Few cars in television history have captured the imagination quite like the General Lee, the bright orange 1969 Dodge Charger from The Dukes of Hazzard. With its bold Confederate flag paint job, signature “01” decals, and jaw-dropping stunts, the General Lee became a cultural icon, embodying rebellion, freedom, and Southern charm. Did you have a poster of the General Lee hung somewhere in the 80s? Maybe a garage, locker or bedroom? I don’t know about you, but this will always be an iconic, legendary car in my mind, from its specs, exhaust, stunts to it’s horn.
The Heart of the General Lee
The Dodge Charger the General Lee was based off came with three engine options that powered its high-flying adventures:
- 383 cu in (6.3 L) 2bbl B V8: A solid base engine for the Charger, offering reliable power.
- 383 cu in (6.3 L) 4bbl B V8: A step up, delivering more punch for those high-speed chases.
- 426 cu in (7.0 L) 2×4bbl Hemi V8: The holy grail of Mopar engines, reserved for the most beastly General Lees, with monstrous torque and horsepower.
All General Lees were paired with a 3-speed TorqueFlite automatic transmission, ensuring smooth power delivery as the run from the law in Hazzard County.
The exhaust systems were straightforward, often featuring glasspack mufflers or standard pipes cut short for that iconic rumble. Fans of the show will recognize the distinctive roar, sourced from Thrush glasspacks and Blackjack headers on the close-up cars—actually dubbed in post-production using sound effects from the 1968 film Bullitt.
Another memorable part of the General Lee rolled on 14″ x 7″ American Racing Vectors rims, fitted with P235/70R14 B.F. Goodrich Radial T/A tires (blackwall side out). These looked perfect back in the 80’s, but odd by today’s standards of larger wheels and stretched low profile tires.
The General Lee single-handedly boosted the popularity of the Dodge Charger among car enthusiasts. Before The Dukes of Hazzard, 1968-1969 Chargers were desirable but not unattainable. The show’s demand for these cars drove up their value, and today, a well-preserved ’69 Charger can fetch $100,000 or more at auction, especially if it’s a General Lee replica. The show also popularized the muscle car aesthetic, inspiring a generation of gearheads to restore classic American cars.
A Stunt Legend: The General Lee’s High-Flying Legacy
While the General Lee’s jumps were thrilling to watch, they were brutal on the cars and drivers. The opening credits alone featured a jaw-dropping leap, covering 82 feet and reaching a peak height of 16 feet. But these stunts came at a cost—both to the cars and the stunt drivers.
To keep the Charger from nosing over during jumps, crews loaded the trunk with 500 to 1,000 pounds of sandbags or concrete ballast. Later in the series, mechanics raised the front end to prevent the car from scraping the ramp, which could slow it down. While stunt drivers loved the thrill of the flights, they dreaded the landings. The unpredictable impact often bent the cars’ frames, and any General Lee that took a big jump was retired due to structural damage.
The heavy ballast in the trunk couldn’t fully prevent violent landings, and the unpredictable angles caused moderate to severe impacts. The structural damage from these jumps meant that, on average, more than one General Lee was used per episode. It’s a testament to the show’s commitment to delivering high-octane action, but it also underscores the sheer destruction required to bring the show to life.
It’s no wonder the show went through so many Chargers. Estimates vary, but former cast member Ben Jones (Cooter) and builders claim 325 General Lees were used during the series, though some sources suggest around 255. Most were 1968 or 1969 Dodge Chargers (no 1970 models were used until the 2005 film), sourced and modified with General Lee specs like taillights and grilles. Surprisingly, finding cars wasn’t an issue early on, but by the later seasons, the show had created a shortage of 1969 Chargers. Producers resorted to using AMC Ambassadors, painted orange and filmed with clever camera work to disguise the switch.
Today, only about 17 original General Lees survive, many in varying states of repair, making them prized collector’s items.
The very first General Lee jump, featured in the show’s pilot episode (“One Armed Bandits,” aired January 26, 1979), was performed by LEE 1, the car later bought by Bubba Watson. This jump, filmed in Covington, Georgia, set the tone for the series and was so spectacular that it became the blueprint for future stunts. LEE 1 landed so hard that its front end crumpled, rendering it unusable for further filming, but it cemented the General Lee’s reputation as a stunt icon. Today, LEE 1 is one of the most valuable surviving General Lees.
Fascinating Facts About the General Lee
That Dixie Horn Magic: The General Lee’s Dixie horn wasn’t just a sound—it was a custom air horn system that became a fan favorite, with replicas still sold today. Fun fact: it was often dubbed in post-production for maximum impact.
Welded Doors, Daring Slides: The welded-shut doors, inspired by NASCAR, forced Bo and Luke to slide through the windows—a move that looked cool but was tricky for the actors!
A Merchandise Legend: From model kits to toy cars, the General Lee was a merchandising giant, with 1:25 scale models still coveted by collectors.
Global Fan Replicas: Fans worldwide build General Lee replicas, gathering at events like DukesFest to celebrate the car’s enduring appeal.
Beyond WhistlinDiesel’s 1,500hp monster, the General Lee tribute car continues to appear in modern media.
Would Bo and Luke Duke park their beloved General Lee in a Garage Condo at Motor Condos at Independence? We like to think they would team up with Boss Hog for the chance!
At Motor Condos, we’re building a community where every vehicle matters and every collector belongs—because you need a beautiful space as bold as the cars you fill it with.
Schedule a quick conversation today or contact us to discover how our garage condos can be the perfect pit stop for your prized vehicles and join a community that celebrates everything automotive legends.