The Real story of General Lee
Engine: Varried from scene to scene, but it was mostly 318's to 440's.
Year: 1969
Make: Dodge
Model: Charger or Charger R/T(Road&Track) That also varried from scene to scene.
Background: The original General Lee(Used In The Pilot Episode), had a tan interior, and an automatic transmission on the floor. It also had a small confederate flag and checkered flag right above the trunk mounted CB antenna. Warner Brothers had special people throughout the United States looking for Dodge Chargers. When these people found them they would put a note on the windshield asking if they would like to sell it. They used about 200 1969 Dodge Chargers throughout the show. Majority of them were junked after jumps since the car was pretty much totaled. The horn was rigged to play the first 11 bars of Dixie. They actually played the horn in the first 6 or 7 episodes but after that they edited it into the show. Warner Brothers actually did not plan to use the Dixie horn until one of the Chargers they got in the beginning had the horn on it. Warner Brothers figured it would fit in perfectly with the customs of the show. They ended up paying plenty for the horn that they had found, but later they bought the horns from a company called J.C. Whitney Auto Parts(These horns are still being sold for about $59.95, more info at bottom of page). Each time they got a new Charger for the show, they would paint the exterior orange, apply the well known Confederate flag on the roof, and then put 01 on the door. The doors were supposedly welded shut, but Warner Brothers did not actually do this. In one or two episodes you can see the doors being opened by Bo, Luke, Uncle Jesse, or Daisy. Since the doors were supposed to be welded, Bo & Luke had to enter the car by the windows. At the end of the show, Warner Brothers had 19 original General Lees left. They sold 17 off to different people, and kept 2. These Generals were documented on video, in writing, and in various locations(Warner Brothers, Car Owners) There is a man who has the records of these cars and can tell you whether or not a General is a real General from the show. Allot of the cars on the show were old clunkers. Warner Brothers had a 24-Hour, "chop shop", this shop would paint and repair all the Generals they used on the show (as seen below). Plenty of the Generals were real fast and in great condition.
Some other points on how the General Lee came to be!
Click here for more Information on getting your own Dixie Horn!