any of the known factory musclecars - R/T, SuperBee, RoadRunner, GTX, GTS Dart, T/A Challenger,
etc.) are at their highest value on the market if they're kept/restored exactly as they left the factory - OR can certain modifications be made
to one that actually increases their value?

Trust me I don't want to not see the "boom" disappear but the market shows this......I have never ignored the market and i follow it weekly......I can only go by what I see is happening....

It is a given that the highest quality restoration and desirable the car is will command more......and sell...Prime example was the Wellborn Daytona.......

What I see on the market now is a lot of cars with mods that are not selling at the current asking prices.......I also see a very few all original cars with older restorations at very high prices not selling either.......

Personally, I do not build cars for investments but I do watch what is selling......Mainly because you never know what you might find....