What Kind Of Car Was The General Lee And What Engine Did It Have?

The General Lee, the trusty vehicle of Bo (John Schneider) and Luke Duke (Tom Wopat) on the popular action-series "The Dukes of Hazzard", is also a featured attraction among them.

"The Dukes of Hazzard" aired from 1979 to 1985, and during that time, the General Lee was one of its prominent symbols. Still, many people are unaware of which model of car this iconic orange muscle car was. Basically, the General Lee is a 1969 Dodge Charger, though a few 1968 models were secretly used in its place. Over the course of the show's run, over 300 Chargers were used, with just under 20 of them still surviving today. This is mainly because the show's high-speed chases, close-up shots, and dramatic jumps wouldn't have been possible with just one car. When it comes to the kind of trouble the Duke boys often get into in the General Lee, it may be surprising to find out that they were driven by more than one type of engine.

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The General Lee's Powertrain Had Several Variations

Throughout its usage, this engine was often picked for jumps, but wasn't the only engine to take on such extreme scenes.

The General Lee's impressive performance and speed were not just down to the 440ci V8 alone. Some stunt-specific versions actually used a 383ci V8 engine under the hood. "The Dukes of Hazzard" also required the creation of a so-called "ski car" that could drive and balance on its side using only two wheels. This version of the Lee was equipped with a 318ci V8 to ensure it had sufficient power for the tricks it would pull while not being too heavy to perform the stunts required.

You're in luck if you want a General Lee that measures up, but don't have a 1969 Dodge Charger or those specific engines at your disposal. Providing you're okay with getting your hands dirty, you still have options.

Fans have created personalized General Lees with entirely different cars.

Noting that the 119 sales of this car over the past five years have resulted in an average sale price of $214,477. If you're not willing to spend that amount on a muscle car, and don't require a perfect replica of a well-known car, there's always the option of modifying an entirely different model into the General Lee of your dreams.

Here's a General Lee. I will admit, this job does involve stripping the Crown Victoria down to its fundamental components and heavily modifying it to resemble the "Dukes of Hazzard" vehicle. However, this result is truly impressive. Online research reveals that many others with a focus on a 1969 Dodge Charger or the General Lee have undertaken the same project to varying levels of completion.

The General Lee is undoubtedly legendary, and the 1969 Dodge Charger is certainly a highly sought-after collector's item. It's no surprise, then, that enthusiasts have been motivated to create their own, taking a different route instead of dealing with the aftermarket Charger parts and the challenges of finding one of the last General Lees used on TV.

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