From Rust Bucket to An Iconic TV Replica, This Charger Jumps Into Drag-And-Drive Action
The nostalgia factor is alive and well in many forms of racing and the car hobby. So, it seems only fitting that since 2021, a replica of the ‘The General Lee’ from the classic ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ TV show would be visiting various drag-and-drive events.
It has all the right details, and for the owner Tom Rightler, it’s a car that he always wanted. “Having a ‘General Lee’ was a bucket list car for me,” he said. So, when the chance presented itself to buy a ‘69 Charger, I jumped on it.”
The 1969 Dodge Charger wasn’t a cream puff when Tom first saw it in 2001, but he still snagged it. “I restored it the first time at the local votech school where I took collision repair and refinish classes,” he said.
Once complete, he street drove the Charger until it was wrecked in 2016. “When it was wrecked, it was borderline totaled,” Tom admitted. “I almost gave up when it did get wrecked, but said no this car isn’t going to beat me.”
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Tom got the car finished for a second time in 2021, making some upgrades as well. A 440 cubic inch Mopar engine resides up front, and Tom added a Comp Cams hydraulic roller camshaft, Edelbrock intake, and Holley Sniper EFI to spice things up. Doug’s headers and TTI 3-inch exhaust expel the fumes. The transmission of choice is a 727 automatic with a shift kit and Dynamic 9.5-inch converter. The power is passed to a Moser Dana 60 rear end with 3.73 gears and an Eaton locker. The Charger got some braking and chassis upgrades as well, as Baer disc brakes found their way to all 4 corners, a QA1 tubular front end was employed up front, and QA1 double adjustable shocks at both ends too.
Once the overhaul was complete, it didn’t take long for the ‘General Lee’ to find its way to a drag-and-drive. “From the time I started following Hot Rod Drag Week, I always thought it would be cool to see a General Lee participating in an event like that since you rarely see them out on the road anymore,” Tom admitted. “I took it on Drag Week literally just after finishing the rebuild. It had 70 miles on it and 3 passes at the track. Other than a minor issue with the EFI, it performed flawless.” Tom averaged a 13.40 in completing his first drag-and-drive.
To participate in his second drag-and-drive event, Tom brought the ‘General Lee’ from New Jersey to the 2023 edition of Sick Week Presented by Gear Vendors Overdrive, and entered the Bullseye Challenge class.
Making the drive with JJ Figuracion in the passenger seat, Tom averaged a 13.14 with the Dixie horn in use on almost every burnout he did. “The Dixie horn is the first aftermarket part I bought from the local speed shop when I was 17,” Tom admitted. “It was in my (Oldsmobile) Cutlass from 1997-2007, then moved to the Charger.”
On Tom’s future drag-and-drive plans, he still wants to visit new parts of the country and tracks as well. “I may try and do Midwest drags this year since it’s close to home,” he said. “But it’s tough being gone for a week being self-employed. I do have plans to do other drag-and-drive events going forward. I find them to be much more enjoyable than sitting in parking lots at car shows.”
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Tom Rightler.