Most modern car enthusiasts weren't born when The Dukes of Hazzard aired during the 1970s and 1980s. However, this new generation of gearheads know the show, for one thing: the orange Dodge Charger. The show saw two cousins, Luke and Bo Duke, the latter played by John Schneider, drive around Georgia ruining corrupt schemes and saving people from criminals.
On probation for moon shining, the pair have an air of the bad boy to them as well. The Dodge Charger on the show is from the 1969 model year, making it the same vintage as the Charger in Bullitt. With a production run spanning six years and the course of seven seasons, The Dukes of Hazzard got through plenty of General Lee cars. Estimates on how many Chargers received the General Lee livery, some as high as 300 and others around the 200 mark. When filming, ended most went to the scrapyard.
What Happened To John Schneider's Dodge Charger?
In August 2021 Hurricane Ida came off the Atlantic and caused devastation across parts of North America. In terms of sheer damage, the hurricane ranked in second place behind only 2005's Hurricane Katrina. In the storm came winds as high as 150 mph, yet another tragedy in an already rough year.
Caught in the midst of all this is John Schneider and his Louisiana-based production studio. In the days after the storm lifted, he shared a photo on his Facebook page. In the foreground sits a tree. Beneath it his General Lee. Buckling under the weight of the pecan tree torn from its roots, the roof collapsed. The thin A and B pillars may indeed be stylish and offer excellent visibility, but this is just one more reminder of how far crash safety has come. It's no surprise that Warner Brothers built so many examples of the car for the 147 episodes. The car jumped rivers, hills in the road, and famously a freeway. All of this is quite simply too much for General Lee, as it would be for many cars.
Schneider writes, "When something like this happens you have two choices: Tears and laughter. I choose laughter". His reaction is admirable. If a tree fell on almost any car the owner would become furious. Perhaps even vengeful if their insurer claims such an incident is an act of God. Fortunately, it doesn't appear to be irreparable, most of the damage is to the bodywork. The roots may have made contact with the drivetrain beneath, but the body remains intact. The falling tree avoided the hood, in all likelihood it still runs.
Will John Schneider Repair General Lee?
According to the United Kingdom's Daily Mail, Schneider revealed, "I am going to straighten it out a little bit and leave it that way." Presumably, this means that the General is going to have the roof structurally repaired but not return to its straight from factory shape. At 53 years old, the 1969 Dodge Charger has earned the right to be a little worse for wear. But if anything this will only bolster this particular model's value over the other General Lee cars and look-a likes out there. The crumpled General Lee, proof that the car spent its life under the original star's ownership. Schneider claims that 329 cars appeared on the show with most ending up as wrecks. If all of them were out there this icon of Television would carry a much smaller asking price.
Since his time on The Dukes of Hazzard, Schneider continued to act. Appearing in a range of programs including Smallville and even Phineas and Ferb. These days, Schneider makes his money from a range of products this including selling fitness programs, hosting events and renting out his property as the film sets. By no coincidence does his branding carry the orange color from General Lee. His latest production Stand On It, mimics Smokey and the Bandit. In this production, Schneider co-stars alongside a black Dodge Challenger. He had the misfortune of a tree landing on his cherished Charger, but by no means is it going anywhere.
How Special Is the 1969 Dodge Charger?
The top of the line 1969 Dodge Charger R/T came with either Chrysler's 440 or 426 Hemi engine. The 440 came with 375 horsepower and the 426 had a giant 425 horsepower. Although at the bottom of the range power output is down to a tiny 145 horsepower. The Charger shared the B-body along with the rest of Chrysler's mid-size cars like the Dart and Monaco.
Primarily produced over four generations, the Charger entered production in 1966 and left in 1978. The model saw one revival in the 1980s before it would return properly in 2006. Out of all these models the second generation, which lasts for only three years, is the most recognizable. This is down to its roles on screen.