Verifying/Authenticating a screen used GL

[kevinstich]

Let's modify this post some, as i didn't want the circus of the post to get outta hand.... Any way to verify a VIN off the GL from the tv series? Interested in buying one my father in law has....

[1974dodgecharger]

this is gonna be a circus 

[kevinstich]

why would it be a circus? did i miss something?

[Brock Lee]

Despite what some others may say, there was only one General Lee used on the show that had painted door numbers. It was destroyed in 1978. Other than that one off, the rest had vinyl.

FWIW, there have been General Lee clones out there since 1979.

[Mike DC]

Despite what some others may say, there was only one General Lee used on the show that had painted door numbers. It was destroyed in 1978. Other than that one off, the rest had vinyl.

Later in the TV series they built cars with painted door numbers by the dozen.  I've traced the graphics on a few of them myself.
 
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The real ones can be validated if it gets down to that.  Wayne Wooten of the Dodge Charger Registry has the necessary info on VINs, etc.


But realistically, if you can produce one or two decent quality pics of the car's original 1990s GL paintjob before it was redone, we could probably eyeball it just from that.  There was very little decent info out in public for building GL replicas before the 2000s.  Even the best replicas from the 1980s or early 1990s were nowhere near as accurate as what people build today.  Not even close.  


You need to be prepared to find out it's fake.   In the 1980s/1990s pretty much any Charger with a GL paintjob would get people thinking/saying it was a real one.  Sometimes local rumors would start about a GL replica being a TV car without the owner even claiming it.

[kevinstich]

When he found the car in 1993, it was in not great condition at all.  The VIN decodes that it had an original 383 in it and now it has a 440. The car has since been restored.... new passenger quarter, new paint, and decal graphics.  He is still looking for a lot of the paper work on it and trying to get some proof.  Just trying to figure out how to debunk or authenticate

[kevinstich]

I have spoke to him briefly about it, but i thought he said the car came to his neck of the woods from a guy that worked on the show.  I am sure this has been said a million times.  I found Wootens website, but no info on how to email or look at the registry.

I always go into stuff like this skeptical.  But everything he tells me and i see about the car steers toward there may be some truth behind some of it. Ill post some pics here in a few minutes

[kevinstich]

here are a couple shots of the car. sorry not more detail....anything you can see, let me know

[GL#10]

T.v Series cars where Numbered and marked in several places , easy to see if its a tv series General lee ,  other than that , Without a name , paper trail  directly from a W.B employee or  the markings , your more than likely looking at a replica .

I have owned several tv series General lee's and several Movie General lee's ,and it is amazing how many people try to pass off a clone as a screen used General .

[Mike DC]

 
The graphics in the pictures look like modern era decals. 

The rollbar does not look legit to the TV series. 

[Dino]

 
The graphics in the pictures look like modern era decals. 

The rollbar does not look legit to the TV series. 

When he found the car in 1993, it was in not great condition at all.  The VIN decodes that it had an original 383 in it and now it has a 440. The car has since been restored.... new passenger quarter, new paint, and decal graphics.  He is still looking for a lot of the paper work on it and trying to get some proof.  Just trying to figure out how to debunk or authenticate

I think what ever evidence there may have been is now gone.  I thought all the vins had WB in them or some other mark showing it's no longer a titled road car?

[Indygenerallee]

I think the rear glass had the unit number etched in them.

[1974dodgecharger]

GL or not thats still nice charger just dont overpay just because his brothers, sister, uncles, dad worked on the Warner brothers lot during taping and saids its the real one 

[kevinstich]

roll bar was for sure added in the late 90's. We know its not original. Was done for asthetics i believe. The decals were redone in the mid 90's as well due to the paint job was in much disarray

[kevinstich]

100% understand, that's why we are trying to find the paper trail. He says he has it, he is just in no hurry to scour for it i am guessing. We are making the 700 mile trip to see them soon, should get more answers.

What can i look for on the back glass for the number etchings?   I have the VIN, just not something I am sure is a good idea to share on a public forum?

[kevinstich]

also asking price is 60k

[Ghoste]

To me it seems like a lot but then again I don't know GL pricing.  If its a real one and that's what you want then I suppose its worth is whatever you feel good about.

[Indygenerallee]

crack pipe price....

[Ghoste]

If it is a real one though, does that change things?

[Indygenerallee]

If it's real then it might be worth it but it's highly unlikely, if the owner wants to sell it you would think with it being a original General Lee he would list it on (Ebay) or take it to BJ or Mecum. 

[Ghoste]

Yeah, that's true too. One of those cars that's hard to predict.

[kevinstich]

he's not wanting to sell the car. Doesn't want to list it or anything. He wants it to stay in the family and has kept it as a retirement fallback. He is ready to liquidate because he has 10 cars fully restored or working on it the process. Just one of those things i brought up and is discussing with me

[skip68]

Without verification there's no way I'd pay that kind of money.   It has to be authenticated to be worth top dollar otherwise it's worth the same as any other Charger.   

[Mike DC]

   
Yeah, a "possible" connection to the TV show is worth exactly zilch.

Without concrete verification that is more like a $30k car than a $60k one. 

[ws23rt]

This sounds like a repeat of an old question. If a car has some history about where it has been or owned by someone important how is that passed on? A document that says he said/she said?
I wonder about a potential buyer and what gives with that kind of history as being something of value?
I know it happens but it just makes me smile
Suppose an old car came up that Hitler farted in and someone said they had DNA proof. Would that car bring a better price. I think with sadness that it would.
So how much would that provenience bring at auction?