This General Lee Turns Law Enforcement Into Outlaws
General Lee Chargers used for stunts typically have a short life, so why not make them from a more common car?
Irony comes in many shapes and sizes, but this one takes the cake. Best known for being perpetually airborne while evading the fuzz, the General Lee is an icon for good ‘ole boys everywhere. But what goes up must come down, and stashes of 1969 Dodges are running a bit low nowadays.
But there is a novel solution: Cop cars.
Using the old P71 Crown Victoria as a base for replica Chargers means Smith Brothers Restoration has the ability to fling, fly, crash, and bash as many “Chargers” as they need. Even better, they have a nearly endless supply of donor cars. This means we’ll have legions of flying General Lees for years to come.
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The process of building a stunt car like this starts with stripping a Crown Vic down to the drivetrain and floorboards, and welding in a safety cage. For this build, the cage includes the A-pillar and serves as the basis for mounting the bodywork. Thanks to an abundence of aftermarket body panels, there’s no need to chop up a vintage Dodge, according to builder Jamie Smith. In describing the finished car, he said: “It looked good from the outside and flew through the air well.” We agree.
With cars like these regularly appearing at stunt shows and subsequently getting banged up, we’re okay with a Ford cop car (of all things) serving as the heart and soul of the General Lee. We’d rather preserve the originals anyway.
