General Lee - Dodge Charger in MaidenheadGeneral Lee Blog1969 Dodge Charger R/T 493 stroker 440, cubic-inch big block V8 (8.0 litres) Maidenhead, Berkshire  This website is about my 1969 Dodge Charger, replica of the car from the series and film, The Dukes of Hazzard. I intend to update it regularly with news and information about my progress on this classic american muscle car.
Videos of the General LeeVideo 1 of general leeMy other cars1968 Gold Dodge Charger - SOLD
1969 Dodge Charger General LeeThe General Lee is the star car from the Dukes of Hazzard and it was used in both the series and the movies. The car was named after the leader of the confederates. It is perhaps the most famous car in the world and helped popularise the Dodge Charger. The Dukes of Hazzard is a popular television series from the 1970s. The most distinctive feature of the orange General Lee car is the 01 on the doors and the confederate flag on the roof. It is these features that make this car the most recognisable car of all. It is especially famous for its huge on screen jumps and stunts.The Dodge Charger is the classic example of a Mopar Muscle car. It was available with engine sizes including 318, 383, 426 and 440 cubic inches. According to an issue of Classic American in 2006, there are currently approximately twelve General Lee replicas in England to date. My General is based in Maidenhead, Berkshire. This is near to Slough, Reading and Windsor. The correct license plate of the General Lee is CNH 320. My private plate is CNH 320H which is about as near as possible. General Lee - 1969 Dodge Charger The General Lee 1969 Dodge Charger is a classic vehicle that was made famous by its starring role in the ever-popular show “The Dukes of Hazzard” which captured audiences from 1979 to 1985. This beautiful muscle car has ever-since been associated with the show and its eccentric characters. In the show, close cousins Bo and Luke Duke find the Charger while looking for a car to fix up. In the beginning of the show when these two characters find it, the car is in bad condition with a smashed from end, yet they see some potential there and bring the vehicle back to their mechanic, Cooter. Skilled Cooter is able to bring the car back into working condition, and the boys of the Duke family get together and add the finishing touches, painting the car orange with a big “01” racing sign on the doors and a confederate flag on the roof. They also weld the doors shut, making it necessary for the window slide manoeuvres, which later would become one of the branding factors of the show. Once in fine condition and running strong, the Duke boys put General Lee to good use as a race car and win triumphantly. The car was named after Confederate General Robert E. Lee and embodied the general feeling of the south. The Charger had to go through a variety of modifications during the shooting of the television show. The rough driving stunts and jumps that made the show so thrilling took a heavy toll on the cars used, some being severely damaged and others destroyed. It is estimated that over the course of filming, somewhere between 200 and three Dodge Chargers were used, many ending up in pieces. There were “First Unit” cars that were kept in pristine condition to be used for photos and still shots where the car had to look good. The “Second Unit” Chargers were the ones that could be sacrificed, being put to the test with hardcore jumps, spinning turns, two-wheel balanced driving and many other amazing stunts. Some of the stunts required further adjustments as well, such as overinflating tires and rigging the handbrakes. For some of the jumps, extra weight was applied to the rear of the car giving it more opportunity for air time. Overall the effects were astounding and left viewers wanting more. This was the car everyone wanted, and they wanted to be able to handle the car just like the Duke boys without ending up injured or worse. While most people were not able to own a 1969 Dodge Charger like the General Lee, nor fly through the air without any repercussions, fans of the show were able to live vicariously through the characters and adore the car from their own living rooms. The 1969 Dodge Charger truly is one of a kind and a classic car. The engine was a 440 c.i. Magnum V-8 rated at 375 hp giving it the power needed to really qualify as a muscle car. The carburettor was a four barrel Holly 780 Double-Pumper and it had a Chrysler “Torqueflite” A-727 Heavy Duty automatic transmission. Usually the car was hugger or hemi orange in colour with tan or black interiors. There was a glass pack exhaust, Dana limited slip differential, a three point roll bar, front grill guard, Dixie horn and CB whip antenna. It was and is today an impressive vehicle, highly sought after for practical and nostalgic purposes. This is an excellent collector’s item. The General Lee 1969 Dodge Charger is a part of American culture. Over the years many have sought to restore these cars, and others have merely collected models. The film and television industries have revisited the car with spin-offs in shows and movies, such as having characters attempt the window entrance and ending up with a sore head and ego. This vehicle is one that will never be forgotten and will live on forever. Please note: The above text is copyrighted and should not be reproduced.
1969 Dodge Charger General Lee in Maidenhead
General Lee |
