As I look at the comments I see that many Europeans don't quite understand the overall concept of what an American muscle car is all about. I hope this helps. 1. Muscle cars weren't built for track racing (stock that is). They were meant to be cheap so anyone could afford them. To keep costs down, they needed to be simple and were built for hauling ass or mischief on typical roads/ streets. 2. They were extremely modifiable. You could add a few cheap aftermarket parts and have a drag car or a track car, whichever you wanted. Tune this, modify that... the possibilities for adding performance are almost endless. 3. Since they were an "every man's" sports car, they also needed to be practical. You could pile all your friends and their girlfriends in there and go out on the town. Also equipped with a large back seat. Try screwing in a roadster! 4. DRIFTING. Before it was called "drifting" it was called "How you handle a muscle car". With all that torque screaming from those big blocks you could burn rubber while shifting gears flying around corners like crazy. To sum it up... To compare a muscle car to a racing inspired two seater is foolish. These sports cars weren't designed for just racing, but for the fun and fulfillment of your average guy with all his needs. That's why we love them, that's why they're so badass.
Now muscle cars are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases (examples like late 60's Superbirds, Dodge Chargers, & Hemi Cudas can fetch $200K up to half a million dollars at auctions) & getting original parts for them can also be expensive & the rising gas prices make them very expensive to drive on a regular bases. Thats why so many people these days end up driving those 4 cylinder put puts & hybrids. Funny how things turned out for the classic muscle car huh? I love classic muscle cars to but they have become very impractical to own for the avrage Joe these days.
I always have a special memory in my childhood with these iconic cars. Nothing comes close. Forget if they can go round corners or not...drive a replica down the high street and you'll get more looks and attention than any supercar on the road today!! :-)
You are absolutely correct. These cars would be number 1 on my list if Mother Nature rains some cash down on me. They would have to in perfect condition just like these
The General Lee wasn't a HEMI though, most people do assume it was. It was the more readily available 440 6-pack. I thought that the Starsky & Hutch Gran Torino was a 72 with a 460, which would put the horsepower number at something way more comparable to the charger than 250-horse. The 351 Windsor wasn't the race block for the Gran Torino, it was the 351 Cleveland, which was 75 or 80 horse more.
So many sexist comments about a woman driver! For those of you who don't know her, the lady in question is called Viki Butler Henderson and has been racing cars since the age of 12. She holds a racing license and in 20 years of auto journalism has driven just about every high performance car ever made, american and otherwise.
The cars on TV were far from stock. I have a Torino and am not ashamed to say The General Lee would blow it away. Also, simply put, she "drives like a girl". She knows nothing about putting a car through a turn sideways while still pushing down on the gas pedal. Bo and Luke were running from the crooked cops, not sipping tea and eating crumpets!! LOL Brakes?!! Who wanted brakes when you are getting ready to jump over a ravine???
Butler-Henderson started racing karts at the age of 12, being overtaken by David Coulthard in her first race.[3] She holds a car race licence as well as a power boat racing licence. After supplementing her income as a racing instructor at Silverstone Circuit, she also undertook a dual career in journalism where she worked on numerous British motoring magazines including Auto Express, What Car? and Performance Car. She was the assistant launch editor and mechanic in Max Power magazine,
Couple things that needs to be pointed out. 1: The General Lee was a race car and didn't have a stock engine in the show, the show never did say what kind of engine The General Lee had, but it was hotter than stock. 2: The General Lee spent most of it's days on DIRT or in the air. 3: European cars suck.
Ram Skirata they never said it in the show what exactly the engine was, you only got one real good look at the engine in season 7 when they tell the story of how the general lee came to be. It certainly wasn't a hemi, but in lore the engine is supposed to be modified for racing; how much is unknown.
clockwork624 And a really real car fan knows that those numbers are underrated and that the 426 was making closer to 500 HP!!!!! (dyno at 463 in 1965) Side note however I would be interested in seeing a stock 69 Charger with the Hemi take on a stock 69 Lamborghini Espada or maybe an E-Type Jag.
