Quick question for GL fans

[Ghoste]

What can you tell me about a place called "General Lee Enterprises" out of Michigan?

[tylerk]

I'm partially familiar with it, i'm sure someone else can chime in and fill in the blanks.
General Lee Enterprises was something or another to do with the cars that would appear at events such as World of Wheels during the show's run with any of the cast that may be there.  Several of the cars have documentation from GLE and their owners claim them to be 'real' Generals, but they weren't in fact used on the show at all.  Most of the GLE cars I've seen had black interiors, wrong pattern Vectors and the graphics were never quite right.  You might could get a better answer over at cglfc.com.  Like I said, my memory is a bit fuzzy on it but I think that's the jist of it.

[Ghoste]

Okay, that ties in somewhat with my reason for asking the question then, thanks.

[JT01]

I'm partially familiar with it, i'm sure someone else can chime in and fill in the blanks.
General Lee Enterprises was something or another to do with the cars that would appear at events such as World of Wheels during the show's run with any of the cast that may be there.  Several of the cars have documentation from GLE and their owners claim them to be 'real' Generals, but they weren't in fact used on the show at all.  Most of the GLE cars I've seen had black interiors, wrong pattern Vectors and the graphics were never quite right.  You might could get a better answer over at cglfc.com.  Like I said, my memory is a bit fuzzy on it but I think that's the jist of it.

He is exactly right built just for shows not real at all.

[Ghoste]

But promoted as the real deal?

[Mike DC]

They had WB's official blessing but they weren't literally being called screen-used.  

The car shows were allowed to advertise, "see the General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard!" before the show.  They would have a polaroid camera set up and collect money for people to have their picture taken in front of the car.  Those things technically violate copyright laws if the car doesn't have WB connections.

If you wanted to see a GL "hero car" in the early 80s, they were about as close as you could get.  But was never entirely clear as the cars had visible differences from the onscreen cars.  Lettered tires, partially black interiors, etc.  And WB had published specs on the GL that listed it as an auto tranny.  Several of the GLE cars were 4spds.

[GL#10]

Two of the GLE cars ended up down  In Australia

One was the one jumped in MI, purchased by H.L.P.A.G , they did a rebody and sold it as all original , guy had it for sale and was trying to get $300k for it , claiming it to be a real screen used car.

The other GLE car came in from New Zealand and is on the west coast and is still in pretty good shape (2nd pic).

Both these cars are 4-speed's .

[GL#10]

The Jumped 440-4spd

[GL#10]

 Car from N.Z

[doctor4766]

Here's that same car in Perth WA

[Dino]

Where in Michigan are they?  I may want to take a drive down there.

[Ghoste]

Leslie, Michigan.  I have no idea where that is or if they even are still in business.

[Dino]

Leslie, Michigan.  I have no idea where that is or if they even are still in business.

That's about an hour from me, I'll check it out next time I go to Lansing.

[GL#10]

General Lee Enterprise , have been out of business for years .

Yes thats where the N.Z car ended up , perth W.A .

[Brock Lee]

They had Knight Rider replicas too.

[Ghoste]

Were those also a "studio authorized" type of deal?

[Brock Lee]

Yes, they were. And like the General Lee's, the builds were done outside of the studios, so they are not quite 100% accurate. They got the exteriors really nice looking, but the interiors were kind of bad. I also know they wrecked a KITT in transportation. It was quite an event in the area where it happened. KITT, the indestructible car of the future lay completely demolished on a public road with dozens of people snapping pictures.

They kind of did the same thing George Barris did with the Batmobile in the 60'sa and 70's. The only reason there are multiple supposed "real" Batman TV show cars is because Barris built (and seized) several replicas to rent out for events. On the actual TV show, they only used the Futura.

[Ghoste]

Interesting.

[Dino]

KITT...now there's a tv car I like.  The steering wheel is ridiculous and the dash is a bit...out there, but the body with the custom front and blacked out taillights is sweeeeet!  Great looking car.

[Ghoste]

I always thought it was kind of plain looking.  It had that Cylon eye in the front but that was about the only notable feature I recall.

[Dino]

I always thought it was kind of plain looking.  It had that Cylon eye in the front but that was about the only notable feature I recall.

That's why I like it, it's sleek and simple.  Not the biggest fan of the hubcabs but I love the body.  If  I had an 80's T/A I would install the custom nose, black out the taillights and maybe paint it another color.  I don't think I'd want the red light bar though.

I also love the look of a stock Delorean as long as the nose is dropped and the butt goes up.  Yeah I have a weird taste in cars.   

[GL#10]

 W.a GLE car back in the day

[Bob T]

Car from N.Z

Interesting, didnt know that. Had heard that a well known c & w singer here called Brendan Dugan had imported one 25+? years ago but WB had a contract that stated it could'nt be driven on a public road, only exhibited at shows or the like, and then I heard it got painted and sold?
Long time ago though, a guy two streets away will know, he knew all those guys back then, I'll have to ask him

[UH60L]

I always thought it was kind of plain looking.  It had that Cylon eye in the front but that was about the only notable feature I recall.

