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Strawberry
red, Baby! With a nice bright white stripe. As here's the Star 'O The Dukes Of
Hazzard TV Show; YEEHAW! (The Tomaso Collection)
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The vehicle pictured above may/may not still be on
display. As these pictures were taken during last Summer; August, 2016...
SPECIFICS
Year: 1969
Make: Dodge
Model: Charger/Charger R/T
Engines: Multiple*
318-Cid Small-block V-8* (5,211cc; 5.2-liter) 230bhp @4,400RPM
383-Cid Big-block V-8* (6,276cc; 6.3-liter) 325bhp @5,200RPM
440-Cid Big-block V-8* (7,210cc; 7.2-liter) 375bhp @4,400RPM
Transmissions: 3-speed Torqueflite Automatic/4-Speed Manual
Layout: Front engine/Rear Wheel Drive
Top Speed: N/A
KEY*
The engines above are the three most utilized
in the chassis used during filming the TV Show and do NOT represent the
Charger's entire range, which base engines were a 225-Cid )3.7-litre) inline-six-cylinder and the 318 V-8. Also, a
426 big-block HEMI V-8 was optional, along with other V-8 choices. (Cid = Cubic
Inch Displacement)
The Dodge Charger was introduced in 1966 with
its two door Fastback body style designed to notch it's place in the fast
exploding Pony Cars War, against the likes of Ford's Mustang and Chevrolet's
Camaro, the market segment's leaders.
As the Charger's nameplate has been used on
three primary body style versions, along with other foreign versions, and
remains in production today as a four-door model.
The second generation Charger debuted for the
1968 model year, running thru 1970, while the Charger also competed in NASCAR,
albeit not successfully vs. the more "Slippy" Ford Torino's,
specifically the Superspeedway Torino Talladega model.
As Ford dominated the 1960's era during it's
"Total Performance" period. Beginning with the Fairlane, the
predecessor of the later Torino models,
as the Ford Motor Company ultimately won the
NASCAR Championship six of the decade's
ten years.
And while Dodge countered Ford with its
Charger 500 variant, the continuous push of Slipstreaming, or Aerodynamic gains
for top speed in Stock Car racing ultimately led to the creation of the most evocative
Charger ever, better known as the Dodge Charger Daytona - along with its Plymouth
cousin, the Superbird!
As Pete Hamilton in a Petty Enterprises,
"Petty Blue" Plymouth Superbird finally dethroned
"FoMoCo's" three year Stranglehold upon the Daytona 500, (1967-69)
upon winning the 1970 race.
Naturally, with RASSCAR's roots in Moonshine
Running and the South, it's easy to see how the Charger was the Dukes 'O
Hazzard's preferred vehicle choice. As both Bo & Luke Duke had to climb
thru the windows a la RASSCAR' since the General Lee's doors were welded shut
along with sporting the No. 01 upon them.
The 318-Cid V-8 Chargers were favoured for
the two-wheeled driving stunts due to its lighter weight, while reportedly
Stunt Drivers preferred the extra "OOMPH!" That the 440-Cid V-8's
increased horsepower provided for the
long jumps performed. And contrary to popular belief, the majority of the
1968-70 Chargers utilized for the show were the floor mounted automatic
transmission versions.
NOTES
Funny now to think I grew up watching and
laughing weekly to the Hit TV Show The Dukes of Hazzard, which aired on CBS for
seven seasons between January, 1979 to February, 1985.
As surely Y'all remember those fun loving
Duke boys, Bo & Luke, played by John Schneider and Tom Wopat
respectively. While how could you not like Daisy Duke played by Catherine Bach,
especially in her short-short cut off jeans; YOWSA!
As these three main characters resided with
and were influenced by "Uncle Jesse," played by Denver Pyle.
The "Bad Guys" were led by Jefferson
Davis "Boss" Hogg (Sorrell Booke) and his self
serving, fumbling 'N bumbling Sherriff Roscoe P. Coletrin! (James Best) who was
aided by his Deputy Sherriff Enos Strate. (Sonny Shroyer)
And to lesser extent, Deputy Cletus
Hogg. (Rick Hurst)
While don't forget 'Ol Cooter' Davenport, (Ben Jones) the town's mechanic who
was always helping the Duke's.
Yet one of the show's main stars was undoubtedly
the General Lee, who's horn played the first twelve notes 'O Dixie - and was guaranteed
to be featured at least jumping away from capture once per episode during
multiple police chase scenes; YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE-HAW!
As reportedly during the filming of the show's
seven seasons, approximately 309 Chargers were used - with between one to two
vehicles being destroyed per episode!
VIDEO: General Lee Get-away Chase
Yet these days, when I think of anything
Dukes 'O Hazzard related, my mind wanders off to the original John Schneider,
aka Bo Duke and NOT the Seattle Seahawks GM with the same name! Singing on the
roof of his ex-Boss General Lee going under the Hammer at a past
Barrett-Jackson auction, on the defunct SPEED channel.
As here's a
popular rendition of the show's theme song, which Y'all can sing along to with Waylon
Jennings...
VIDEO: Dukes of Hazzard theme song
IMAGES
General Lee photograph Courtesy of Clarity Pictures.
Daisy Duke from Bing.com Images.