Filed under: Time Warp, Coupes, Auction Action, Dodge
Barrett-Jackson 2008: General Lee Dodge Charger brings $450,000
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If Wikipedia is correct (isn't it always?), there were a total of 309 General Lee Dodge Chargers used in the making of Dukes of Hazzard. The show used at least one or two cars per episode, nearly all of which were destroyed by the end. However, a few of the car still exist in various states of (dis)repair, including this particular one owned by John Schneider who played Bo Duke. The car currently has a 511cid Hemi V8 with 725 bhp and 610 lb-ft torque and has hit 165 mph in the Silver State Classic according to Schneider. The car was featured in the "Dukes of Hazzard" TV reunion movie, and each member of the cast has signed the underside of the hood.
Despite Schneider leading the crowd in a rendition of "The Good Ol' Boys" while standing on the roof of his car, the General Lee couldn't muster more than a top bid of $450,000. We were expecting something a littler higher, especially since someone paid $360,000 for the Monkeemobile.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
carguy 10:03AM (1/20/2008)
How is the overpriced junk that is sold at this hype circus news?
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Mr. Blake 10:49AM (1/20/2008)
You know, some people actually enjoy looking at vintage and classic cars in impeccable condition. If you're not the one paying for it, then who cares how much it goes for? Overpriced it may be, but junk it is not. If you don't like it, don't watch it.
indymcsc 10:43AM (1/20/2008)
I'm glad he finally sold this at a reputable place. I remember when it was on ebay and he got screwed by that dead-beat bidder.
Nice mods to this car.
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Mr. Blake 10:45AM (1/20/2008)
According to Schneider, this was the last car they used in the making of the show.
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Scott 10:56AM (1/20/2008)
I remember as a kid we went on the studio tour in California Universal? I don't know) and there was a parking lot full of General Lees. I think my dad might still have a picture of that. It was very cool to see them all there. The guide also said they went through 1 or 2 of them per show.
They also had 3 "BJ and the Bear" trucks parked there, with the trailers and everything. It was a kid's dream.
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cowboy bob 11:46AM (1/20/2008)
Assinine show, assinine car, and some assinine person who bought it. Good luck getting money for this one in a few years!
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Takeo 2:05PM (1/21/2008)
Amazing that a Confederate flag arouses controversy (rightfully so) on the pole above the Alabama Capitol building but not on the roof this more well known icon.
Anthony 3:37PM (1/20/2008)
Didn't the bid go as high as $10 million? LOL.
I wonder why John is selling it? I hope he doesn't need the $. If it was me and I didn't need the cash, I'd keep it.
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whofan 3:58PM (1/20/2008)
What a way to ruin the beautiful Charger by making a general lee out of it. Watch the Bullit movie and see what a real Charger it suppose to look like.
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Jim 4:20PM (1/20/2008)
I think cowboy and carguy are made for each other. bet they drive front wheel drive cars too.
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moparman 1:33AM (1/21/2008)
Actually, only 19 of the General Lee cars survived the t.v. show, 2 of which are still owned by warner bros.. The other 17 were sold to private owners.
This aprticular one was built by John Schneider, and used in all of the Dukes reunion, made for t.v. movies, I think 2 or 3 of them. One was called the dukes goto hollywood I think.
Anyway, this paricular car is unique, in that all the reamaining living cast members signed it at one time. He also said that during a couple of races that he drove it in the last few years that he ahd it up to 165 mph.
Not exactly "overpriced junk", as the first poster states.
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moparman 1:45AM (1/21/2008)
For whofan, and anyone else complaining about "ruining" a "real" charger.
Firstly, the t.v. show used hust over 300. Of those only about 60 to 70 percent were 69 chargers. The rest were 68's and 70's. (They modified them to look like 69's)
Dodge made over 96,000 1969 dodge chargers. Of all the ones I've seen, I doubt there are over 1000 General Lee chargers in existance.
Most of the General Lees that do exist were made from chargers that were no longer original, not "numbers matching" cars.
Just like my car. Got it off of ebay for $7,100.00. It was a 318, base model charger, but someone had already changed the engine and transmission, and repainted it at least 3 times. (note, faded white is not a good color for the 68 to 70 chargers!)
I was going to paint it blue, but last October my dad died. He was 80 years old, a WWII vet, and a heck of a nice guy. I am 37, the youngest in our family. With such an age gap, about the only show dad and I ever watched and liked and laughed at togeather was "the dukes of hazzzard".
Now, my car will become a general lee, witht the words "dedicated to dad" air brushed on the quarter panels.
Also, the flag on the roof is a navy flag (or ensign). Army battle flags of the time were square, not rectangular. Neither the t.v. show, nor that car have ever been racist. They have been used as a crutch by certain people though.
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devon 10:16PM (1/21/2008)
why would any one stand on the roof of a car and then try to sell it? the dude was drunk.
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