The Datsun 120Y was a really economical and cheap for the time, and was insanely popular during the oil crisis. It's a cute little thing, even if it's pretty basic. Comparing a 120Y to a Camaro, Charger, or any 60s-70s muscle car is like comparing a quadbike to a limousine. Both have 4 wheels and an engine, and that's pretty much where the similarities end.
The car in the pilot, which also did the jump in the titles only lasted a couple of shows it was trashed doing a jump fixed up and repainted as a demo derby car for a later episode then left to rot before being rescued by a Dukes fan. From the second series a '68 Hemi (with round tail lights and silver trim) was used as the main close up car this is now in the TV museum collection in New York.
my childhood dreams come true!!! fyi...The actual Gen. Lee in the show was a junker with a roll cage, and all motor.. lol so they say on the " reunion" shows.. " they would have loved to had a real car " ( like the one she was using) .. lol.. loved it, great vid
Brother you have said a mouthful! I was thinking the exact same thing. Personally I take offense to her dressing up like an American girl and Daisy Duke clothes. Also, I'm getting sick and tired of hearing that British accent everytime I turn on something American. Those British folks hate our American muscle cars anyway. Am i right?
guys every body knows that if you are not from america then you're a Clarkson wanna be and if it is built here in the good ole U.S.A. then it is complete rubbish (or what ever they say) never mind they never learned to drive something bigger the a golf cart ( or have roads able to handle anything much bigger then 1) then throw on top of that there best claim to fame (the rovers) had American V-8's (the Buick 215) what else would you expect?
Lots of people that take the pee out of American cars have never driven one. I'm from the UK and have a C3 Corvette and it is a stunning machine. OK it is a bit different to a Charger but it would outperform and, in the right hands, out handle a modern hot hatchback. And the brakes (all stock) are the best I have ever experienced. To drive an American classic takes respect and skill that most people don't have in this country, they just expect to throw cars into corners and let a forgiving chassis and stability control do the rest.
and everybody that know anything about top gear, know that it isnt a show for people that wants car facts, its entertainment. besides jeremy clarkson also gets paid for what he says, dont you think its weird that he hates all american made cars, now, but he own a ford gt, and for about 10 years ago he adored american muscles.. its a show
I'm an American car collector and enthousiast but I don't think any Americans on this video who comment negatively on the given commentary or the driving in the video have a single clue what European cars drive like, so she is comparing them both to that..
djdjerojr Except these cars aren't meant to be turned in a conventional manner. If you actually watch the shows, and how they drive, they rip them around corners at high speeds sideways. You have to slide these cars around the corners.
I like Vicky Bulter-Handerson. And I like this programme. There is also in Italy on Discovery Channel, its name is "Quinta Marcia" (Fifth Gear in Italian). Nice cars...
@Loranzo1990 She's a pro racing driver, first woman to win a Maserati works race, done well in rallies, ice racing, ferrari works racing and 24 hour endurance events and many other types of racing. She even races powerboats. Love to see your racing history.
"...and the brakes are absolutely diabolical." Who needs brakes when of 4 feet of pure American made steel in front of you and a cattle guard? Just push whatever is in front of you out of the way.
They should have tested both cars abilities to drive through convieniently placed piles of boxes down a bay city back alley! Starsky and Hutch couldn't lose!
I remember that the General Lee was a 68 Charger with a 500 ci engine. My mother's 68 charger had a six pack carb. that is why it is almost impossible to find a 68 Charger for any price. The Starsky and Hunch car had a 460 ci engine and was a nightmare to stop.
Get all the tv show vehicles in! Starsky's Ford. General Lee. B.A.'s van. Michael Knight's KITT (which one?). Magnum's Ferarri. Face's Corvette. Ooh. Thats an epic race.
