On This Day in History: General Lee makes iconic jump [w/video]

On this very day in 1978, a stunt man on the set of new show called The Dukes of Hazzard made television history. Of course, he didn't know it at the time, but the sight of him soaring through the air would become an icon. Well... not him specifically, but the car he was driving. We can only imagine what that bright orange Dodge Charger sounded like as it roared to the dirt ramp before leaving the ground and touching down 82 feet later. It was totaled upon impact, but its legacy is still going strong three decades later.

The show debuted in 1979 and ran for 6 years. During that time, the General Lee (yes, the car) received 35,000 fan letters every single month. More than 300 Chargers were used over the course of the show, and most of them ended up trashed.

As you read these words, we know you can hear the first few plucks Waylon Jenning's guitar and picture the Duke boys evading capture to make their way the only way they know how. Stop imagining it and check out the video of the show's intro after the jump.

[Source: History via Autopia's Twitter Feed]

The video meant to be presented here is no longer available. Sorry for the inconvenience.