Chuck’s Super Bee

I have a great story to share with you today. Several weeks ago, I received a message on LinkedIn from a gentleman in Maryland. He explained that he had recently purchased my brother, Chuck’s 1970 Dodge Super Bee. He said he had found a photograph depicting Chuck and possibly another family member, and asked if I would talk to him about the car. I agreed, and we scheduled a phone call for later that day.

All day long, memories of Chuck (who died in 2013) and that car came in and out of my mind. I reminisced about our many trips to Disneyland and all of the holidays we spent together as adults. Chuck was 14 years older than I, so I didn’t get to know him until later in life. But the one thing that everyone else and I knew about Chuck was how much he loved that car. Chuck’s life was often complicated. But there was always one consistent presence: the Super Bee.

The new owner wanted to know the story of the car. He loved the car and explained to me how rare it is to find a vehicle that old in such excellent condition with little to no rust on it. I knew the answer. For more than forty years, it was Chuck’s prized possession.

I couldn’t answer all of his questions. I called another brother and an uncle who were around at the time and asked what they remembered. They told me Chuck never let anyone else drive the car, and he rarely drove it himself. There were a few occasions when he pulled it out for the local 4th of July parade, but that was it.

My Maryland friend sent this photo of the car in its current condition, and I was thrilled to see it looking so good. But mostly, my heart was filled with joy, knowing this car was getting the attention Chuck always wanted for it. I am honored to be a small part of the car’s revival.

I told the new owner that I felt like the car’s eccentric auntie who lives in California. He promised to send photographs and keep me updated on the restoration, and he’s been true to his word. I am grateful to him for sharing the story with me. A small part of Chuck lives on with us.