HazzardNet, Author at HazzardNet

News: Dukes of Hazzard Stuntman Al Wyatt Jr., Dies at Age 60

The death of Al Wyatt Jr. was reported today by longtime friend and associate Tom Sarmento. Wyatt was known for his sense of humor as well as his skill behind the wheel. He was a stunt double for John Schneider, and also had an acting role in a Dukes of Hazzard episode, “Duke vs. Duke.” Additionally, he had non-speaking roles as a hapless bakery delivery man, where his stunt work included a pie or cake in the face.

We lost Al nearly one year after the death of stunt director Paul Baxley. They remain with us in spirit, in episodes of The Dukes of Hazzard. Their legacy is remembered through the greatest automotive stunt work ever filmed for television.

Paul Baxley once said, to his stunt team: “I think we made history, guys…and I don’t know if any show will ever be done like that again.”

We salute you, Al Wyatt Jr.

Thank you to all HazzardNet members who contributed to this report.

Another High-Dollar General Lee Hits the Market

Retired NBA star Jalen Rose once owned an authentic General Lee, but he made a few modifications – such as the removal of the Confederate flag, removal of the “General Lee” lettering, and the replacement of the “01” on the doors with his own number, “05.” Despite being out of uniform, his General Lee sold twice in 2011, with the proceeds of both transactions benefiting his charity.

Now this General is back on the market, properly bearing the trademark flag, numbers and lettering. It’s offered on ebay by CNC Motors for a buy-it-now price of $69,999. Leaving off that extra “01” dollar is sure to make a difference, right? Anyway, if you’re ready to park 70 grand into a General Lee, this may not be a bad way to go. There’s just one thing – you’ll still need to add the Vector wheels if you want it to look like an authentic General.

This car is reportedly one of the survivors of studio ownership, and an autograph by John Schneider on the trunk lid seems to attest to this. Austute buyers will want to examine the documentation. Screen-used and studio-titled Generals enjoy a premium over replicas, and the history of celebrity ownership doesn’t hurt.

Pro Golfer Buys Historic General Lee at Auction

Word is getting around that Gerry “Bubba” Watson was the winning bidder for “LEE 1”, the first screen-jumped General Lee. The storied General was auctioned off Saturday, January 21 at Barrett-Jackson in Scottsdale, AZ. Watson won the bidding at $110,000, with his total cost ending up at $121,000 after buyer’s commission.

Watson is a powerful left-handed pro golfer who can hit a ball over 350 yards, at a speed of 194 miles per hour. Yes, Watson can drive! On the golf course. We’re looking forward to seeing how he does on the street with his General Lee!

Is Watson a Dukes of Hazzard fan? That’s a big 10-4! Here’s what he had to say in his tweet on Saturday: “Just got my dream car!”

Congratulations, Bubba Watson! The General is going to a good home.

Historic General Lee Sells For $121,000

Expectations for “LEE 1” were high at Barrett-Jackson as the famous 1969 Dodge Charger went up for auction. After weeks of hype, the first screen-jumped General Lee was expected to bring in as much as 1 million dollars in bidding.

But the price leap fell short, landing far shy of the expected sum. It went for a mere $110,000, plus buyer’s commission, for a total sale of $121,000. Details about the purchaser are not yet available.

The lower sales price doesn’t reflect anything negative on The Dukes of Hazzard, or on the General Lee itself. LEE 1 stands apart from other screen-used General Lees, for better or worse, due to the extensive time spent in abandonment and derelict condition upon discovery. The percentage of the car that can be claimed as “original” is up for debate. Ironically, LEE 1 may have been worth just as much today without any restoration efforts at all.

The saga of LEE 1 is far from over. While we await further details about the new owner, we sincerely hope that this historic General Lee has gained a home with a true Dukes fan, rather than an investor seeking a quick turnaround in a year or two. LEE 1, after all it has been through, deserves better.

Coy Duke’s General Lee is For Sale!

General Lee replicas come and go on the market, but it isn’t often that a cast-owned General Lee becomes available! Byron Cherry, who was “Coy Duke” during the 5th season of The Dukes of Hazzard, is parting with his General Lee. This 1969 Dodge Charger has 71,075 original miles on it and is a numbers-matching car.

This General Lee replica was used for Byron’s promotional purposes. It’s best described as a collector’s item on wheels; there are numerous Dukes of Hazzard cast signatures on the car, and autographs by other celebrities. Byron is also throwing in a variety of Dukes collectibles as part of the deal. As an added bonus, the purchaser will be treated to dinner.

Buyers who are concerned about replica accuracy should note that this car needs a few cosmetic details to be show-ready as a General. See the lettering of “General Lee” in this photo for an example. This car is not being represented as an accurate replia; it was Byron’s own car for his use and has distinctions in this respect.

You can be the next owner on the title after Byron Cherry for $150,000. For details, see the ebay listing. Serious buyers are welcome to make an offer!