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The famous 1969 Dodge Charger, better known as (the) General Lee from The Dukes of Hazzard, was launched for the first time by a stuntman on the set of the show on November 11, 1978. The jump was 16 feet high, 82 feet long, and it totaled the first General Lee. Some of the most beloved scenes featuring the Charger include Luke Duke sliding across the hood, the Duke boys jumping feet-first through the windows, and the Charger attempting dangerous jumps. Chrysler sold 85,000 1969 Chargers and the show’s producers purchased more than 300 of them, because the stunts typically wrecked each car.
Additionally, the prop masters had to modify the Chargers to they could achieve the stunts. They tampered with the brakes, so the Duke boys could make 180-degree “bootlegger’s turns,” and they often filled the trunks with concrete or lead to prevent the cars from flipping over during jumps. While the TV series was on the air between 1979 and 1985, the General Lee received about 35,000 fan letters each month. It’s one of television’s most beloved vehicles!
What do you think? Which other TV cars are your favorites? Let us know in the comment section below!
And check out some of the General Lee’s jumps in this video!