It's funny, alot of people I know never got the connection, or said that was a coincidence, but Glen Larson actually stated that he lifted the idea from BSG for the "eye" on the kitt car, hehe.

[hatersaurusrex]

I always thought it was kind of plain looking.  It had that Cylon eye in the front but that was about the only notable feature I recall.

It's funny, alot of people I know never got the connection, or said that was a coincidence, but Glen Larson actually stated that he lifted the idea from BSG for the "eye" on the kitt car, hehe.

Wouldn't it have been the other way around?  Galactica was on in the late 70's, Knight Rider didn't come out until the early 80's, and I think BG was already in reruns by then, it didn't last too long.

[Mike DC]

 
Yeah BG was the first one by several years.  KR's front scanner was always said to have been lifted from the BG costumes.



Trivia  - The guy who headed up the FX work on the first Star Wars movie clashed with George Lucas, and ultimately left Lucasfilm to do BG the next year.  The final product of BG was so much like SW that Lucas sued over it.   

[C500]

Car from N.Z

Interesting, didnt know that. Had heard that a well known c & w singer here called Brendan Dugan had imported one 25+? years ago but WB had a contract that stated it could'nt be driven on a public road, only exhibited at shows or the like, and then I heard it got painted and sold?
Long time ago though, a guy two streets away will know, he knew all those guys back then, I'll have to ask him

Gray Bartlett bought it in sometime in the 80's. I have the TV clip saved from then, real bad quality though. Here's a scouple of pics. I saw this car a couple of times, last about 5 years ago in Taupo when a Greek guy just bought it and was having it painted (all except flag and 01's). Car is real rough and sat in a field in the Hawkes Bay for years. Sean (mopar63) did a bunch of work on it. A previous owner had the original WB documentation, but since died, and the docs didn't make their way to the new owner. Sean has verified these docs.

Notice the centre section missing from the pushbar. Is this the same car that went to WA with different pushbar? Centre of grille on 'I' missing trim on both cars, both cars also missing the grille 'Charger' badge on the correct side.

[doctor4766]

Looks like your pic has the same top driver's side grille steel molding damage as the Perth car too, so maybe..

[Bob T]

You're right Dunk, Gray it was I thought it was B.Dugan, age and infirmity, spent a few minutes hunting some knowledge on it. My guitar tutor has a picture of him and Gray on the wall haha
So good ol 63 has had his hands in it  

and the clip

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XPEw49Qd-ho

Sorry if its a bit of a Hi-jack Folks
__________grabbed it off some GL internet forum_________________________________________________________________

by hewi » Wed Nov 08, 2006 3:54 pm

I've looked in to this car.
Here is an e-mail I got from the current owner - make your own mind up if it is an original or not.

yes. Brought in by jim wagner and Gray Bartlett, they also brought over
Knight Rider where is now sitting in a friends shed.
This general is not one of the 27 that remained at the end of show nor one
of the 17 that were flicked off to Wayne Wooten and members of the American
Dodge registry.
This car was from Jim who was a Promoter and a agent for actors on the
series Dukes of Hazzard. Gray Barlett and Jim were good friends, when Gray-
back in 1984 was touring the states Jim told him the show was finishing soon
and he may be able to get him a car.
The car was made for the show but never reached it as they signed it off
from WB as a promo. I have spoken to Jim in the States and Gray here, this
is the story they told me. They had paper work but sold the business over
15years ago so now gone.
The car was meant to be destroyed after the 2 years Gray used it here. Once
thier contract was up with WB they thought what a waist of a car. WB would
not allow them to let the car be used again for profit or for road use so
they came to some agreement to auction it. They did and donated the $26000
proceeds to charity.
I contacted WB's vehicle group and ran the chasis, engine, engine and
window tag to them twice and had a reply that they couldn't help but gave me
a number of someone who had a list of all the 300+ cars used, tried him and
phone # dead end. Would love to see that list and has got to be some where
in a few hands.
Spoken with John Schneider and signed the car. He remembers Jim etc.
Car has obvious cuts and sloppy welds from when they took the roof off for
roll cage etc. Saved original air shocks, engine etc.
I'm asking $85000NZD (approx $55000USD) for General Lee.

Here is also a link to view the car -

http://www.cmooremotors.co.nz/cars_general_lee.htm

I spoke to Ian (Wakko) about this car and he pointed out a lot of flaws, most noticeably the 70's seats, the gap in the push bar, graphics and the dodgy looking manual set up.

If anyone wants more info/contact details, drop me a line.

Cheers,
Hewi
hewi
 
Posts: 110
Joined: Sun May 28, 2006 7:58 am
Location: New Zealand

[doctor4766]

I've just emailed the new owner of the Perth GL with a link to here, so hopefully he can come and join the discussion.

[C500]

I've just emailed the new owner of the Perth GL with a link to here, so hopefully he can come and join the discussion.

 

[GL#10]

The owner in perth is Rob  , he contacted me about the car , it is  GLE  built Car  ,he has been trying to get a hold of Wayne Wooten to see if he has any information on the car .