The General Lee - Behind the Build of "Lee 1"

[@MRMOGAVERO]

Thanks my friend for posting this I am a true DUKES OF HAZZARD fan from starting from the pilot . Im 42 now and my wife from China 7 years now , really likes to watch Dukes !!!!!

[@dacrd]

Some serious General Lee Nerding going on here.

[@zacharyhall7826]

From what I read, and saw (pics). The engine bay, engine, firewall, part of the floor board and windshield are from Lee #1. The rest is the donor Charger used. I saw pictures of the roof after being cut off. It was sold to a collector as were other parts. So basically this is a nice replica with some parts of Lee#1. They didn't have to cut the roof off. In other words more parts of Lee#1 could have been saved and restored that what was. A shame

[@JohnsonT2724]

That is lee two roof that you see everywhere. Roll bar is in lee 6. The gold charger you see in some back shoots is lee six.

[@DolittleMccoy]

Does anyone know the color mixture for 75 corvette flame red? I'm talking about the percentage amount of red, yellow, black, etc mixture? TB finally came out and said that the car was close to flame red, but it was tnt express orange. But I'm curious to how true that is... I have the code mixture for tnt express orange. I'd like to compare it to flame red mixture and see if the facts are there.

[@richardcline1337]

It seems everybody has a story to tell about this car, it's history and it's restoration. Will we ever know the real truth behind all of it? Probably not. But the fact that Lee 1 is alive, well and running on it's original drive train is just fabulous! How many cars over 50 years old are even still alive much less with their original drive train?

[@ChargerusPrime]

I plan on using a Mercury Grand Marquis and building my own 69 charger. I'll probably either keep the original seats or I'll go all out by making it into a more authentic 69 charger interior. I'll be keeping the air bags for safety regs etc. But the seats will be gone, the doors and windows will all function and I'll have functional hideaway headlights.

[@williamvanderburg5949]

They should have left this car alone. After it was jumped at Oxford College, it became a Richard Petty commercial car in "Repo Men". I saw it in person as that. It should have stayed that way.

[@themodernadventurer4320]

William Vanderburg Couldn’t agree more, there was already enough generals on the road and now this one is no different than the rest.

[@aaronking7326]

Exactly....It shouldve been left as #71

[@EricDangerNyenhuis]

Real shame. Jon Holland who wrote two published books on the DOH has records of every part Travis Bell sold on Ebay and it was a LOT. Sheet metal all the way down...Its a shame that people have to take advantage of kind hearted folks.

[@susanhamilton2916]

Absolutely 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯 💯

[@danielmarinucci7708]

There's a story going around that bubba Watson junked the original windshield that was on the car when Warner bought it.

[@HIRAMFETT]

That stupid ass was going to take the flag off it, I don't know if he ever did but he does not deserve to have that car if he doesn't have the balls to keep it the way it was!

[@charliekline3975]

I always thought the name General Lee was blue not black

[@johnkramer7161]

The GL script was always blue. Or at least different shades of blue depending on who built the cars.

[@sealteamryx6758]

people don't notice how different the movie general lee looks from the tv show because the film and tv's made the general lee look more orange

[@ChuckFasst]

Purty interesting stuff there :-)

[@jimflys2]

They made like 45,000 chargers in 1969 and more than double that of Camaros. Why couldn't they have trashed Camaros instead?

[@idontlikecops1]

jimflys2 they made 80k chargers in 69

[@davewilson3360]

hahha they did trash a lot of Camaros just like everyone did as they used them for demo derbys and racing lol I bet u wish u would have kept ur old 60z car now huh? These chargers weren't rare they were used in demo derbys a lot cuz there a boat.

[@joallashilling492]

I think I remember hearing at one point one of the cars considered in pre-production was the Mustang. In that same discussion, it was mentioned that they decided on the Charger because it had a torsion suspension that helped it handle the jumps better than the other cars they considered.

[@Velal07]

Originally the studio was going to use a '69 Camaro there were various reasons as to why the studios chose a Charger. the top two are that the Camaro's suspension wouldn't be able to handle the jumps like the Charger and two the General Lee is supposed to be a Stock Car as in Nascar. Since there were no Camaros in Nascar they chose the Charger

[@williamboardman9476]

Dialing the torsion bars full UP, the Charger wouldn't drag nose as suspension compressed on ramps, and wheels were already dangling to make car appear to be LEAPING...same for landings. Camaros were already HOT in LA area, (as built there) and short track racing sub street stocker class was often called "hard charger" class or "thunder and lightning". Either way the moonshine tie in worked.

[@TribalRacing30]

Can someone fill me in on what happened during the restoration of LEE 1? I hear there was conflict between partners or something. I just wanna know what happened.

