The famous Dodge Charger from 1980s TV show The Dukes of Hazzard has been sold on eBay for an amazing $US9.9 million ($A12 million).
The 1969 car, known in the series as the “General Lee” and the nemesis of Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane in numerous chase scenes, was auctioned by actor John Schneider, who played Bo Duke in the long-running show.
It is believed to be the second highest price ever paid for a car at auction after that of a 1931 Bugatti that was sold by Christie's in 1987 for $US11 million ($A13.4 million).
Schneider is believed to have sold the highly modified Dodge to finance his latest film.
Dukes of Hazzard screened for seven seasons between 1979 and 1985.
The inspiration for the hit TV series was a 1975 film called The Moonrunners, written and directed by Gy Waldron.
The film was about a closely knit family determined to produce and sell moonshine despite stiff competition and marauding federal agents.
The 1969 car, known in the series as the “General Lee” and the nemesis of Sheriff Roscoe P. Coltrane in numerous chase scenes, was auctioned by actor John Schneider, who played Bo Duke in the long-running show.
It is believed to be the second highest price ever paid for a car at auction after that of a 1931 Bugatti that was sold by Christie's in 1987 for $US11 million ($A13.4 million).
Schneider is believed to have sold the highly modified Dodge to finance his latest film.
Dukes of Hazzard screened for seven seasons between 1979 and 1985.
The inspiration for the hit TV series was a 1975 film called The Moonrunners, written and directed by Gy Waldron.
The film was about a closely knit family determined to produce and sell moonshine despite stiff competition and marauding federal agents.
Afterwards Waldron, who hails from the deep south, put together a proposal for a TV series loosely based on the script.
The Dodge Charger was chosen for the role of the General Lee as it was well known to NASCAR fans in the southern state of Georgia, where it was filmed.
It was painted bright orange, the number 01 added and a Confederate flag also added to the roof.
The General Lee was billed as a 1969 Dodge Charger with a 440 cubic inch Magnum V8 and an A-727 automatic transmission.
The cars used in the series apparently underwent surprisingly few modifications for their screen role.
Each was fitted with a four-barrel Holley carburettor, aluminium intake manifold, and stiffer shocks and springs to firm up the handling, with inner tubes added to tyres as a precaution.
The doors of the cars (there was more than one General Lee) were welded shut to stop them springing open and the parking brake lock removed so hand brake turns could be performed.
The sealed doors explain why Bo and Luke were always seen sliding in and out of the windows.
Interestingly, much of the driving we see Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) doing was actually performed by the actors.
Schneider, in fact, attended the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.
Any time the script called for the General to leave the ground, however, stunt doubles were called in.
Many hours were spent planning chase sequences.
The cars often became airborne and to keep them level during jumps, lead ballast was added to the boot to stop them nose diving.
Legend has it that the General Lee's musical horn was the result of a chance discovery.
A production crew on their way to a shoot passed a car with a horn that tooted the first 12 notes of Dixie.
To cut a long story short, they chased after the driver and offered him cash for the horn which was removed on the spot.
It turned out later that the same horn could be readily obtained through the J C Whitney catalogue, but the crew wanted it right away for filming.
Quite a few cars were wrecked during filming of the show and so it had an almost insatiable appetite for replacements.
Legend has it that more than 300 Dodge Chargers were wrecked during the filming of the show.
News Digital Media
The Dodge Charger was chosen for the role of the General Lee as it was well known to NASCAR fans in the southern state of Georgia, where it was filmed.
It was painted bright orange, the number 01 added and a Confederate flag also added to the roof.
The General Lee was billed as a 1969 Dodge Charger with a 440 cubic inch Magnum V8 and an A-727 automatic transmission.
The cars used in the series apparently underwent surprisingly few modifications for their screen role.
Each was fitted with a four-barrel Holley carburettor, aluminium intake manifold, and stiffer shocks and springs to firm up the handling, with inner tubes added to tyres as a precaution.
The doors of the cars (there was more than one General Lee) were welded shut to stop them springing open and the parking brake lock removed so hand brake turns could be performed.
The sealed doors explain why Bo and Luke were always seen sliding in and out of the windows.
Interestingly, much of the driving we see Bo (John Schneider) and Luke (Tom Wopat) doing was actually performed by the actors.
Schneider, in fact, attended the Bob Bondurant School of High Performance Driving.
Any time the script called for the General to leave the ground, however, stunt doubles were called in.
Many hours were spent planning chase sequences.
The cars often became airborne and to keep them level during jumps, lead ballast was added to the boot to stop them nose diving.
Legend has it that the General Lee's musical horn was the result of a chance discovery.
A production crew on their way to a shoot passed a car with a horn that tooted the first 12 notes of Dixie.
To cut a long story short, they chased after the driver and offered him cash for the horn which was removed on the spot.
It turned out later that the same horn could be readily obtained through the J C Whitney catalogue, but the crew wanted it right away for filming.
Quite a few cars were wrecked during filming of the show and so it had an almost insatiable appetite for replacements.
Legend has it that more than 300 Dodge Chargers were wrecked during the filming of the show.
News Digital Media
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