High School Gift Becomes 707-HP ‘Hell Bee’ With SEMA Ambitions

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A gifted 1970 Dodge Super Bee transformed into a Hellcat-powered showpiece is headed for one of the industry’s biggest stages.

What began as a high school gift has evolved into a 707-horsepower tribute to muscle car heritage, with its sights now set on SEMA.

Jenna, the third generation in a Mopar-loving family, received a 1970 Dodge Super Bee from her grandfather while searching for a first car. Originally powered by a 383 Magnum, the hardtop has been completely transformed over an eight-year build into “Hell Bee” — a Plum Crazy Purple restomod packing a supercharged 6.2-liter HEMI Hellcat crate engine.

The swap was anything but straightforward. The project required major modifications, including firewall adjustments and a smaller supercharger cooler borrowed from Mopar’s Hellephant crate motor program to make the engine fit under the stock hood. Power is sent through an 8HP90 “War Viking” eight-speed automatic, a modern transmission known for its aggressive performance.

The build is a true family effort, with Jenna, her father, uncle, and grandfather handling most of the work themselves — from rewiring to interior upgrades. The car now features front seats and a center console from a 2018 Challenger, twin 12-inch subwoofers, and custom white C-stripes over its repainted factory hue. The rear seats remain original, a nod to its history.

Jenna’s Mopar roots run deep. Her father owns a 1970 GTX and a ’71 Challenger convertible, while her grandfather’s collection includes two ’68 Charger R/Ts, a Plum Crazy ’71 Challenger, and a Little Red Express truck.

Although Hell Bee doesn’t see daily driving duty, Jenna plans to give the Hellcat-powered coupe the kind of high-speed runs it was built for. More immediately, her goal is to debut the car at the Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) show, where the build’s combination of family heritage, modern muscle, and classic styling is expected to stand out.

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