Correct General Lees.....information?

[69bronzeT5]

Hey all-
As many of you know, I do a lot of writing for an online Mopar magazine. I've been given the task of writing an article about creating a TV show correct General Lee. It needs to be as correct information wise as possible. I haven't decided if it's going to be about doing a Lee #1 (I'm leaning towards that) or a California style later season one. Is there anywhere to look for information? People to talk to?


Thanks for the help!

[Mike DC]

  
You could do a lot worse than reading plain old Wikipedia for GL info.  They have a thorough article about the GL under something like "General Lee (car)".  It does more to give the backstory than actual building specs though.  


Broadly speaking, the TV show cars break down into 3 different eras.  Georgia, early Cali, and late Cali.  It was 3 different groups of people building the cars so they each did things their own way.  Do you want to copy a specific one, or put out info on all of them?


----------


-- Georgia (or "GA") cars.  Built in the first 5 episodes filmed in GA, with a few cars carried over into early Cali.  These are respected cars.  But they were just getting started and each one came out visibly different as they figured things out.  LEE#1 is well known & loved because it did the first jump and was found in 2001.  But it never got much screen time (as a GL) and its signature rocker panels were never shown like that again.


-- Early Cali (or "Valuzet") cars.  Built by the Valuzet brothers, these were basically mass-produced versions of the GA cars they inherited.  They occupied the show's most popular seasons and were the basis for all the merchandise/toys.  They had a more consistent look than the GA cars but sometimes they used very crude methods.  A Valuzet car that looks good up-close fits the classic image of a GL perfectly.  But many of the actual Valuzet GLs were 30-footers or worse.

(late Georgia & early Cali)





--  Late Cali (or "WB") cars.  Appearing at the mid-point of the TV series (mid-season#4), this was the biggest departure from what came before.  Warner Bros was tired of subcontracting the job and had their mechanics start building cars in-house.  This was when the front pushbar switched to the bigger/wider one, and the interior color went to very light tan, etc.  These cars weren't nice in reality but they did a better job of faking it onscreen than before.  They looked consistent and body damage always disappeared within just a couple seconds.  

(late Cali)

[69bronzeT5]

 
You could do a lot worse than reading plain old Wikipedia for GL info.  They have a thorough article about the GL under something like "General Lee (car)".  It does more to give the backstory than actual building specs though.  


Broadly speaking, the TV show cars break down into 3 different eras.  Georgia, early Cali, and late Cali.  It was 3 different groups of people building the cars so they each did things their own way.  Do you want to copy a specific one, or put out info on all of them?


----------


-- Georgia (or "GA") cars.  Built in the first 5 episodes filmed in GA, with a few cars carried over into early Cali.  These are respected cars.  But they were just getting started and each one came out visibly different as they figured things out.  LEE#1 is well known & loved because it did the first jump and was found in 2001.  But it never got much screen time (as a GL) and its signature rocker panels were never shown like that again.


-- Early Cali (or "Valuzet") cars.  Built by the Valuzet brothers, these were basically mass-produced versions of the GA cars they inherited.  They occupied the show's most popular seasons and were the basis for all the merchandise/toys.  They had a more consistent look than the GA cars but sometimes they used very crude methods.  A Valuzet car that looks good up-close fits the classic image of a GL perfectly.  But many of the actual Valuzet GLs were 30-footers or worse.


--  Late Cali (or "WB") cars.  Appearing at the mid-point of the TV series (mid-season#4), this was the biggest departure from what came before.  Warner Bros was tired of subcontracting the job and had their mechanics start building cars in-house.  This was when the front pushbar switched to the bigger/wider one, and the interior color went to very light tan, etc.  These cars weren't nice in reality but they did a better job of faking it onscreen than before.  They looked consistent and body damage always disappeared within just a couple seconds. 

Thank you for the information Mike! I've been going back and forth and I honestly think I'd like to do a How to Build a Lee #1 build. I just have such a fascination with that car and one day I'd love to build one myself.

[CornDogsCharger]

69bronzeT5,

   There are a few of us here, like Mike DC and a few more, that have been following these cars for many, MANY years and we have picked apart the cars and all of the little details that makes each car... and build-era different.  Feel free to ask away and we will help answer any of your questions.  I run www.realgenerallee.com, which is a site that documents and keeps track of screen-used Hazzard vehicles, but I have not taken the time to upload all of the info to the site yet. 

