Jumpin' General EP 282s Dukes of Hazard
General Lee's Iconic First Jump
On November 11th, 1978, during the filming of One-Armed Bandits, a stuntman launched the iconic General Lee off a makeshift dirt ramp and over a police car on the Georgia set of The Dukes of Hazzard, TV history was made. This 16-foot-high and 82-foot-long leap resulted in a totaled car but secured its place in every episode's opening credits.
As countless stunts unfolded on screen, nearly every car met its demise, prompting prop masters to scour the country for every 1969 Dodge Charger they could find. Outfitted with roll cages, nose-mounted push bars, and upgraded suspensions, these cars braced themselves for inevitable landings. Brakes were tampered with to perfect the 180-degree bootlegger's turn, while concrete or lead-filled trunks prevented mid-air flips.
Despite these reinforcements, landing those jumps must have been a jarring experience for the stunt drivers – let alone Bo, Luke, Daisy, or dear old Uncle Jesse.
This orange Charger – adorned with "01" on its doors, a Confederate flag on its roof, and a horn that played Dixie's first twelve notes – belonged to Bo and Luke Duke themselves. With it, they evaded corrupt County Commissioner Boss Hogg in thrilling chases and narrow escapes.
While on air, the General Lee received 35,000 fan letters monthly. Enthusiasts purchased millions of toys and remote-controlled replicas of the car, with some even modifying their own vehicles to resemble the Duke's Charger.
In 2006, Travis Bell rescued "Lee 1," the original General Lee from that jump, from an Atlanta-area junkyard where it had sat for 23 years. The car underwent a full restoration before selling to golfer Bubba Watson at a Scottsdale Barrett-Jackson auction in 2012. The Dukes of Hazzard aired on CBS from 1979 until 1985.
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