Happy Birthday General Lee

woodsyde (62)in #cars • 9 years ago

January 26th 1979 The General Lee. The name given to a 1969 Dodge Charger driven in the televison series The Dukes of Hazard by the Duke cousins, Bo and Luke, It is known for it's signature horn, It's police chases, and stunts -- especially it's long jumps.

And having the doors welded shut, The Dukes had to climb threw the windows. The car appears in every episode but one. The car's name is a reference to the American Civil War General Robert E. Lee.

It bears a Confederate Flag on it's roof of battle flag of Lee's Army of Northern Virginia. And it also has a horn that plays the first 12 notes of the song Dixie.

The idea of the General Lee was developed from the Bootlegger Jerry Rushings car which was named for Lee's favorite horse, Traveller. Traveller was also named the car in Moonrunner's. The 1975 movie precursor of the Dukes of Hazzard.

Although the estimated number of General Lee's used varies from different sources involved in the show was 325 General Lee's were used to film the series. The Charger's model years were 1969 mainly and a few of the 1968's.

The Chargers were built with a full roll cage, and equipped with a 383 V8, and it was painted in code T3 "Light Bronze Metallic" with tan interior.

At the beginning of the series the General was a faded orange with a hand painted 01 on the doors. And no Confederate Naval Flag. But midway threw the filming, Cooter the town mechanic repaired the General after it was vandalized by Boss Hogg's hirelings. Cooter repairs car and paints it "Bright Hemi Orange" and adds the well known trademarks with American Racing "Vector" 10-spoke "Turbine" wheels and Confederate Flag on it's roof.

When I got into watching the Dukes of Hazzard, I was around 10 years old. That is what got me into cars, The General Lee was my favorite. and also Daisy Duke.She always wore them tight ass jean cut-offs that made me watch it every night it was aired. I did not know what I liked more, the car or Daisy.

The lastest filming of the movie Dukes of Hazzard had a whole new cast.

With the Hot looking Jessica Simpson as Daisy Duke.I think the new Daisy looked better for the movie, That was my thought. and the General was still the star of the show with it's newly equipped 426 Hemi V8 for more power."Happy Birthday to the General Lee".