[@jordanwiley4582]

Car was jumped in 1978, used in the 2 episode of season one as "Richard Petty's Car", painted blue green color and beaten with cinder blocks. Then it was discarded in a junkyard. Sat for 20 years, travis bell found it. It changed hands a couple times, then he got it back, and restored it with some people. Not it's owned by Bubba Waston.

[@WarlordATF]

This page gives the background story about the conflict. Is it all true? Who can really say, only those involved know the truth. However from looking at the shape it was found in, quite a bit of the car had to be replaced and if the ebay stories are true than there really isn't much of Lee 1 in this car.

[@davewilson3360]

I bet if warner bro thought in the future these big boat cars would be collectors they would have even kept the wrecked ones haha

[@mikeshaffer1342]

This car is the real deal... There was conflict and it was a pain to restore. I still smell it.

[@EricDangerNyenhuis]

Where was Travis Bell during the Auction? I have done so much homework on this and im not going to say this was a complete fabrication but Jon Holland who wrote two books on this said he has records of every part that was sold on Ebay by Travis Bell. Do I belive this has some parts from Lee 1..YES as many as Jim Shine said? NO..Renaud and Andrea Valuzet whom I love and respect know more about these cars as they built over 250 for WB. The real story about how Travis Bell ripped his partner off

[@MrJeep75]

Builder's son's car wasn't a replica it was LEE 6 last Georgia car's never got used

[@The01Bookie]

MrJeep75 part of the bar was removed by builders in 78, the rest was removed and sold on eBay when the supposed restoration happened, and the roll bar was replicated.

[@christopherlangley4522]

The General Lee was painted orange plane and simple no color code.

[@lucky7s94]

The legitimate color of the general has recently been discovered as TNT express

[@vaccumsealed]

Does anyone know the official price as to what the guys paid for Lee1 when they him setting in that junkyard? Its very interesting to know the price based off its terrible condition yet historical value.

[@TBird100636]

Dee Ray Check out Gary Schneider's General Lee page. There is no exact amount given, but there was about $400 difference in what the guy wanted and what they paid.

[@vaccumsealed]

TBird100636 Gary schneider? Hmm...ok. Thanks TBird. I've been a long time fan of the series since birth practically (1977), yet I've not heard of this name. Any relation to John?

[@TBird100636]

No, just another fan of the show that ended up finding the car with another fan, then subsequently buying it. Just Google it and you'll find the website.

[@AL-ud2is]

"Cliff couldn't have been happier. He made $400 on a Sunday and didn't have to do a thing".This is from Gary Schniders general lee page.So I guess they paid $400 for it

[@vaccumsealed]

Alun Griffiths goodness. Thats insane to know the history and what it looks like now!

[@stevenduering5702]

I didn't know Kibbe had more hair

[@christopherlangley4522]

Wrong John Schneider says the General Lee was painted orange and I believe John Schneider The original Bo Duke

[@HIRAMFETT]

Exactly he has a video saying that they just dumped a whole bunch of different oranges together to paint car # 1

[@TriggerArizona]

Lee 1 was ruined when it was made back into a general.

[@TriggerArizona]

@j p It should have been cleaned up and done like the original blue/green 71.

[@Rotttman]

Clearly says he doesn't know why they used a push bar then proceeds to make up a story as to why they used it. What a bullshitter!

[@TheGBprogamer]

I rode in that car

[@odiemodie1]

Sad he said he helped restore it, but don’t have the money to buy it. 😕

[@clterry07]

He is a lil off about his knowledge of the shows history the cars were painted GM hugger Orange. Per tom sarmento interview

[@lrobrert]

i read most of the comments and it seems everyone's a expert on this car and really your going on what you read and watched somewhere . what is Original if you think about it once one part or bolt is changed on a car its not original anymore . i love old cars and i'm far from being a expert but I've listened to a lot of car owners claiming their car is a original from the ground up than they tell you they replaced the brakes etc well than your car isn't original anymore sorry i'm guessing its easier to sell the car if you say everything is original . as one person claimed they never made a charger with a vinyl roof in 68 & 69 some models had vinyl roofs . i own a 75 olds 442 it had a vinyl roof with the chrome piece around the back window . i fixed the roof and left the chrome on the car if you notice on the charger in the video it has a chrome around the window most likely to hide the vinyl . we all have a opinion about things that doesn't make us experts . i'm just saying .

[@tahwnikcufos]

The only thing harder than proving what it is, is proving what it isn't. Outside of some hard core factual evidence, it's just another "used to be wrecked" Dodge, that someone says, "was a show used car", let alone the first one of what? dozens/hundreds? I think I would rather see it as they found it... not a bunch of stories, that rely on taking this guy's word at face value - it's still there, but I can't show you...

