Vietnam veteran sold his 1971 Dodge Super Bee after 53 years and the new owner found an important bonus inside
- US Vietnam veteran owned this 1971 Dodge Super Bee for 53 years
- However, its new owner found a surprise inside
- It seriously boosts its value
Published on Dec 05, 2024 at 8:19 PM (UTC+4)
by Amelia Jean Hershman-Jones
Last updated on Dec 06, 2024 at 12:07 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by
Tom Wood
A US Vietnam veteran owned this 1971 Dodge Super Bee for 53 years before its new owner found a surprise inside.
The single owner drove it sparingly, meaning it only has 17,300 miles – just under 28,000km – on the odometer.
It had been sitting unused since 1990.
It’s already rare – but something discovered under the seat makes it even more covetable.
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The Dodge Super Bee
The veritable time capsule, bought by Utah-based Frank Fanelli of Fanelli Restorations, features the rare Blue Fire (B5 blue) exterior, roof, and interior.
It also boasts a rare N96 Ramcharger hood and C16 woodgrain center console
Only 5,054 Dodge Super Bees were produced in 1971.
Fewer than 500 had this specific combination of color and options – making this a super rare find.
While minor cosmetic restoration is needed, considering its age and neglect, the body is in excellent condition.
It has minimal rust, and mainly surface-level patina from natural aging.
What’s more, the car retains its original paint, trim, and emblems.
Under the hood, its 383 V8 Magnum engine is equipped with aftermarket valve covers, a Holley 850 carburetor, and an Edelbrock intake that needs several modifications for performance upgrades.
The surprise under the seat
As if this weren’t enough of a discovery, the time-capsule muscle car had another rare surprise.
It’s been lying hidden under the passenger seat for decades.
It’s the original, albeit damaged, broadcast sheet.
It adds serious historical value by confirming the car’s authenticity.
While at Supercar Blondie we’ve heard of a lot of strange things – like this disgusting bag – being discovered in barn finds – this is certainly one of the better ones.
Much like this New Jersey man who bought a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle and found a pleasant surprise under the hood.
Similarly, this junkyard owner was about to crush a Cadillac when he found treasure inside.
Sometimes we find the best things in the most unexpected places.
All Supercar Blondie contributors undergo editorial review and fact-checking to ensure accuracy and authority in automotive journalism. After gaining her BA Hons in French and English at the University of Nottingham, Amelia embarked on a vocational diploma from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ). This led to numerous opportunities, from interning at Vogue to being on the small team that launched Women’s Health magazine in the UK, which was named the PPA Consumer magazine of the year for three years running. As Health, Beauty and Fitness editor, Amelia personally received a Johnson & Johnson Award and was shortlisted for both PPA and BSME titles. Since then, Amelia has created content for numerous titles and brands, including the Telegraph, 111 Skin, Waitrose, Red magazine, Stylist, and Elle, as well as being Head of Content at Vitality and Editor in Chief at INLondon magazine. “My superpower is translating technical jargon about the mechanical workings of a supercar into a relatable story you’ll want to share with your friends after you’ve read it.” After joining the SB Media family as a senior journalist in September of 2023, Amelia’s role has evolved to see her heading up the SEO output of the editorial team. From researching the most ‘Google-able’ key terms to producing evergreen content - it’s been a time of hard work, growth, and success for the editorial team and the Supercar Blondie website. “I like to think of myself as a ‘method journalist’. In other words: I live and breathe whatever I am writing about. When writing about fitness, I trained as a personal trainer, and as a beauty editor, I completed an ‘expert’ in scent diploma with the Fragrance Foundation. “During my tenure at Supercar Blondie, however, I did something I never thought possible: I passed my driving test at the age of 36. One day I’d love to train as a mechanic to better understand what happens under the hood, too. “My sweet spot is providing readers with a ‘takeaway’ (read: something new they didn’t know before) after reading every one of my stories. While I don’t claim to be an expert in the automotive world, I know the experts and bodies in the field to rely on to provide our readers with an informative and thought-provoking story every time they visit the site.”
