A devoted Mopar fan embarks on a 4,000-mile journey to revive a one-of-a-kind 1970 Dodge Super Bee after decades of neglect.
For many car enthusiasts, the search for a dream car can take years—sometimes even a lifetime. But for the YouTube channel "Rust Bucket Restos", the journey to own a 1970 Dodge Super Bee meant driving a staggering 4,000 miles to bring home a Mopar classic that had been sitting idle for decades.
The story begins with Kevin Shaw of Mopar Connection Magazine, who originally purchased the BL1 Beige Super Bee back in 2017. Nicknaming it "Project Zombee," he had ambitious plans to transform the car into a race-inspired restomod. However, after eight years of challenges and setbacks, Shaw decided it was time to part ways with the car—but only under one condition: it had to be saved, not scrapped.
That’s when Rust Bucket Restos stepped up, making the cross-country trek to secure the rare Super Bee. Though Dodge built 15,506 Super Bees in 1970, this one stands out as an ultra-rare survivor. Fewer than 5,000 were coupes, and only 88 were ever finished in BL1 Beige. Even more remarkably, just 25 combined the beige exterior with a Dark Burnt Orange interior and white stripes, making this Mopar potentially a one-of-one rarity.
The road to restoration won’t be easy. Years of exposure to the elements have taken their toll, and while some sheet metal work has been done, the interior and drivetrain need a complete overhaul. The new owner isn’t aiming for a factory-correct restoration but rather a race-spec restomod, much like Shaw had envisioned. The ultimate goal? To showcase the revived Super Bee at Holley Moparty 2025, an event now just nine months away.
Bringing a neglected classic back to life is no small feat, but passion fuels projects like this. With its unique history and rare specifications, this Super Bee deserves to be back on the road—one way or another. Enthusiasts everywhere will be watching to see if the ambitious rebuild is completed in time for Moparty 2025.
