RC2 Authentics 1971 Dodge Super Bee

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In 1968, Plymouth catapulted itself into the budget muscle car market when their “no-frills, high-thrills” Road Runner hit the pavement. Engaging in a bit of sibling rivalry, Dodge decided to build a low-cost high-performance muscle car of their own, based on the intermediate sized Coronet. After stripping it of most amenities and combining it with a standard 335-hp four-barrel 383-ci V8, a heavy-duty suspension, a four-speed manual transmission coupled to a Hurst Competition Plus shifter, redline tires, and Dodge’s Scat Pack logo, the Dodge Super Bee was born.

In 1971, Dodge decided to split the Charger and Coronet into two separate models. The Charger maintained its performance image as a 2-door hardtop while the Coronet name identified Dodge’s longer wheelbase four-door sedans and wagons. Because of this separation, the Super Bee was switched over to the Charger platform for 1971. Like the Charger, the Super Bee was completely redesigned. Sporting a new Coke bottle shape, the Super Bee rode on a shorter wheelbase but grew in width by 2-1/2 inches, making it appear larger than it was in previous years.

In terms of styling, a large round Super Bee decal was affixed to the standard domed hood, fused with a blacked out hood treatment like that of the Charger R/T. The Super Bee also received the Charger’s body stripes that ran from the cowl along the beltline to the end of the quarter panel. A standard full width chrome halo front bumper split the fixed open headlight grille into two separate sections and the taillights were standard Charger units with two lights per side. Hidden headlights and color keyed urethane bumpers were optional, as were front and rear spoilers. The options list also included a Ramcharger hood, vinyl top, and bucket seats to replace the standard bench.

Powering the Super Bee was the standard 383-ci Magnum V8, rated at 300-hp, with a single four barrel carburetor, coupled to a 3-speed on the floor. A 4-speed manual and Torqueflite automatic were available as optional equipment, as were the 385-hp 440 Six-Pack and 426 Hemi, although like the Super Bee, 1971 would mark their last year of production. In the end, the Super Bee may not have been as successful in sales as the Road Runner, but even so, it was a truly impressive low-buck muscle car, one that outsold the 71 Charger R/T by nearly 2,000 units.

Thanks to RC2, the 1971 Super Bee is now available in high-detail 1/18-scale diecast. Part of the widely popular Authentics line, this miniature B-body is a real knockout with a spot on casting that captures the proper coke bottle contours and lower body curves. Dressed in GB5 Bright Blue, the Super Bee features an accurate rendition of the simulated valve cover style hood with the proper hood decal and blackout performance paint treatment. The model also wears crisp tampo printed emblems on the front fenders and rear decklid edge, along with V6X side stripes which look good overall but don’t transition from the cowl to the top door edge as tight as they should.

The latest Mopar in the Authentics line also depicts the 71’s full width halo-style bumper, plated in chrome on this release with a genuine Dodge emblem molded and painted in the center bar. The split grille sections are filled with the optional A09 hidden headlights with doors that rotate open and closed. The standard two-light per side taillight panel is accurately painted and surrounded in its own chrome plated bumper. Furthermore, this model features plastic parking light lenses set in the fenders and quarters, along with fender mounted turn signal indicators and the optional chin and deck lid spoilers. What really knocked my socks off though were the realistic strips of chrome that accent the front and rear windows, drip rail moldings, and wheel openings, giving this model a truly high end personality. The ensemble rides on a set of color keyed steel wheels with chrome plated dog dish caps, shod in white line tires. While the white lines were standard, I would’ve liked a set of Goodyear raised white letter shoes on this Super Bee.

Inside the engine bay is an incredibly lifelike reproduction of the 440 Magnum V8 and surrounding accessories. Fully wired and plumbed with heater hoses, vacuum lines, et cetera, the 440’s block is accurately painted, mounting a four-barrel carburetor below a black dual snorkel air cleaner lid. Topping the heads are finned Mopar Performance aftermarket valve covers. They’re nice enough, but hopefully future iterations will have the standard parts. The extra-cost optional air conditioning equipment has been installed on this 440 and includes the proper lines. You’ll also find a painted fluid reservoir, a period-correct battery with painted caps and exceptional bolt-type cables, and an accurately detailed firewall with a painted wiper motor, master cylinder, and cowl vents, as well as various instruction labels that enhance the overall believability of the engine bay.

The interior of the Authentics Super Bee has also been assembled with an abundance of realism, fully carpeted with chrome sill plates, posable sun visors, an opening glove box, and remarkably detailed tilt-forward bucket seats with fabric belts and extraordinarily precise seam stitching. Four hooded circular gauge pods define the Dodge’s Rallye instrument panel which is decorated with a simulated wood grain appliqué and positioned behind a wood-rimmed 3-spoke Rim-Blow steering wheel. The center console is detailed with a wood grain insert of its own, along with an integrated optional cassette player with microphone and Hurst Pistol-Grip four-speed shifter. The latter detail creates a conflict with this particular replica since A/C equipped 71 B-bodies, like this Super Bee, weren’t available with a 440, 4-speed setup. I’m sure RC2 will work to correct this any future A/C equipped Charger’s or Super Bee’s. I also hope to see the proper H51 A/C dash tooled. Overall, I still give the interior in this Super Bee two big thumbs way up.

Chassis detail is minimal for the most part, aside from the splashes of paint that highlight the gas tank, exhaust, and manual transmission. One of the nicer touches are the optional N42 chrome exhaust tips, which have been tunneled and filled with black paint, furthering the overall effect of realism that RC2 has built into these Authentics 71 Dodge’s. Feature wise, the chassis includes a fully functional suspension with coil springs and working rear shocks, along with a driveshaft that rotates in turn with the rear wheels. The model also features an opening trunk, inside which you’ll find a patterned trunk mat, spare tire, and instruction label on the underside of the trunk lid. I was particularly impressed with the painted weather-stripping around the edge of the trunk space.

Priced just over $3,000, the 1971 Dodge Super Bee offered one heck of a bang for the buck, and RC2’s Authentics replica delivers that same value to 1/18-scale collectors. Truthfully, the finished product isn’t without flaw. There are a few kinks that RC2 needs to iron out on the next production run, but more importantly, these replicas put a smile on my face, and I expect they’ll do the same to you. Whether you’re a Mopar fanatic or just a muscle car enthusiast looking to add a first-rate replica to your collection, I recommend these Authentics 71 Charger’s and Super Bee’s highly. If the GB5 Bright Blue Super Bee pictured here doesn’t peak your interest, perhaps one of the other RC2 variants or limited editions from Supercar Collectibles or Matco Tools will. But you’d be best to decide quickly as it won’t be long before these have all been spoken for.

Happy Collecting,

DetourDave