[@michealmccune7809]

The color is a reddish orange that’s what coater said on the tv show

[@KenBugg]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnazpGiEbp5ljMk&feature=em-uploademail

[@Imdeadpool]

On the Vinyl trim that’s false because some of the cars used as General Lees didn’t have the trim. I feel like this guy doesn’t know every little detail like he claims.

[@The01Bookie]

Austin Oetken correct most had the trim some didn’t!

[@SomethingFishyStudioz]

The original "Color of The General" is called sunrise orange look it up seriously!

[@Shade_tree_garage01]

no it isn't its corvette flame red 1975 variant

[@SomethingFishyStudioz]

MegaHhh1234 according to Ben Jones it was sunrise orange , & google has it as Chrysler code EV2 or "Hemi Orange" Corvette flame red wasnt used on LEE1 or any of the Georgia General Lees! it was used only on the California General lees, so get your facts straight before you pop off to a hard core Dukes fan man, cause i know my facts on it! & if you look at my post it clearly states The Original color of the general lee not what everbody knows it as now.

[@chadchadwick987]

Maybe you need to get your facts straight. I was good friends Don Schisler (the original transportion coodinator for The Dukes of Hazzard when the show first filmed in Georgia in the fall of 1978). The first (3) Chargers that were shipped to Georgia from California were indeed "HEMI Orange". All of the General Lees that were built by Schisler and his crew here in Georgia were painted GM Code 70 aka "Flame Red/Orange Flame".

[@KenBugg]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnazpGiEbp5ljMk&feature=em-uploademail

[@MartintheTinman]

Does anyone know what shade of green was used on the green General Lee

[@davewilson3360]

lol try like 90,000 69 chargers they used to car because the car stood up without modifications on the movie Bullit but they didn't know whenyou jump a car this heavy 200 feet it will crumble hahahha I'm glad they wrecked these instead of the Plymouth gtx. these cars were a dime a dozen back the hahaha only if warner bro knew the money they wood be worth now they would have kept them lol.

[@larrywalden626]

I'm just trying to decide if this guy was a bullcrapper salesman or the owner lol

[@carpetmantis]

haha mail order

[@bohoward6991]

And bubba painted over thr flag

[@HIRAMFETT]

I don't know if he ever did he just threaten to, Jay Leno told him he was a dumbass.

[@maxboonkittypoison]

Yeah they know so mutch that they painted the General Lee the wrong color. Shame shame shame. General Lee whas orange!! Not red :(

[@robertgaunt3606]

That is not Lee 1. Lee 1 had a special tag on it. If this car is it, then why not show it to prove. This guy is so full of bull.

[@brianmoody1110]

They Did Not Leave The Trim For The Top on The Cars In the Show Like He Said ,, Go Back and Look and you will See There Is No Trim ,, I have Never Seen One With a Vinyl Top ,, He Might Know a lot ,,But I been Around Long Enough To Know That The Tops Of These Cars Was Always Painted ,,,

[@joallashilling492]

I did go back and watch the "One Armed Bandits" episode and the chrome trim for the vinyl top is indeed there along with the missing fuel cap trim. He is not saying that any of the cars had a painted vinyl top. What he is saying is that the prototype car came from the factory with a vinyl top that had to be removed to be transformed into the General Lee. Cars with vinyl tops have chrome trim around the edges to dress the cut edges of the vinyl. When the vinyl was removed on the prototype car (Lee 1), the chrome trim was also removed only to uncover poor bodywork. The vinyl was left off but the chrome trim was replaced to hide the visible seam left from the quarter panel replacement. Chargers with no vinyl top do not have this chrome trim.

[@bassmatt4792]

95% of GLs in the series had the vinyl top chrome trim. Obviously the vinyl top was always removed. Some episodes in the 2nd and 3rd seasons show the trim painted over orange, because the contracted builders were cutting corners.

[@robertgaunt3606]

There's maybe one or two screenshots with the general having the trim

[@user-gn1ic9ww8q]

its rusty lookin. lol

[@jimdent351]

John Schneider says this guy doesn't know what he's talking about on the color. I'll believe Bo Duke himself over this guy! kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnazpGiEbp5ljMk

[@MichaelMopar69]

Nothing is original! This guy says stuff that is not true!

[@paulhughes8428]

this guy is talking a load of bollocks … there where about 317 general lees destroyed during the show if you look at other vids they all say this is the original the original went to the golfer bubba ..

[@The01Bookie]

paul hughes Jim was being interviewed at Barrett Jackson with the car that Bubba eventually bought, this is the car that Bubba bought!

[@The01Bookie]

Total BS, sounds like he is making it up as he goes, he even contradicts himself about the rollbar!