There was a 1st Unit version of the Gen Lee, a close up car that had a 375hp v8 that weighed 3,670lbs. John Schneider's General Lee was one of those 375hp cars
One of the main problems with movie cars like this is that you get whatever is laying around - especially in the UK. A properly optioned 69' Charger actually handles pretty good, and has excellent brakes, and goes like hell. Who knows what that one is setup and optioned with. Ford Torino's, especially with the 351...are just slow. But at least it has disk brakes.
your absolutely right shay- with that large iron 440/383 600lbs. steel big block located in the front of the car-or even iron block 318/360 and that massive 727 trans - and drum brakes- in reality its a toad. BUT the best part of the show was the shaky-super poorly edited next camera shot where it went from almost landing/crashing to driving away, as if it were a perfect landing---------classic! In my mind the General Lee was born to fly!....even if it was a giant iron dart lol
- The "Transformers" Bumblebee Camaro. - The yellow 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1, the original Eleanor, from 1974's "Gone in 60 Seconds" (the original film). - The gray 1967 Shelby GT500, the second Eleanor, from the 2000 "Gone in 60 Seconds" remake. - The 1972 Ford Gran Torino from "Gran Torino (IF it can even get out of Clint Eastwood's backyard). - The RV from 1975's "Race with the Devil." - We all know the "Back to the Future" DeLorean would lose (no offense). That's all the cars that I know.
Wow, my fond memories of these cars from my childhood have been wrecked by this clip... The woman is an expert driver, but even she can't make them look good in the corners.
She's right about the weight and handling, but yeah, neither car was stock on their respective shows. Trivia: in the pilot episode of Dukes Of Hazzard, the Starsky and Hutch (Zebra 3) Torino makes a cameo in the background.
I don't know why some of the comments say that she needs to learn how to drive when she's got a race car license and she's been winning races since she was 12 years old. And she can probably drive faster than any of you could. She's just as fast as Tiff.
1:41 that's because the Duke boys actually knew how to drive it well. for all the hater comments for that, what I mean is that the hostess is used to driving new, lighter cars, not muscle cars like the General. of course it's going to handle differently, it's a big car! and "I'm surprised they didn't get caught more", they were going up against old iron, not new plastic cars. I hate when people compare old iron to new plastic. that's like comparing apples to oranges
I initially didn't know it was a Fifth Gear video until I clicked on the thumbnail and the title appeared. Also, I didn't say I didn't like Fifth Gear. Although Top Gear is notably expensive cars, they can still do practical tests/comparisons for the "normal person".
For the Dukes they kept about 17 complete cars at a time, cannibalising wrecks. Some were built for different stunts. Engines varied from 318 to 440. Not welded. Fibreglass mostly for production costs. They went through a lot of General Robert E. Lee's.
I'm a ford man but the general lee is top dog. I still feel that the red tomato is a granny's car. One thing that always bothered me about the GL was the welded doors, for some reason they left the door handles and key barrel for the door lock (yea this one has them cause it is a road car but watch the show they are still there).
nice. Two of the finest cars in tv/cinema. GodDAMN!! i would love to see Luke and Bo Duke go against Starskey And Hutch in the streets. man that woulda been a hell of a 70's / 80's cop movie!
the general lee used in the show was actually a 318 car (look closely you'll see its a single exhaust car) but the sound from a 440 six pack was dubbed in so that car was stock with 390hp. the 318 was rated at 230 hp and the 440 single 4bbl had 375 hp which the car didnt even pretend to have ...the torino was the 351 windsor rated at 250 hp and was a dog
Yep, there's a big difference between a small block and big block, yet bigger still is there were 2 option engines in the Torino, a 351 Windsor and a 351 Cleveland, same cubic inches, and it ends there, blocks were different and so was the power, the Cleveland preferred higher RPM's making it a true race engine. BTW I've seen her blow Jeremy's top record at the race road course in Germany, even pushed a Ford transit to insane speeds at that same track
I get it.... The Dukes of hazzard might not have aired over there. But Boss Hogg didn't chase Bo and Luke. And the dodge Super Bees had to be banned from nascar because they were too fast! Still though, good video
The Gran Torino is from the period in US history when safety addons made cars heavy (check the 5mph bumbers) and crude emissions controls made them slow. Don't forget, though, that Euro cars sold in the US at the time were even worst. In 1974 US market Ferraris couldn't even match the Ford's 250bhp. That said, for road course use, Ford made the Mustang and Dodge made the Challenger. The Gran Torino and Charger really only worked well on Nascar tracks.
