Danbury Mint '69 Superbee Sixpack
I Call Shotgun...!!!
You can have shotgun, I'll take the drivers seat. Bench seats and bigblocks, thats my heaven. The interior is frigin' awesome in this one, with seats that look so real, duplicating that "pleather" look from the late 60's, with photo-etched buckles. The woodgrain steering wheel and shiftknob look so woody, yeh, woody... I couldn't think of another word to use....sue me. The dash is so incredibly lifelike and detailed you will think they took a shrink ray gun and miniturized a real one, the guages are so small but detailed and readable. The door panels are also nicely done in the same black as the seats and abundent details in photo-etched form representing door handles, window cranks and "push down" door locks. Carpet is real cloth and black. I give it 5 out of 5 stars.
Barrett Jackson $250K, Danbury Mint $130
Anyone that has ever watched The Barrett Jackson auction knows Mopar muscle is getting all the money, especially the Hemi and 440 sixpack cars, bringing the AAR and T/A cars as runner-ups. These 1:1 scale cars are out of my price range (for now), but these beauties from the Danbury Mint are in my price range. I can't buy everyone I want, and most of my purchases find me making payments, but I find a way to get 'em and enjoy them. These cars are great and most of them hold their value, and just like the real ones, some even increase their worth with time. I think this Superbee will be one of those cars. I rate this purchase a 5 out of 5 stars.
The Motor...What Else is There...?
When I think 440 sixpack, I think 390 bwhp, and we are talking about mopar, so we know those numbers were under-rated on purpose, due to imposing insurance and emissions regulations. This little scaled down motor is only second to its bigger brother, the real thing. The valve covers, exhaust manifolds, and nicely replicated six pack carbs look great sized down. All hoses, wires and linkages are properly represented, theres even a metal photo-etched clamp holding the upper radiator hose to the radiator. Washer bottle, wiper motor (on the firewall), heater core hoses, battery and ignition box all present. Also comes with the "RAM AIR" air filter setup, but is not pictured here, it is removable and was removed to view the motor. I give the Motor 5 out of 5 stars.
Details Overload
I don't know what Danbury Mints profit margin is on each car, but I can tell you they put some of that profit back into their products. I heard from a pretty good source that every new tool (mold for car) can cost upwards in the $75k neighborhood (yes, the k means thousand). That's what I heard. This Six Pack is stupendous, with the dual air vents right before the rear wheels, the chrome foil around the windows and around the wheels on the fenders and quarter panels. The trunk is nicely done with the correct plaid trunk floor covering with a spare wheel to spare. (sorry, it was so tempting). The "DODGE" lettering and superbee decals are photo-etched, except the one thats in the bumble bee trunk stripe, which also looks so fine. I give the details and photo-etching a 5 out of 5 stars.
Overall Fit And Finish
Fit and finish on this beauty is breathtaking...a wonder to behold, or in my case, to hold, which I do often. Danbury did thier homework and research to get this replica right, and right it is. The Vitamin C orange paint is dead on, with a thick and shiny coat. To keep their well deserved reputation, Danbury Mint has decided to stay on track with thier progression of diecast technology and excellence. The hood is correctly replicated in fiberglass (plastic) and comes with four machined "stilt" poles to hold up the hood, and 4 hold down lock hood pins, but be careful when handling these pins, for they are the smallest and springiest things I have ever handled, you will lose them easily. The hubcapless black steel wheels are factory correct with chrome lugnuts, the lugnuts are tiny, but they look so real, photo-etching is incredible. I give the finish 5 out of 5 stars.