When filming for The Dukes of Hazzard ended in 1984, Warner Bros kept the remaining General Lees on their property. The General Lees and related car parts were still collecting dust when Wayne Wooten, a Dukes of Hazzard fan and Dodge Charger enthusiast, contacted Warner Bros in 1988.
Wayne was the founder of the Dodge Charger Registry, and his mission was to collect and preserve as much detail about Dodge Chargers as possible. He had sent a letter to Warner Bros inquiring about their Charger records without really expecting a reply.
Warner Bros gave Wayne a response that was beyond all expectation. After getting more info from Wayne about his organization, they invited him out to the studio to see the "parts" they had available.
Wayne received a VIP studio tour. Afterwards, he was offered piles of surplus Charger parts at no cost. Delighted, Wayne began filling up a truck. But there was more to come.
The next day, the Warner Bros transportation chief surprised Wayne with the sight of 17 intact General Lees. Wayne was speechless, and his shock deepened when he was basically offered these cars to re-home as he saw fit.
There were legalities to sort out and studio stipulations. Foremost among these, was the requirement that the new owners never collected money for the public display of these cars. In return, WB would provide certificates of authenticity for the screen-used Generals, giving these surviving cars a priceless pedigree.
Finally, in 1991, all the legalities were in place, and the General Lees were distributed to new owners. For himself, Wayne obtained a “hero” General Lee that had been used for filming close-ups.
Wayne Wooten gets well-deserved credit for seeking out the story of the Dukes of Hazzard Dodge Chargers. He never imagined it would turn into a dream come true!
Credit must also go to the WB transportation chief and studio brass who kept these cars until the right person came along. In the end, it was proof that some folks at Warner Bros truly cared about the legacy of The Dukes of Hazzard.
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Good morning, my fossil buddy is getting his stuff ready for sale. Sipping coffee with the doors and windows open, first time in months.
