2006 Dodge Charger SRT8 Super Bee
By Stuart Fowle
Ever seen a Dodge Ram Rumble Bee? If you live more than fifty miles from a Dodge truck plant, probably not. The spoiler-sporting bright yellow special-edition Ram may have drawn attention to dealer lots, but not because anyone wanted to buy one. Even Dodge muscle-lovers would feel more shame than pride in looking at the half bee, half V8 mutant insect on the side of a truck bed. Dodge is trying again at the Chicago show, but this time it's using a more respectable canvas--the Charger sedan--to revive a true paint scheme classic.
The Super Bee edition coats the sides of the awesomely powerful Charger SRT8 in "Detonator Yellow" paint, while the hood and the trunk lid receive a matte black finish. There are Super Bee emblems at all four corners, and inside, yellow stitching distinguish the seats, the shift knob, and the steering wheel. The 425-hp 6.1-liter HEMI from the standard SRT8 model buzzes this bee to 60 mph in just over five seconds.
Fine examples of the last (and only other) Charger to wear the Super Bee nameplate, the 1971 model, can fetch six figures at auction. The 2007 model will arrive at dealerships this fall, and while pricing has not been announced, it will be well north of the 1971 model's original $3200 price. We expect the Bee to demand a premium of about $2000 over the SRT8's $38,000 base sticker.