For fans of the iconic television series “The Dukes of Hazzard,” the bright orange 1969 Dodge Charger, famously known as “General Lee,” is as much a character as Bo and Luke Duke themselves. But what exactly was the car used to create this legendary vehicle, especially the very first one? Let’s delve into the history of the original General Lee, known as “Lee 1,” and uncover its fascinating journey from stunt car to junkyard find and beyond.
Lee 1 holds a special place in Dukes of Hazzard lore as the very first Charger built to become the General Lee. This car was specifically chosen and prepped for the iconic jump scene featured in the opening credits of each episode. Filmed on November 11, 1978, at Oxford College in Oxford, Georgia, stuntman Craig Baxley expertly launched Lee 1 over a police cruiser. The jump was an impressive feat, sending the Charger soaring 16 feet in the air and landing 82 feet away. This single jump cemented Lee 1’s place in television history.
However, the jump took its toll. While visually spectacular, the landing damaged Lee 1, and it was deemed no longer suitable for regular General Lee duties. Instead of being scrapped, Lee 1 was returned to the body shop and repurposed. It became a valuable source of parts for building subsequent General Lees. Doors, bumpers, taillights, and grille components were all salvaged and used on other Chargers transforming into the famed orange car. Essentially, Lee 1 became a donor vehicle, its parts living on in other General Lees. After being stripped of usable parts, Lee 1 was relegated to storage, seemingly forgotten.
Interestingly, Lee 1 was called back into service, albeit in a dramatically different role. When “The Dukes of Hazzard” production faced budget constraints during the episode “Repo Men,” resourceful producers decided to recycle Lee 1. No longer the gleaming General Lee, it was transformed into a battered race car. Repainted in a greenish-blue hue and intentionally roughed up to appear wrecked, Lee 1 played the part of Richard Petty’s race car, purchased by the Duke boys in the episode. This marked a surprising second act for the original General Lee, showcasing its unexpected versatility.
As production of “The Dukes of Hazzard” shifted from Georgia to California, around fifty vehicles, including Lee 1 and a few other General Lees, were sent to a junkyard near Atlanta. It seemed the final curtain call for these television icons. Most of the cars from the show met their end in scrap yards between 1986 and 1987. However, a twist of fate awaited Lee 1.
In a remarkable turn of events in 2000, “Dukes of Hazzard” enthusiasts, acting on a tip, located Lee 1 in the junkyard. Astonishingly, it wasn’t alone. The first two police cars from the show (“Police 1” and “Police 2”), along with other vehicles, were also discovered. Many believe Lee 1 survived the crusher due to the concrete ballast added to its trunk for the jump scene – the concrete proving too difficult for the scrap yard machinery.
While the subsequent restoration process was not without controversy and some original parts were unfortunately sold off, Lee 1 was eventually “restored” and returned to its General Lee glory. After appearing at promotional events, this piece of television history was sold at a Barrett Jackson auction for $110,000 USD to professional golfer Bubba Watson. Today, Lee 1 stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of “The Dukes of Hazzard” and the remarkable journey of the car that started it all. It serves as a tangible answer to the question: What Was The Car In The Dukes Of Hazzard? It was a 1969 Dodge Charger, and Lee 1 was the very first, jump-performing, part-donating, junkyard-surviving General Lee.