Justin
"CornDog"

[marshallfry01]

I wish we had a board on here specifically for Dukes related info. Cglfc.com has officially closed its doors. Sadly there wasn't much activity on there for the past few years. I feel like a Dukes section on here would work well. There are quite a few guys on here that either has a General Lee or has an interest in Dukes.

The same questions get asked frequently about different eras of general lees on the show. Decal placement, color, etc.  If we had a discussion board specifically for Dukes we could make subjects like that a sticky.

Just my 

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

I wish we had a board on here specifically for Dukes related info. Cglfc.com has officially closed its doors. Sadly there wasn't much activity on there for the past few years. I feel like a Dukes section on here would work well. There are quite a few guys on here that either has a General Lee or has an interest in Dukes.

The same questions get asked frequently about different eras of general lees on the show. Decal placement, color, etc.  If we had a discussion board specifically for Dukes we could make subjects like that a sticky.

Just my 

+1 for that idea 

[CornDogsCharger]

I agree... Or just a section for TV & Movie Chargers

Justin
"CornDog"

[cdr]

I wish we had a board on here specifically for Dukes related info. Cglfc.com has officially closed its doors. Sadly there wasn't much activity on there for the past few years. I feel like a Dukes section on here would work well. There are quite a few guys on here that either has a General Lee or has an interest in Dukes.

The same questions get asked frequently about different eras of general lees on the show. Decal placement, color, etc.  If we had a discussion board specifically for Dukes we could make subjects like that a sticky.

Just my 

                                                                           

[lukedukem]

I agree... Or just a section for TV & Movie Chargers

Justin
"CornDog"

Luke

[JB400]

Sorry to burst that bubble, but Troy wouldn't do it.  I petitioned for it when I first got on here.

[birdsandbees]

Maybe a restoration thread on getting Daisy back to that short short hottie that she once was!!   

[marshallfry01]

Maybe a restoration thread on getting Daisy back to that short short hottie that she once was!!   

That's a thread we would all enjoy!!

[cdr]

Maybe a restoration thread on getting Daisy back to that short short hottie that she once was!!   

The new Daisy is pretty dang HOT 

https://youtu.be/Wrs63XuTPWU

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

Sorry to burst that bubble, but Troy wouldn't do it.  I petitioned for it when I first got on here.

If it's worthwhile, then let's ask again. Troy???  


Thank you for your consideration 

[SBBob]

I have a friend here who is lucky enough to own a real General Lee.  The one thing that sticks out in my mind that says real is the fact that the movies cars never had any side marker lights.  They used 68 and 69 bodies and to make them look the same they simply removed the marker light, duct taped the back side and filled in the hole with bondo.

[Mikesmoparperformance]

 
You could do a lot worse than reading plain old Wikipedia for GL info.  They have a thorough article about the GL under something like "General Lee (car)".  It does more to give the backstory than actual building specs though.  


Broadly speaking, the TV show cars break down into 3 different eras.  Georgia, early Cali, and late Cali.  It was 3 different groups of people building the cars so they each did things their own way.  Do you want to copy a specific one, or put out info on all of them?


----------


-- Georgia (or "GA") cars.  Built in the first 5 episodes filmed in GA, with a few cars carried over into early Cali.  These are respected cars.  But they were just getting started and each one came out visibly different as they figured things out.  LEE#1 is well known & loved because it did the first jump and was found in 2001.  But it never got much screen time (as a GL) and its signature rocker panels were never shown like that again.


-- Early Cali (or "Valuzet") cars.  Built by the Valuzet brothers, these were basically mass-produced versions of the GA cars they inherited.  They occupied the show's most popular seasons and were the basis for all the merchandise/toys.  They had a more consistent look than the GA cars but sometimes they used very crude methods.  A Valuzet car that looks good up-close fits the classic image of a GL perfectly.  But many of the actual Valuzet GLs were 30-footers or worse.


--  Late Cali (or "WB") cars.  Appearing at the mid-point of the TV series (mid-season#4), this was the biggest departure from what came before.  Warner Bros was tired of subcontracting the job and had their mechanics start building cars in-house.  This was when the front pushbar switched to the bigger/wider one, and the interior color went to very light tan, etc.  These cars weren't nice in reality but they did a better job of faking it onscreen than before.  They looked consistent and body damage always disappeared within just a couple seconds.  

Thank you for the information Mike! I've been going back and forth and I honestly think I'd like to do a How to Build a Lee #1 build. I just have such a fascination with that car and one day I'd love to build one myself.

