The first '69 Dodge Charger to portray The Dukes of Hazzard's "General Lee" returns to its flight line

By John Pearley Huffman

Date posted: 02-06-2007

By now, The Dukes of Hazzard and the orange '69 Dodge Charger called the General Lee are as much a part of American culture as hamburgers and pickup trucks. And everyone knows the theme song.

But Indianapolis disc jockey Travis Bell has taken enthusiasm for The Dukes well beyond mere fandom. This guy has crossed into the realm of obsession. Already a co-founder of the North American General Lee Fan Club and the owner of a General Lee replica, Travis solidified his status as king of the Dukes fans in 2003 when he took an orange '69 Dodge Charger down to Covington, Georgia (where the first episodes of the TV series were shot), put one of the original stuntmen from the show in the driver seat and sent it flying in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the 1970s TV show.

Last year, however, Travis truly secured his place in Dukes history with his complete restoration of the very first Charger to ever portray Bo and Luke's beloved General Lee. Over 17 months, Travis transformed "Lee 1," as it was literally labeled by Warner Bros. back then, from a lump of mangled Mopar metal into what could be the most valuable 1969 Dodge Charger in the world.

This story will chronicle the 28-year journey of this very special 1969 Dodge Charger, which has gone from used car to pop culture phenomenon to derelict wreck to meticulously restored million-dollar piece of American history. With our apologies to the E! Channel, this is the True Hollywood Story of Lee 1.

Article Continued

Edited May 20, 200718 yr by BigPontiac

Very cool read, thanks for posting it.

Yes, INDEED! VERY cool!

Thank you .

Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker

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"Hood slidin' like Bo Duke"...Dierks Bently...'What Was I Thinking?'

I found this article more interesting than all the hype around John Schneider's General Lee clone making auction history. And who knew Johnny Cash wrote a song about it!

I STILL want a '69 Charger as a direct result of watching this TV showing growing up!

I found this article more interesting than all the hype around John Schneider's General Lee clone making auction history.

I agree....

And who knew Johnny Cash wrote a song about it!

I sure didn't. I searched my JC CDs, but didn't find it on any of them. I'm surprised I had never heard of it.....

I STILL want a '69 Charger as a direct result of watching this TV showing growing up!

He he ... so do I .

Cort:33swm."Mr Monte Carlo.Mr Road Trip".pig valve.pacemaker

PICS:lego.HO.model.MCinfo.RT.CHD = http://www.chevyasylum.com/cort

"She became the envy of my dreams" ... Kenny Rogers ... 'Scarlet Fever'