On this day in history November 11, 1978: ‘The Dukes of Hazzard’ makes history with iconic car jump
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: On November 11, 1978, a daring stuntman at the Georgia set of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' etched television history by launching the show's legendary 1969 Dodge Charger, the General Lee, off a makeshift dirt ramp and soaring over a police car.
This iconic jump, measuring 16 feet high and covering a distance of 82 feet, became a weekly spectacle during the show's opening credits, setting the tone for the series that ran on CBS from 1979 to 1985.
A behind-the-scenes look at The Dukes of Hazzard's iconic stunt car
According to History.com, General Lee, a neon-orange Charger adorned with the number 01, a Confederate flag on the roof, and a horn playing the first 12 notes of 'Dixie,' belonged to the show's protagonists, cousins Bo (John Schneider) and Luke Duke (Tom Wopat).
The car served as their trusty escape vehicle, allowing them to navigate treacherous situations and outwit the corrupt county commissioner, Boss Hogg.
Given the punishing nature of the stunts, where nearly every General Lee performance resulted in the car being wrecked, the show's prop masters adopted a unique strategy.
Procuring as many 1969 Dodge Chargers as possible (approximately 85,000 were sold by the Chrysler Corporation), they meticulously prepared each one for action.
This involved adding a roll cage, a protective push bar, and heavy-duty shock absorbers and springs to enhance the car's durability.
Special modifications for the bootleggers' turn
Brakes were also tampered with to facilitate the signature 180-degree 'Bootleggers' Turn,' a move frequently employed by the Duke boys to evade their adversaries.
Cars designated for jumps were loaded with trunks filled with concrete or lead ballast to prevent midair flips.
During its airing, 'The Dukes of Hazzard' cultivated a massive fan base, with General Lee receiving around 35,000 fan letters monthly.
The show's popularity extended beyond the screen, as fans purchased millions of remote-controlled and toy versions of the iconic car.
Some enthusiasts even went so far as to modify their own vehicles to resemble the Charger driven by the Duke cousins.
In 2006, Indianapolis DJ Travis Bell undertook the restoration of the original General Lee, showcasing the enduring impact of the iconic vehicle.
However, in 2015, reruns of 'The Dukes of Hazzard' faced controversy as the Confederate flag displayed on General Lee led to the show being pulled from the airwaves, according to USA Today.
Despite this decision, the series remained available for streaming on platforms like Amazon Prime. Additionally, Warner Bros announced a halt to the creation of merchandise featuring the controversial flag.
'The Dukes of Hazzard' and its iconic General Lee, with its daring jumps and distinctive appearance, remain ingrained in television history, leaving a lasting legacy despite the challenges and controversies that have arisen over the years.