I can tell you all about LEE 1 do! The Correct TV GL is simpel. it depends what do you like? Which one you want georgia style of Cali? Decals must be right! Wheel 14 inch Later on 15.. Pushbar small or big.. I like the first Lees to be THE GENERAL LEE! Because that where the first ones. With the small pushbar Rebelflag painted on the roof.. Number Decals.

[Mikesmoparperformance]

I wish we had a board on here specifically for Dukes related info. Cglfc.com has officially closed its doors. Sadly there wasn't much activity on there for the past few years. I feel like a Dukes section on here would work well. There are quite a few guys on here that either has a General Lee or has an interest in Dukes.

The same questions get asked frequently about different eras of general lees on the show. Decal placement, color, etc.  If we had a discussion board specifically for Dukes we could make subjects like that a sticky.

Just my 

+1 for that idea 

Yes do that! I hope this forum will last! It a lost that he Cglfc forum is gone! I miss it lots of GL info on there! They can say yeah go to FB.. Yes we can but we can'''t store alot of info that you can easy find back again when you need it! So please make a DUKES section!

[RCCDrew]

I have a Dukes replica. Never intended to have one, but it was a good deal on the right car. Trying to decide wether to keep it a GL, or go F&F theme. IMO, a movie cars section instead of just a GL section would make more sense and draw more people to it.

[69wannabe]

My charger was a General Lee for most of the time I have owned it, just done the more plain paint on it about 3 or 4 years back but I had to go back hemi orange with it just because. I grew up with the dukes so it was an every friday night thing for me for several years. Love the history of the car and it's beginning as the fastest car in hazzard county! The early episodes filmed in georgia were my favorite since I also live in georgia and have visited conyer's, covington and social circle many times to visit filming sites and to take pictures of the sites that are still there. My buddy Jack Price was a huge help in researching and finding lots of the filming sites and meeting people that were involved with the early dukes episodes. Got to meet Henry Holman and stayed the weekend with him and his wife. Very nice folk's and learned alot about H&H body shop that was working for WB to keep the cars going for the show. Also met Cliff Shaw whose dad ran the transmission shop that was doing mechanic work for WB and wound up with LEE 1 until it was found by TB in the early 2000's. They had moved from covington to dawsonville and moved the cars with them. There were also two of the hazzard patrol cars there but we didn't find him until it was all gone. We did get to the the actual final resting spot of LEE 1 before it was cut up and sold for parts. Lot's of history to dig into there, and most of the fact's have been found pretty much and most people that were interested know most of them...... I still love to hear about the dukes and the General Lee tho.....

[XS29L9Bxxxxxx]

I have a Dukes replica. Never intended to have one, but it was a good deal on the right car. Trying to decide wether to keep it a GL, or go F&F theme. IMO, a movie cars section instead of just a GL section would make more sense and draw more people to it.

Good point

[68pplcharger]

 

[MoparMotel]

One thing I've wondered on General Lee's is the original color... after some research I painted my old General lee the Corvette Flame Red and to me it wasn't as bright orange as the cars I remember from the series. For interior I did the saddle tan Legendary interior and wood grain dash trim.

[Mike DC]

  
The TV episode footage sometimes came out with the GL's orange shade jacked-up brighter or tinted.  

That mid-70s Corvette Flame color is the right choice for General Lee accuracy.  Sometimes people discuss the orange shade issue for paragraphs on end, but that's still the bottom line.


The restored LEE#1 - same car, different shots, within a few minutes of each other.  Photography can really affect colors.  

[c00nhunterjoe]

Correct and general lee in the same sentence leaves alot of room for discussion. From my experience over the years, the early cars were reddish orange- translated as hemi orange or flame red. The later cars had less red because on old tube tvs the car looked too red so they had them mixed lighter. At that point its anyones guess as they said the cars were being beat up and resprayed so quick that alot of times the paint cans were dumped together and mixed to make the time constraints. So what started out as hugger or big bad orange or whatever name, it got diluted or mixed by the time it was sprayed.
    In short, pick the color orange you like and the decal style based on the era in the series you are aiming for.
Here are 2 lees, one is corvette flame red and the other is hemi orange.

[69wannabe]

According to Henry Holman the first 3 general's were already orange when they arrived from WB. He said they were all painted hemi orange but after they got destroyed so quickly they started getting a couple more ready he used the corvette flame red since he had that paint already from painting several corvette's that the shop had worked on prior to the charger's. And that's where the flame red came into play so I guess the majority of them were flame red with the exception of a few and maybe the later episode's like said above. I used the hemi orange on my charger since it's a mopar color and not a chevy color.