[Lee Stewart]

IMO what made the 1969 A12 Super Bee/Road Runner such great muscle cars was Chrysler's no nonsense commitment to performance while keeping the price very reasonable. A truly great formula. Take your budget muscle cars and once again offer a complete package using pre-existing parts with the exception of the intake manifold and fiberglass hood.

The "heart" of the package IMO wasn't the 440 Six Pack. It was the use of either the Super Performance Axle Package (Auto) and the Super Track Pack (4 speed) minus the power front disc brakes. 4.10 gears in a Sure-Grip Dana 60 - bulletproof! HD Hemi Suspension and HD Drum Brakes came standard. A big bonus for the 4 speeds was the inclusion of not only a Hurst shifter but also Hurst linkage which replaced the old Inland linkage, a sore spot for Chrysler 4 speed muscle cars. Then add some G70x15 FGB redlines on Hemi 6" wheels with chrome lug nuts to complete the package. "We don't need no stinkin hubcaps!"

Back in the late 1960's the Hemi ruled the dragstrips. But not the street. Not unless you knew how to tune it and most owners didn't. Few had access to dealerships like Grand Spaulding Dodge. So Chrysler designed an engine based on their very successful 440 Magnum. Just change the intake from a single four to three deuces and add some HD internals. Though not as good as dual quads performance wise, the three deuces were cheaper and had a bunch of under hood appeal especially when the massive air cleaner was removed. Only the Corvette had three deuces in 1969.

So you ordered a Super Bee Hardtop, the more popular body style for $3121 (Coupe was $62 less). Then you ordered the A12 package for $462.80. All you needed as far as additional options was an AM radio: $61.55. Total = $3645.35.

You could order the power booster ($42.95) but you couldn't order power front disc brakes. Power Steering was also available for an additional $100.

Drive around town on the center 350 CFM carb then mash the gas pedal and the outboard twin 500 CFM carbs open.