@68bobba I have factory shop manual's for all cars mentioned. So I don't need to double check my info 'mate'. Yes, I am well aware that the factory output for the 460 was only 202 for that year, but it put out quite a bit more torque. That's where the 460's strength is and why is outlasts the 440. The point of my post was that they used the claimed spec's for Dukes, but used a ford factory COPY of the claimed car for Starsky. The car in the show had the souped up 460, THEY used a STOCK 351.
(Continuing...) - The 1958 Plymouth Fury from Stephen King's "Christine." - The 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III from the 1977 horror movie, "The Car." - The "Fast and the Furious" Dodge Charger. - The "Fast and the Furious" Toyota Supra. - The "Vanishing Point" Dodge Challenger. - The "Collier & Company: Hot Pursuit" Dodge Charger (the General Lee with no vinyls). - The "Dirty Mary Crazy Larry" Dodge Charger (Light-green with a black side-stripe). (to be CONCLUDED....)
Why a Dukes of Hazard Starsky & Hutch crossover was never made is beyond me. One idea I thought for a crossover is the Duke boys end up in Bay City to help a family member out of some legal trouble & get into trouble with the law & get in a serious head to head chase with Starsky & Hutch.
Did I say "some?" I meant all the cars we all know. Wait. There's actually only seven more cars: the "Ghostbusters" Cadillac Ambulance, the Dodge M4S Torbo Interceptor from "The Wraith," and the 1974 Dodge Charger from "Wheels of Terror," the "Death Race" Ford Mustang, the yellow Corvette from "The Junkman," the 1969 Pontiac GTO from 2008's "Sex Drive," and finally, the 1991 Dodge Stealth from the 90s "Bandit" films (knock-offs of the original "Smokey and the Bandit"). NOW THAT'S ALL OF THEM!!!
Yes the general lee wins. I love both the 69 charger and the gran Torino. Two of my most favourite muscle cars. Admit idly 69 charger all time favourite. The engine is a beast waiting to be unleaded... Hell yes
I don't know precisely how accurate Forza is in portraying these cars, but I must say, driving like she's doing (keeping it in line like a modern car) would just about double a lap time in a muscle car. I've found (in the game, mind you) that the best way to do it is pitch the bitch into the corner, and then center the wheel while steering with the gas. You can steer to make some attitude corrections, but if you're steering left while turning left, you're almost guaranteed a slow understeer.
She's driving it like a sports car. "steer with the rear" was the old saying. They used to almost back these monsters into a coner in the 60's & then powering out. Almost like a drift
You have to remember the general lee was not a stock car though it had been customized for shine running so it had better suspension and better brakes. Also a finner tuned engine.
This is a completely unfair test for both the General Lee and the Gran Torino. Restore the engines to original engine specs, then race them. To race them in the condition the engines are in now, its not only an insult to both cars, but you can't get accurate times for what the cars would have originally done. Back in the day they were quick machines.
gotta agree with MrDevDay. 426's are hemi's and the 440 is wedge head motor. BUT im pretty sure a 351 windsor is a better motor than the 351 modified..but im a GM guy so im not 100%..
Something the good lady also forgot, is that General Lee in the condition he was portrayed *in the show*, would have been heavily modified with a great deal more suspension upgrades, performance equipment and racing know-how than the probably straight stock, merely-repainted model that she drove in this video. She's commenting on a pale copy, not the real character racecar the General was. Her mistake.
Say what you want the 429 was a better motor for high performance. The 460 was great for pickups needing the torque to pull heavy loads and big tubby cars. Personal choice and to each his own
Whats wrong with liking both cars its because of these two shows, I have the love i do for cars..If I hit the lottery, I'd have probably 25 cars in my garage..just for starters..mopar..fords..chevy's..etc..
I do not know what a Datsun 120Y is , however my 73 Camaro beat my friend's Datsun 280Z in a road race . Props on your sarcastic remark about driving sideways , A real driver knows better than to purposely lose traction because that in turn will cost speed.
