This is a stunt car that was purposely built to be smashed and rebuilt cheaply.
Although there are many disadvantages to body-on-frame cars, there is a distinct advantage. You can make anything you want from the big frame beneath, such as a General Lee Dodge Charger or a Ford Crown Victoria. James Smith made a General Lee stunt car to perform at a live Dukes of Hazzard event in Virginia.
This orange 1969 Dodge Charger is actually an actual 1999 Ford Crown Victoria, which is wearing a Charger suit. As if that wasn’t enough irony, Vic is a retired police cruiser. So yeah, Bo Duke and Luke Duke were fighting the cops with their cop car. You might be asking yourself the million-dollar question: Why go to so much trouble to create a clone of a Charger instead of using one?
First, the vintage Dodge Chargers are not able to grow on trees. The General Lee has served as General Lee for all cars from 1968 to 1970. However, with these vehicles approaching 50 years of age, there aren’t many to spare. These cars are also highly sought-after, making them one of the most valuable vehicles from the original muscle car era. Even the most expensive parts cars can be quite costly. Then there’s the number of passionate enthusiasts who are furious at people deliberately destroying the cars they love. A new solution was required.
There are many companies that make aftermarket Charger body panels. Smith discovered that the wheelbase of the Crown Victoria was very similar to the Charger’s, so he removed the Ford’s skin from the Crown Victoria and replaced it by Charger panels. The original dash takes up almost half of the windshield and it was not a bolt-on job. He was able to create a convincing clone using a few spare parts and some fabrication.
It won’t be so sad to see another Charger being sacrificed for entertainment when it does get wrecked.
