If you've ever seen the TV show The Dukes of Hazzard, then chances are you'll recognise the good old General Lee Charger that starred in the series. Good news for Aussie fans, one of the surviving General Lee's is up for auction through Shannons.

Driven by Luke and Bo Duke, the General Lee was used for a variety of high-speed pursuits, jumps, stunts and became a celebrity in its own right. Between 1979 and 1985, it's believed no less than 309 Chargers were used in The Dukes of Hazzard, during which they were routinely destroyed at the rate of one or two per episode while performing their punishing stunts.

Of these, it is estimated that only around 23 originals survive today, although guesstimates on the number vary.Regardless, documented General Lee Dodge Chargers are now very collectible, as shown by the record price achieved at auction last year for the original ‘Lee 1’, which sold in the US for a staggering $Aus 10.5 million.

Shannons are auctioning one of these rare surviving General Lee Chargers at the Melbourne International Motor Show Auction on Monday March 10 and estimate that it will sell for between $220,000 and $260,000.The 1969 Dodge Charger is based on an original 440-cid R/T and was converted to General Lee configuration by General Lee Enterprises in the early 1980s.

General Lee Enterprises built a small number of cars (somewhere between 8 and 11) that Warner Bros. used for promotional work and some close-ups in filming.The car subsequently spent 20 years in storage in Kentucky prior to undergoing a comprehensive restoration and was then sold to the current Australian owner last year.

In September/October 2007, the full drivetrain rebuild took place and the vehicle generally tidied up in the cosmetic department, presenting in great condition both inside and out.

The Charger will be sold registered in Victoria on 'GN-LEE' plates along with a Victorian roadworthy certificate that will be supplied after the sale. The Dodge comes with supporting documentation, including American titles.

The Dodge Challenger revival began at the North America International Auto Show in Detroit in January in 2006, and is now set to hit the shop floor in the U.S. spring.

Tagged as the "Ultimate Modern American Muscle Coupe", the Challenger is powered by a mammoth 6.1 litre HEMI V-8 engine capable of a gutsy 425bhp (or 317kW) and 569 Nm of torque.

Performance wise, the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 hits the very American 0 – 60 mph time in the low 5 - second range, and can run through the quarter mile in less than 13.5 seconds.

Whilst the Challenger looks unmistakably modern, there is no doubt that it has taken its design cues from the Challengers of old.

“The all-new Dodge Challenger SRT8 is engineered to give customers everything they want in a modern muscle machine,” said Mike Accavitti, Director – Dodge Brand and SRT Global Marketing, Chrysler LLC. “The new version of Dodge’s American classic boasts tyre-smoking performance and head-turning design while offering a wide array of state-of-the-art technology, such as GPS navigation, ‘Keyless Go’ entry, a MyGIG™ infotainment system and UConnect hands-free communication.”

Standard on the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 is a 13-speaker Kicker High Performance audio system that features a 322-watt amplifier and 200-watt subwoofer, and SIRIUS Satellite Radio. A MyGIG infotainment system is also available.

In the U.S. the 2008 Dodge Challenger SRT8 will hit the market at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price (MSRP) of $US37,995. Unfortunately the Dodge Challenger SRT8 is not available to markets outside North America.

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