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Surprising Facts About The Dukes Of Hazzard ‘General Lee’ Dodge Charger

Cameron Eittreim May 19, 2023

‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ was a classic American sitcom that aired on CBS from January 26, 1979, to February 8, 1985. 147 episodes in total aired during the show’s run. It was one of the most popular shows on television during its height. The show followed the Duke boys and their sister Daisy Duke as they attempted to outrun a bumbling set of villains led by Boss Hogg. But perhaps the real star of the show wasn’t even a person at all. The show featured a wildly popular orange Dodge Charger called the “General Lee”.

The look of the car was so different that it resonated with an entire generation of baby boomers. The Due brothers’ hijinks made the show extremely popular. But anyone who watched the show knows it was the car that caught everyone’s attention. The orange Dodge Charger was a symbol of American culture at the time. The show ended up becoming an American classic and the car has maintained a special place in the hearts of automotive enthusiasts. We looked at the surprising facts that you might not know about the Dukes of Hazzard ‘General Lee’ right here. Enjoy looking back at a truly iconic vehicle below.

The Car Was Featured in 175 Episodes

The General Lee wasn’t just some fly-by-night TV car. Instead, it was featured in every episode of the show. The period was instrumental in the birth of the muscle car era, and young people were crazy about these cars. The Dukes of Hazzard is one of the few shows that has ever featured the same vehicle in every episode that was ever aired. There’s not a single episode of the show that didn’t feature the famed Dodge Charger. The great thing about the Charger was that it was a car young people loved during that era (via Esquire).

The car was an integral part of the success of the show, which is why there are still legions of fans today. The styling was so iconic that there was a remake of the series into a movie in 2005. There was everything to like about the Dukes of Hazzard and the franchise remains popular today. The TV show also helped to popularize the Charger itself. Many enthusiasts remember the Charger solely for its starring role on TV.

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Dirty Mary Crazy Larry Tie-In?

The film “Dirty Mary Crazy Larry” and the TV show “Dukes of Hazzard” are uniquely connected. Both productions share a similar theme of fast cars and daring stunts. Additionally, they feature iconic vehicles that have become symbols of their respective stories. In “Dirty Mary Crazy Larry,” the protagonists drive a sleek, powerful Dodge Charger, which was obviously also seen on “Dukes of Hazzard” (via Esquire).

This connection between the two productions showcases the enduring popularity of the Charger as a symbol of speed and adventure. Moreover, both “Dirty Mary Crazy Larry” and “Dukes of Hazzard” capture the thrill of high-speed chases and daredevil driving. The transition from the big screen to the small screen allowed audiences to experience the adrenaline-pumping action in different formats.

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A Charger Got Wrecked During Filming

During the filming of “Dukes of Hazzard,” one of the Chargers used in the show met an unfortunate fate. However, the wrecked Charger became an unexpected symbol of resilience and a testament to the show’s dedication to delivering thrilling stunts. Firstly, while performing a daring jump known as the “Duke Boys’ jump,” the Charger used in the scene suffered significant damage upon landing (via Esquire).

Transitioning to the event itself, the jump was a pivotal moment in the show, often leaving audiences on the edge of their seats. Unfortunately, as the Charger landed, it experienced a catastrophic crash, resulting in severe damage. This unexpected turn of events temporarily halted production and left the crew facing a challenging situation.

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An Unknown AMC Ambassador Was Used

Due to a shortage of Dodge Chargers, an unexpected solution was found during the filming of “Dukes of Hazzard” – an AMC Ambassador was used as a substitute. This unique circumstance presented a challenge, but it also brought a fresh twist to the show. Due to a scarcity of Chargers, the production team faced a dilemma when they couldn’t secure enough of the iconic vehicles for filming. This scarcity prompted them to think creatively and consider alternative options (via Road & Track).

Enter the AMC Ambassador, a car not typically associated with the high-octane world of “Dukes of Hazzard.” However, in a surprising turn of events, the Ambassador was chosen to stand in as General Lee, the famous orange Charger driven by the show’s protagonists. Despite the transition from a Dodge Charger to an AMC Ambassador, the show managed to maintain its signature style and spirit. The Ambassador underwent modifications to resemble General Lee, including the iconic paint job, the Confederate flag on the roof, and the number “01” on the doors.

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The Producers Tried To Buy Random Chargers

The Charger shortage during the filming of the show caused a situation that the producers weren’t ready for. So, the producers left notes on the windshields of private Charger owners to see if they were interested in selling their vehicles. There were a few bites according to sources but the majority of the shortage had to be addressed by using the AMC Ambassador (via Road & Track).

The Ambassador was the closest example of a car that they could find to supplement the Charger. The problem with the car was that it had to be heavily modified to work correctly in the filming. But the process was costly and time intensive and it almost derailed the filming more than once.

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Miniatures Were Used In Filming

The Charger shortage became even more of a problem when there was a shortage of AMC Ambassadors as well. The Ambassadors were being used to supplement the shortage of Chargers and when that wasn’t enough the producers decided to use miniatures to get the job done. There are certain scenes in the show that used Hollywood magic to look realistic, but the reality was that it was a toy (via Road & Track).

This is something that a lot of movie studios do even now, but it was greatly exacerbated by the fact that the Charger was in a limited production run. The use of miniatures helped the show to stay on the air and relevant. But fans still remember the show for the real production car that appeared and starred in it.

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There Were 17 General Lees Left

When production of the final season wrapped up, there were 17 authentic General Lees that were left behind. The cars were in various stages of disrepair and a few of them were pretty much junk. The relevant survivors were eventually sold at auction and a few of them have been restored. The car itself was one of the most popular body styles of the Dodge Charger (via Hot Cars).

Because the cars were involved in various stunts there was a lot of damage that was done. The cars were sent flying in the air, on high-speed chases, and a variety of other damaging stunts. None of which were what the car was natively built for. Nevertheless, the Charger was an admirable choice for the show.

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Who Owns “Lee 1?”

Professional golfer Bubba Watson is the owner of the original “Lee 1” car. Lee 1 was the original car that was used for the pilot episode. There was a full frame-on restoration done to the car to ensure that it was restored to the proper condition. Some changes were done to the car once Watson got ahold of it. The confederate flag on the hood was removed and an American flag was put in its place (via Hot Cars).

There was a lot of uproar in the fan community because he didn’t keep the car in its original condition. The final result of a car that was far from the original and that didn’t sit well with fans. The original General Lee is one of the rarest cars on the road today and a lot of enthusiasts have waited for the opportunity to grab it.

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General Lee Needed Weights

The General Lee had to have weights placed in it to perform some of the stunts. When the car hit the ground at high speed the weights would twist the body. On the show where it looked like the car was taking a lot of damage but it actually wasn’t. The problem was that almost all of the cars used in the filming of the show were damaged beyond repair (via Hot Cars).

The General Lee was a unique muscle car, to say the least. The fact that so many of them were destroyed was rather sad. The show was all about damaging these cars so it made sense in a way. But it was a sad shame to watch these cars go to waste and end up in the junkyard.

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The Dixie Horn

One of the most notable things about the General Lee was the dixie horn it had. The horn was synonymous with the show and the Dukes brothers getting into hijinks. The most obvious thing about the horn was the fact that it was not a factory option on that car. The distinct sound was unlike anything else that was on the road at the time. Everyone knew that the show was on when the sound of the horn came on the screen (via Hot Cars).

There have been attempts by enthusiasts to replicate this horn on their cars on well. You’ll always find at least one person at a car show who has one. When you think about iconic TV shows the dixie horn is one of the most obvious and well-known features. The dixie horn had a unique sound to it that you just don’t see often.

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