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This vehicle is an original, Galen Govier documented, "M-code" special order 1969 1/2 Dodge Coronet Super Bee with the A12 package. It is owned by Dave and Pat Abernathy of Plantation Bay, Fla. It's complete with a 440 cubic inch motor producing 390 (factory-rated) horsepower, three two-barrel Holley carburetors, 727 Torqueflite automatic transmission, lift-off fiberglass hood, DANA 4:10 gear sure-grip rear end with factory black vinyl roof and "SIX-PACK" badging along with the factory correct date coded "H" wheels and red streak Goodyear G-70-15 tires.
It is one of 661 automatic hardtop A-12 cars built; one of 20 in Hemi Orange and oneof 10 with this paint color and a black vinyl top. The vehicle production date was April 26, 1969: has VIN# WM23M9A265982 and is registered in the A12 Registry as car #348. The original motor was replaced with a Chrysler factory 440 Six Pack race engine and transmission right after purchase, which has a production date stamping of 1/15/1969. The car is a time capsule of automotive drag racing lore! You just don't find these cars everyday, not with all the documentation and history that this one carries.
Dave followed this car for quite a while, researched it, and even spoke to several past owners, trying to gleam every bit of history and detail that he could. Being raced a quarter mile at a time since its "birth" at the Chrysler Lynch Road Factory in Michigan (now closed) is the reason the odometer only shows 1140 miles.
It was originally purchased from "Dodge Country" in Charolette, N.C. by local racer Wyman Collie specifically for drag racing, for which Chrysler had built it. It tore up the drag strips throughout the southeast from 1969-1971. Campaigned under the banner "Little Thirsty" in SS/FA class, the car won frequently, with the highlight being an SS/FA class win at the 1969 NHRA Fall Nationals at Bristol, Tenn.
Dave has all the copies of time slips and notes that Wyman patiently recorded, including such things as tire pressures, track conditions, etc. Successes are present in all the news clippings from the Winston-Salem News Journal as well as copies of Wyman's NHRA and AHRA licenses! The car's quickness is documented by the time-slips, with best times of 10.36 sec at 133 mph in the 1/4 mile and 9.82 sec at 116mph in the 1/8th mile.
Unfortunately, after only a few years, Wyman became ill in 1971 and stopped racing. The car sat unmolested in his barn, a time capsule if you will, for nearly 20 years. Upon his death (1991), the car passed through several hands. It served as a show car for a few years after an initial restoration by Hodge MOPAR Restorations of Inman, S.C. Since its 2004 restoration it has been driven very little, and showed only 941 miles on the odometer when Dave purchased it. This mileage history indicates this is the lowest known original mile Dodge Coronet A12 Super Bee in the world, with 1,140 miles at this time.
Just some of the original parts on this car include the 6 pack hood, original glass, fenders, quarters, grille, wheel lip moldings, bumpers (re-chromed), door panels, trunk floor, deck lid, headliner and even sun visors! All the sheet metal, too, painted its original Hemi Orange with a factory correct concours treatment of dark grey "dip" primer and orange overspray underneath. New suspension pieces (ie: safety) is all properly updated and detailed with even the correct and original "K" member in place. Decoded by none other than Galen V. Govier (62-80 all mopar registry) in March of 2000, it was certified as a real A-12 M Code (440) Superbee. Dave has the manufacturer's Statement of Origin, copies of all the old drag strip timing slips, NHRA and AHRA Licenses and more.
Little Thirsty has been taken to select judged car shows and has been well received, earning several awards including the following:
First Place Judges Choice - Car Masters Weekend at Downtown Disney - June 2014
Judges Favorite Muscle Car - Ponte Vedra Auto Show - September 2014
Best-in-class & Gold Excellence Award - Winter Park Concours - November 2014
Event T-Shirt Car - Daytona Beach Dream Cruise - October 2014
Best-In-Show - Jacksonville Hot Rod Autorama - February 2015
Most Outstanding American Muscle - Ponte Vedra Auto Show - September 2015
Excellence in Class - Boca Raton Concours - February 2016
Sitting in this car is like opening up the universe to a new dimension of sights and sounds from years gone by. You can almost see the x-mas tree, hear the roar, feel the rush and seat of the pants throw-back in the seat as you're transported back in time and down the strip. Dave doesn't take it out much, but when he does, you can't help but hold the brake - give it the gas and when that 3200 rpm stahl torque converter locks up... Little Thirsty is GONE!
