Tom Wopat and John Schneider took matters into their own hands. They presented some footage in the opening sequence. But when it came time for the Dukes of Hazzard stunt crew to perform some of the most spectacular chases and jumps in the series, the cast remained safely on the sidelines.
No one was injured during Dukes stunt filming.
In 1979 everything changed. A freak accident involving a truck in the background claimed one life. This was the only death on the set.
The stunt drivers were masters of excellent driving. They executed “bootlegger” turns. They drifted at high speeds on dirt roads. They stage thrilling chase scenes that keep the audience on the edge of their seats.
General Lee’s famous jump
The General Lee was best known for his enormous leaps. It cleared rivers. It cleared gullies. It cleared highways. Sometimes they jumped over other cars or trains.
Initially, the train stunt was planned to be more ambitious. The general had to “jump” over the open door of a moving boxcar. Plans were changed due to budget constraints. It was decided to just jump over the train.
Best jump ever
The biggest leap in The General’s history came in the first episode, which featured an “replacement Dukes”.
Instead of the usual cousins, Cousins Coy and Vance appear. Wopat and Schneider left due to contract disputes with the studio.
The stunt team had to use nitrous oxide to clear the entire Duke family farm. It gave the General a little boost.
The stunt drivers were masters of fine driving and executing bootlegger turns and high-speed drifting on dirt roads.
Why nitrous oxide?
Nitrous oxide is a gas that increases the amount of oxygen available to the engine. This allows the car to temporarily produce more power. The General needed that extra power to clear the farm.
The stunt drivers are very experienced. They executed the jump accurately. But nitrous oxide makes the impossible possible.
Legacy of tricks
The Dukes of Hazzard stunt crew is legendary. Their work set the standard for action television. General Lee’s jumps is still remembered today.
The show’s legacy is closely tied to these stunts. they are dangerous. They were exciting. They are unforgettable.
The stuntmen deserve praise. They ensured the safety of the actors. They pushed the boundaries of what was possible on television.
Where to watch tricks today
You can still watch the stunts to watch on streaming services. The General Lee’s jumps are iconic. They are part of pop culture history.
The stunt drivers’ skills are still amazing. They set the bar very high for the action sequences. Their work continues to inspire new generations of drivers.
Impact of the stunts on the show
These stunts made the show popular. They were unique. They were exciting. They kept viewers coming back for more.
The Dukes of Hazzard became a cultural phenomenon. Stunts played a big role in this success. They were the show’s selling point.
Conclusion
The Dukes of Hazzard stunt crew were amazing. They performed incredible stunts without getting injured. They made General Lee a legend.
The show’s legacy is a testament to their skill.
The True Cost of the Jump #General
Most people believe that General Lee’s antics were just clever editing. They aren’t. Stunt coordinators rarely reuse footage. If the jump is visible, it means the stuntman has actually left the ramp. And if you saw it crash, it really did.
Not a single production car survived these landings. The impact didn’t just look bad. It tore the engine mounts loose. It bent the chassis frame. It shredded the suspension components. Each jump effectively destroys the car.
Buying Out the Used Car Market
At the beginning of filming, the studio took the easy route. They purchased a replacement vehicle from a local used car dealer in the Atlanta area. Here they found the original 1969 Dodge Charger used in the pilot episode.
This strategy continued until local supplies were exhausted. The production team needed more cars. They couldn’t wait for used inventory. So they started buying every 1969 Dodge Charger in the area.
Eventually, your local dealer may stop answering your calls due to too many chargers. The high volume of cases means that we are liquidating the entire regional fleet of vehicles for a given model year.
The Prop Shop Solution
Buying used cars wasn’t scalable. The studio needed a reliable supply chain for salvage vehicles. To solve this problem, they built their own studio/shop.
This center does not only repair cars. It cranked out General Lees on demand. They also built other cars that crashed at the show. This included the police cruisers that chased the Dukes.
The output was staggering. Over the course of the show, Over 150 General Lees were produced Another 500 cars were built. Most of them were police cars. The stuntmen constantly had to throw metal at the walls.
The Mechanics of Destruction
Why do cars break down so much? These jumps are not like the stunts from the films of subsequent decades. No hidden support. There is no hydraulic lift. Just a ramp and gravity.
When a 1969 Dodge Charger hits the ground at high speed, the kinetic energy has to go somewhere. The frame took the brunt of it. The suspension cannot withstand the load. Loose and faulty fasteners can cause the engine to collide with the firewall, and loose wiring harnesses can cause the engine to hang.
Every jump is a controlled destruction. The stunt driver knew the car was dead after landing. But they continued.
Legacy of the Wreckage
More than 150 General Lees and 500 other vehicles were produced, most of which were police cars.
The sheer number of used cars makes you wonder where they went. Some of them were quickly written off. Some ended up in junkyards across Georgia. Some survive as suppliers of props and spare parts.
There’s more to this show than just cars. It consumes them. General Lee was no hero. This is a single use product. Unique item with the Confederate flag on the hood.
You won’t see cars like this anymore. Modern cars are too safe. Too reinforced. Such destruction would not have been possible without a much larger budget than the one CBS used in the early 1980s.
The ramps are gone. The stunt drivers are older. Chargers are rare collectibles. But the footage remains. Every jump. Every
