1969 Dodge Charger ‘General Lee’ Wrecked After ‘Traveling Too Fast’ in Missouri
The Dukes of Hazzard machine was thankfully just a replica.
Them Duke boys ran out of luck over the weekend. Two people driving a 1969 Dodge Charger styled as the "General Lee" from the classic television series Dukes of Hazzard crashed it on Highway 165 near Branson, Missouri, on Sunday. Both drivers suffered only minor injuries. The vehicle was initially confused for a legitimate movie car on account of not only its aesthetics but its dashboard, which was signed by several original cast members, according to Fox.
Photos of the incident were posted to social media by the Western Taney County Fire Protection District. The post claims that 309 General Lee’s were built for the original TV show. Most, however, were destroyed through the course of filming. The small number that survived are prized collectibles. This car, thankfully, was not one of them.
One telltale way to know this vehicle is not a legitimate Charger from the show is that its doors are not welded shut. All stunt cars from the original television program required the driver to climb in through the window.
Local Police Chief Preston Schmidt said, "After an investigation on scene, it was determined the driver of the vehicle was traveling too fast for the road conditions and lost control of the vehicle he was operating." According to him, no citations have been issued at the time. No other vehicles were involved in the accident and the Charger appears to have simply struck a tree.
It's unclear what will happen to the car now. It could end up on a salvage lot, or the owner might try to repair it. A search of Copart lots in the area shows no hits for the vehicle. That being said, the collision was just a few days ago.
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