It's not everyday that someone gets to realize a dream. But thanks to the Barrett Jackson Auto Auction this past weekend and $110,000. Pro Golfer Bubba Watson got to realize his childhood dream of owning a real Dukes of Hazzard General Lee 1969 Dodge Charger. Now some say if you're gonna dream, you might as well dream big. This is where the story gets better. Not only is the car a real Charger used in the show. It is the very first General Lee! Otherwise known to fans as "LEE1." You may recall our article on the famous LEE1. It's worth a look! Find out why this Charger is so special!
Gotta monster of a eBay Find for you readers this week. The Monster Garage Volkswagen Beetle Swamp Buggy has been spotted! An Ebay seller from Thurman, OH has listed this one of a kind ride recently at a price of 10K or BO. Nice a bad deal, especially if your looking to wow the folks at your local car show or cruse in. If you remember it does travel on land and water (kinda, sorta). For those who may not be familiar with this ride. Let me fill you in.
On the show's third episode, Jesse and the team put together vehicle capable of driving on land and floating on water much like a bayou swamp boat. They started with a 1999 VW Beetle for the base. They were given just a week and a small budget of just $3000 (not including the cost of the car). They hacked up the rear deck hatch and squeezed in a fan boat motor on tracks. Body modifications were made to help create a shell/hull. The empty hull was filled with foam to help make the car float. A long tall pipe was added to direct the exhaust up and out of the water. The team was successful in making a functional vehicle to meet the challenge while keep it relativity stock looking.
According to the eBay auction the car has been in storage for quite sometime. After the first season aired, the car along with other vehicles from the show went on tour. It eventually wound up in the Peterson Museum for sometime before being returned to the set. After the show was canceled the car was stored in warehouse in Burbank, CA. At some point most of the Monster Garage cars were sold at Barrett Jackson Auto Auction. However this lucky bug didn't go up on the auction block. Later the car was sold to the current owner and housed in Ohio out of public view. Which brings us to where we are today.
Now it can be yours! Head over to the auction and place your offer or buy it now. Be ready to pick it up locally. If you do. Please let us know! We'd love to feature your new OnScreenCar! See ya next time folks!
Warning: Sarcasm and BS ahead. Ever wanted to be like Bo and Luke off the Dukes of Hazzard? But can't seem to find a 1969 Dodge Charger suitable for conversion? Well the wait is over. I'm going to tell you how these fine folks featured in this post managed to 'live the dream'. But before we get to the pictures. Let me fill you in how the system works.
It's simple really. Years of research have determined that it's a scientific fact that if you paint your car orange and place a 01 logo on each door it will increase your car's performance 100% percent. That's right. Your car will drive faster, have sloppy steering and jump higher. The confederate flag and General Lee logos are optional. However you can increase your drag coefficient by adding a large CB antenna to the trunk lid. Go ahead and hook up a CB to that antenna so you can talk to your Cousin Daisy and Uncle Jessie back at the farm. For protection, arm yourself with a good bow and arrow. Maybe a little bit of TNT. Don't forget the push bar on the front. Wouldn't wanta get stuck in a pile of cop cars.
Alright. Enough with the BS. Seriously there are some interesting vehicles out there that have had the treatment. But I'm not sure if it was done for 'performance' reasons. It was just done because it's cool. Nothing like the classic orange paint job and 01 lettering. There's no doubt about it, ya do it to show your love and support of the Dukes of Hazzard. Some just show it a little more than others. Let's see those pictures!
Sometimes half is just as good.
No car? But ya got a van. No problem!
I'm thinking the turbo is doing them a little more good than the paint job.
Oh no. It's the Dukes of Fallujah!
Don't worry we'll get ya to the airport on time Mr. President!
I like what has been done here. Note the winch on the front and the exhaust stacks with flappers. The car bra is total win too!
Someone converted a love bug. This one's not getting the Herbie Treatment Package.
Down and Dirty Racing!
"Let me plug back in before you chase me Roscoe. It'a just take a few hours. Don't wanta miss the big jump!"
I'm sure Boss Hogg got a little bit of envy when he saw this. That white Caddy isn't near this long. Could ya throw bull horns on the front?
Got luggage? I've got rack!
Daisy wanted to join the boys. Plus she was tired of freezing her buns off in the winter (note the hard top).
Not always, but in some cases where there are tv/movie cars, jumps are sure to follow. The Dukes of Hazzard show is no exception. We've decided to include a new segment on our blog about famous car jumps in tv and movies. We've entitled this feature "Famous Jumps." What better way to kick off this new series than the Dukes of Hazzard! Our first jump pays tribute to the famous flight of the General Lee, LEE 1. You may remember our "First Look" post on the General Lee, LEE 1. One of the first General Lees used in the production of the show.
This jump was made on November 11, 1978 on the college campus of Oxford College (now part of Emory University) in the town of Covington, GA. The building in the background this Seney Hall. If you look closely at the General Lee you can distinctly tell it's the LEE 1 by the chrome rocker panels. This is the only General Lee to have the chrome rockers. The same jump was part of the first episode and also part the show's opening credits.
Final Thoughts
The same jump was also repeated on the original site for the 2005 production of the Dukes of Hazzard movie. Near the end of the first clip you can see how that jump went. Could you imagine going to school there and getting to see it take place all over again? I would have skipped classes that day to see it! It's amazing how Hollywood does these jumps. It takes a team of skilled stunt people and engineers to pull this stuff off. But to you and I, it's looks like a bunch of rednecks just taking chances. Gotta love jumps! Be sure to jump in here another time for On Screen Cars!
I can't think of a better song or video to describe growing up in the '70s and '80s. Mark Willis talks about a number of things throughout the song. Everything from peeling stickers off his Rubrix Cube to his parent's first microwave. I was a child of the '80s and '90s, but I'm well aware of the references! But let's not get too side tracked, what about the cars in the song and video?
The first part of the video shows Mark driving a clone of the General Lee, a 1969 Dodge Charger from Dukes of Hazzard. The song references the show, by saying Daisy Duke was his first love. Later the song talks about another classic auto from Smokey and the Bandit, 1977 Pontiac Trans Am. The lyrics from the song hint "...black trans ams..." In the video there are a few kids hanging out some where, sitting on a parked Bandit Edition Trans Am. The car is later seen in the video along side the General Lee.
That's all for now. Enjoy the video. Don't forget to checkout our store for some great stuff from Dukes of Hazzard and Smokey and the Bandit. You might even find a Mark Wills album too! For those who would like to read the lyrics, see our reference information below!
From Twitter @bubbawatson
