Killer Bee

A funny thing happened to the muscle car. While the species existed long before the GTO was unveiled, the contemporary rebirth of the breed that Pontiac spawned for 1964 was basic in principle: big engine, intermediate platform, modest appointments. Critical to its success was its affordability for young, eager buyers. But it didn’t take long for executives to realize that adding normally optional equipment as standard could maximize profits. As a result, the muscle car morphed into a more luxury-level price bracket, alienating the original target market. Mother Mopar, realizing there was still an opportunity to cultivate sales from those with more modest budgets, reexamined the formula and, for 1968, released a pair of stripped-down performers: Dodge Super Bee and Plymouth Road Runner… read more >