Where is the General Lee car today?

[VonJake]

Several original, screen-used General Lee Dodge Chargers from The Dukes of Hazzard are preserved in museums and private collections, with key cars located at the Volo Auto Museum in Illinois, Cooter's Place museums in Tennessee and Virginia, and the Marconi Automotive Museum in California. The majority of the approximately 256-309 cars built for the show were destroyed during stunt filming. The current whereabouts and status of the most significant surviving vehicles are documented by collectors and institutions.

The most historically important surviving car is the first General Lee, known as "LEE 1." This vehicle performed the iconic jump over a police car in the series' first episode. After filming, it was reportedly abandoned in a Georgia junkyard, later restored, and was owned for a time by professional golfer Bubba Watson. Its authenticity as the true "Car #1" is supported by production records and its unique, hastily applied paint job, differing from later cars.

The oldest surviving screen-used General Lee is vehicle #6, on permanent display at the Volo Auto Museum in Illinois. It is significant because earlier cars (#2 through #5) were destroyed during the initial episode's stunts. The Volo Museum's car serves as a benchmark for authenticity, with its original modifications and interior details intact.

Other notable authentic cars include "The Billboard Car," used for promotional displays in the 1980s and now in a private collection, and vehicles displayed at various Cooter's Place locations, owned by actor Ben Jones ("Cooter"). The Marconi Automotive Museum in Tustin, California, also displays a screen-used car.

The fate of most General Lee cars was destruction. A site in Georgia, referred to by fans as "The Morgue," is where numerous wrecked cars were disposed of after filming. Parts were salvaged over decades, making complete, original cars exceedingly rare. As of 2023, the count of confirmed, complete, screen-used cars in stable condition is in the single digits. Market values reflect this scarcity; Hagerty, a classic car insurance and valuation expert, notes that authenticated screen-used General Lees can command values significantly above a standard 1969 Charger, sometimes reaching into the high six figures, whereas replicas typically trade for between $50,000 and $100,000.

Car Identifier / Nickname	Key Characteristics	Last Known Public Location / Status
LEE 1 (Car #1)	First car, did the initial jump. Orange paint applied over existing blue.	Privately owned; previously owned by Bubba Watson.
Car #6	Oldest surviving screen-used car.	On permanent display at the Volo Auto Museum, Illinois.
"The Billboard Car"	Used for promotional displays post-filming.	In a private collection.
Cooter's Place Exhibit Cars	Cars obtained from Warner Bros. by Ben Jones.	On display at Cooter's Place museums in Gatlinburg, TN, and Luray, VA.
Marconi Museum Car	A screen-used stunt car.	On display at Marconi Automotive Museum, Tustin, California.

Hundreds of accurate replicas exist worldwide, with notable examples at venues like the , fulfilling fan interest. The 2023 total-loss crash of an original, privately owned General Lee in Missouri underscores the ongoing attrition of these historic vehicles. For preservation, the few remaining authentic cars are unlikely to be driven regularly and are treated as Hollywood artifacts.

[DelHazel]

I’ve been a collector of TV and movie cars for twenty years. The hunt for a real General Lee is practically a legend in our circle. You hear stories, but verified ones? Maybe a handful. I’ve seen the #6 car at the Volo Museum—it’s the real deal, with weld marks and interior wear you can’t fake. Most "originals" at shows are fantastic replicas. The true screen-used cars are tucked away in museums or deep private collections. If someone offers you one, demand the provenance paperwork from Warner Bros. Without it, you're likely buying a very expensive, very cool tribute.

[AngelaDella]

Visiting the Volo Auto Museum last summer finally answered the question for me. Seeing General Lee #6 up close, you realize it’s not a shiny show car. It’s a working prop. The roll cage is welded in a specific, functional way. The dashboard has unique gauge setups for camera angles. The docent explained that because earlier cars were destroyed, this is the earliest one left. It’s displayed with photos of it on set. Other museums might have them too, but Volo presents the history clearly. It’s less about the car itself and more about a piece of television production history that’s been physically preserved against the odds.

[MacRichard]

From a restoration specialist's view, authenticating a General Lee is about forensic details. We look for the specific bracket welded to the frame for the stunt ramp, the unique headlight wiring for the "chase lights," and paint layer analysis. The first car was orange over blue paint. Later cars were orange over red primer. Most were 1968 or 1969 Dodge Chargers with modified drivetrains. The destruction rate was so high that surviving cars are a patchwork of parts replaced during production. A "100% original" screen-used car doesn’t really exist; they were maintained and repaired constantly. Our focus is on preserving the cars that did the stunts, like #1 and #6, as they are.

[MacMaci]

As a fan of the show since childhood, understanding where the General Lee cars are now is bittersweet. It’s amazing that a few like LEE 1 and car #6 still exist and are cared for. Museums like Volo and Cooter’s Place let us see them. But knowing that over 300 were made and almost all were crashed for our entertainment puts their rarity in perspective. The replicas keep the spirit alive at car shows, and that’s wonderful. But there’s a difference between a tribute and a historical artifact. The real cars are relics of a specific time in TV history. Their value isn’t just in being a Charger; it’s in the dents, scratches, and repairs from filming. Their scattered locations—in Illinois, Tennessee, California, private garages—mean that for most fans, seeing one requires a pilgrimage. That journey is part of the story now.