NEWHALL DODGE CHARGER STILL BEST-LOVED FILM CAR.Byline: Carol Rock Staff Writer NEWHALL - A 1969 Dodge Charger There have been many different Dodge vehicles, on three different platforms, bearing the Charger nameplate. The name is generally associated with a performance model in the Dodge range, however it has also adorned mundane hatchbacks and sedans and a personal luxury coupe. that was built in downtown Newhall and roared through the Valencia Oaks Ranch canyons when they doubled for Hazzard County Hazzard County may mean:
prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. a survey done by a Michigan insurance firm that specializes in picture cars. The tangerine-color General Lee, made popular in ``The Dukes of Hazzard'' series that ran on CBS (Cell Broadcast Service) See cell broadcast. from 1979 to 1985, is the car most beloved by movie and TV fans around the world. The car has its own fan club, and its unique coloring, Confederate flag roof and racing numbers are as revered today as they were when the show was canceled 20 years ago. Another top finisher, landing No. 3 on the list, was the Eleanor car, a Shelby GT500 from ``Gone In 60 Seconds,'' customized by Dean Bryant of Elegant Customs in Canyon Country. Other cars finishing in the top 10 were Steve McQueen's green 1968 Mustang from ``Bullitt,'' the 1983 DeLorean from ``Back to the Future,'' the James Bond Aston Martin Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury performance cars, whose headquarters are at Gaydon, Warwickshire, England. The company name is derived from the Aston Clinton hill climb and one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin. from ``Goldfinger,'' Herbie the Volkswagen Beetle This article is about the original Volkswagen Beetle. For the one introduced in 1997, see Volkswagen New Beetle. The Volkswagen Type 1, more commonly known as the Beetle from ``The Love Bug'' and the 1977 Pontiac Firebird The Pontiac Firebird was a pony car built by the Pontiac division of General Motors between 1967 and 2002. The Firebird was introduced in the same year with its platform sharing cousin the Chevrolet Camaro. from ``Smokey and the Bandit bandit: see brigandage. .'' Renaud and Andre Veluzat, owners of Melody Motion Picture Ranch in Newhall, built more than 200 versions of the General Lee in their Newhall shop over the run of the TV show. Renaud said, on average, 50 Chargers were in the shop at a time, undergoing repairs and restoration. ``We had to find the cars and take them to the shop and make them look like General Lee,'' Renaud said. ``We worked as fast as we could - repainting, changing out the transmissions, rebuilding the brake systems, putting in new radiators and four-barrel carburetors. The interiors all had to match, and we put all-new tires and wheels on every one. There were 229 of them total, and most all - except for about 20 - were wrecked by the end of the show. It was a total disaster.'' Veluzat said two first-unit cars kept in pristine condition for close-up shots are now owned by members of the North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. General Lee Fan Club. The other is owned by John Schneider John Schneider is the name of the following unrelated people:
Schneider recently raced the car in Arizona, topping out at 137 mph and finishing second. He loaned his car to the Melody Ranch museum for its opening in 2000 and thrilled the crowds at the Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival two years ago when the familiar roar of the rebel engine preceded him down the Western main street. With Schneider's car now on the race circuit, another General Lee will be on display in the museum during this year's festival. Local car enthusiast Dave Steitzinger will bring his replica vehicle, which he has been restoring for the past seven years. Members of the North American General Lee Fan Club visited Melody Ranch last weekend to quiz the Veluzats about their involvement with the General Lee. ``There were people here from all around the world, (including) England and Australia. It was something else,'' said Renaud Veluzat. Carol Rock, (661) 257-5252 carol.rock(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) John Schneider, who was Bo on ``The Dukes of Hazzard,'' shows one of the sitcom's General Lee 1969 Dodge Chargers, customized in Newhall and still the most popular film ``character'' car, in this November 2000 photo. David R. Crane/Staff Photographer |
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