1968 Dodge Charger "The General Lee" – A Dream Realized

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Darrell Sergent's 1968 Dodge Charger: The General Lee

Photographer: Julian Brown

Instagram: @datboiwithacamera

Performance Stats: The motor is a 440 pushing 450 hp

Listen To The General Lee Build Audible Book 

Early Days and Love for Cars

I started working on cars at the age of 13. My first project was a 1955 Ford 4-door sedan my dad bought to bring my brother and me closer (it didn’t quite work). Over the years, I’ve worked on numerous cars, including a 1957 Chevy, a 1969 Camaro Z28, a 1973 Olds Cutlass, and currently a 1964 Thunderbird that I took my road test in. My wife claims I have "oil in my veins," which might be true, considering my lifelong love for cars.

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There wasn't a particular person who sparked my interest in cars; I just naturally gravitated toward them, starting with toy cars and bikes. My parents supported my projects, and I spent summers with two uncles who worked at a dealership—one did bodywork, and the other was a mechanic. That exposure further fueled my passion.

Bringing the Dream of "The General Lee" to Life

I fell in love with The General Lee when the show Dukes of Hazzard debuted in 1979. I knew that I wanted to own that car one day. When we found the car, it had been in storage for two years, a rolling shell with completed bodywork and paint. We also received a parts car and several boxes of miscellaneous parts, allowing us to tackle the project with ample resources.

Our 1968 Charger underwent modifications to transform into a 1969 Charger, replacing the original taillight panel, quarter panels, doors, and grille. The interior features a blend of three shades of brown: saddle tan seats, 656 brown dash and console, and dark brown carpet. We focused on replicating the car from Season 1, Episode 1 as accurately as possible.

The dashboard is from 1968 (the show used both ’68 and ’69 versions), while the CB is a model from Seasons 2-7 due to the difficulty of finding the Season 1 version. Our car’s horn button mirrors Bo Duke's Season 1, Episode 1 button for authenticity. We also crafted a removable roll bar using PVC, pipe insulation, and duct tape for easy backseat access. The entire build took five years, using as many original parts as possible to stay within our budget.

What Makes "The General Lee" Unique

The General Lee is instantly recognizable, but building it was a dream come true. Everywhere we go, people smile, wave, and take photos. Even a quick gas stop can turn into a 30-minute photo op. The car brings people joy and nostalgia, making it all worthwhile. When we travel out of state, we trailer it because driving would be a gas-guzzling venture.

1968 Dodge Charger Build Specifications

Engine and Transmission

• Engine: 1978 Dodge 440 RB block with a 727 transmission and 2500 B&M stall converter

• Rear End: 8-3/4 with 323 gears

• Suspension: Set to 1969 Charger R/T specifications

• Brakes: Original power-assisted drum brakes, 3" front and 2.5" rear

Wheels and Tires

• Wheels: 15x7 10-spoke Vectors to maintain proper ride height

Interior

• Seats: Original 1969 Charger springs covered in saddle tan by Legendary Auto Interiors

• Console: Original, restored

• Dashboard: Original with a new dash pad from Legendary Auto Interiors

• Radio: 1968 Dodge AM, converted to AM/FM while preserving the classic look

Exterior and Paint

• Color: Corvette Flame Red (Warner Brothers’ color choice for the original)

• Details: Cross flags on the back panel, specific to Season 1, Episodes 1-4

Work Contributors

The body and paintwork were completed by Tom, a friend from whom we bought the car. Ron, who owns a boat canvas business, installed the headliner, while Sandy’s Chrome Plating restored some of the trim. Retro Radio restored the radio, North East Trim Inc. assembled the seats, and my wife Debbie and I handled the remaining work.

Future Plans

We’ll continue enjoying and showing the car (we currently hold 51 trophies). Eventually, we plan to remove the decals and have them painted on, taking it even closer to the look of Season 1, Episode 1.

Special Thanks

A huge thanks to Tom Marshall of Liberty Auto for selling us the car and sharing his Mopar expertise—our friendship grew over the five years it took to complete this build. Special thanks to Julian Brown for photographing The General Lee, and a heartfelt thank you to my wife Debbie for enduring the challenges and fun that came with building this car.

Dream Car

The General Lee is my dream car. However, if I had to pick another, it would be the iconic 1974 Ford Torino from Starsky & Hutch.

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