I was this show’s biggest fan a toddler and young kid, but at what cost? I will forever feel guilty for enabling both the show’s Charger carnage and televised acting travesties.
This is every jump of the General Lee from seasons 1-6.
CC Overnight Outtake: Those Poor, Precious Chargers
– Posted on April 8, 2012
I watched every last episode of this show when I was a kid and loved it. But watching these jumps today, knowing what I know now … oh man. I couldn’t make it all the way through the video, as I was about to cry.
You pretty much summed it up
I heard these were the reason of the scarcity of this vintage Chargers today…
Total production for ’68 Chargers was 96,000+. If I remember correctly, it is estimated that roughly 200 were modified/destroyed throughout the Dukes of Hazzard series. So no, Dukes was not the reason that these cars are scarce; in fact, they’re not all that scarce as muscle cars go. Many, many more suffered the normal fate of late 60s muscle cars: used hard by the young people that they were marketed to, sensitive to rust, and very often just driven into the ground and junked. Keep in mind they weren’t considered “extra special” until the advent of DoH in the early 80s.
All that said, I’d love to have one. Unfortunately, they go for big money when they’re in good shape, and there’s usually somewhat of a “celebrity car tax” because they’re so widely known/coveted.
For perspective, I’m pretty sure the show destroyed FAR more C-bodies (Monacos, Furys, Polaras) than Chargers. Few mourn that loss!
You have to at least give them credit for some of the shots – landing their Charger on top of a moving car takes skill to set up! Not to mention some serious nerve on the part of the driver of the car that the Charger lands on…
Theres one of those locally an ex tv show car but with opening doors not a stunt car
I’d heard they kept 75 Chargers on site at any given time through the series. Many of the ones trashed weren’t considered prime resto material for that day.
Those of us who are car enthisiasts as well as golf fans (maybe a rare combination) will know that the 2012 Masters champ Bubba Watson was widely reported to have paid $110,000 for “the original” General Lee, if there ever was such a thing.
There’s a woman in town sho drives a nice 69 Charger as a delivery vehicle for a law office. Dark green, black vinyl roof, 318 two barrel. No visible rust at all! It’s absolutely gorgeous!
I’ve always loved the design of these cars and yes, I saw that show too for much of its run as a kid. I was in Junior high when it began and I remember some Friday nights with my best friend David who’s 3 years younger would sit and laugh over that show while we watched it,
His oldest brother had a blue 68 charger that had issues and I knew a kid in HS in the early 80’s who had a mildly fixed up ’69 that had a fresh coat of paint, but had dings all over that were not dealt with before the respray but it was all original as far as I know.
I’d have probably the ’68 over the ’69 but they are very close though!
Theses show were great I loved dukes of hazard ,but chips was just as bad destroying classics
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