The Duke boys didn't get ''caught more often'' because you, madam, ARE NO BO DUKE.
As I look at the comments I see that many Europeans don't quite understand the overall concept of what an American muscle car is all about. I hope this helps.
1. Muscle cars weren't built for track racing (stock that is). They were meant to be cheap so anyone could afford them. To keep costs down, they needed to be simple and were built for hauling ass or mischief on typical roads/ streets.
2. They were extremely modifiable. You could add a few cheap aftermarket parts and have a drag car or a track car, whichever you wanted. Tune this, modify that... the possibilities for adding performance are almost endless.
3. Since they were an "every man's" sports car, they also needed to be practical. You could pile all your friends and their girlfriends in there and go out on the town. Also equipped with a large back seat. Try screwing in a roadster!
4. DRIFTING. Before it was called "drifting" it was called "How you handle a muscle car". With all that torque screaming from those big blocks you could burn rubber while shifting gears flying around corners like crazy.
To sum it up...
To compare a muscle car to a racing inspired two seater is foolish. These sports cars weren't designed for just racing, but for the fun and fulfillment of your average guy with all his needs. That's why we love them, that's why they're so badass.
to sum it up i use the term "smiles per gallon"
yah, but i guess the owner of this car did'nt really want her ragging it...
Now muscle cars are worth hundreds of thousands of dollars in some cases (examples like late 60's Superbirds, Dodge Chargers, & Hemi Cudas can fetch $200K up to half a million dollars at auctions) & getting original parts for them can also be expensive & the rising gas prices make them very expensive to drive on a regular bases. Thats why so many people these days end up driving those 4 cylinder put puts & hybrids. Funny how things turned out for the classic muscle car huh? I love classic muscle cars to but they have become very impractical to own for the avrage Joe these days.
Well General you've done it again
I always have a special memory in my childhood with these iconic cars. Nothing comes close. Forget if they can go round corners or not...drive a replica down the high street and you'll get more looks and attention than any supercar on the road today!! :-)
You are absolutely correct. These cars would be number 1 on my list if Mother Nature rains some cash down on me. They would have to in perfect condition just like these
BOTH ARE BAD ASSES CARS, AND THEY ARE ON MY LIST OF THE TOP TEN TV AND MOVIE CAR LIST.
I am currently working on building a Starsky&Hutch replica car and will have a 460
The General Lee wasn't a HEMI though, most people do assume it was. It was the more readily available 440 6-pack. I thought that the Starsky & Hutch Gran Torino was a 72 with a 460, which would put the horsepower number at something way more comparable to the charger than 250-horse. The 351 Windsor wasn't the race block for the Gran Torino, it was the 351 Cleveland, which was 75 or 80 horse more.
So many sexist comments about a woman driver! For those of you who don't know her, the lady in question is called Viki Butler Henderson and has been racing cars since the age of 12. She holds a racing license and in 20 years of auto journalism has driven just about every high performance car ever made, american and otherwise.
Great video -- loved both shows!!
The cars on TV were far from stock. I have a Torino and am not ashamed to say The General Lee would blow it away. Also, simply put, she "drives like a girl". She knows nothing about putting a car through a turn sideways while still pushing down on the gas pedal. Bo and Luke were running from the crooked cops, not sipping tea and eating crumpets!! LOL Brakes?!! Who wanted brakes when you are getting ready to jump over a ravine???
Butler-Henderson started racing karts at the age of 12, being overtaken by David Coulthard in her first race.[3] She holds a car race licence as well as a power boat racing licence. After supplementing her income as a racing instructor at Silverstone Circuit, she also undertook a dual career in journalism where she worked on numerous British motoring magazines including Auto Express, What Car? and Performance Car. She was the assistant launch editor and mechanic in Max Power magazine,
Couple things that needs to be pointed out.
1: The General Lee was a race car and didn't have a stock engine in the show, the show never did say what kind of engine The General Lee had, but it was hotter than stock.
2: The General Lee spent most of it's days on DIRT or in the air.
3: European cars suck.
i dont know if they said it in the show, but to my knowledge, the real General had a stock 440.
Ram Skirata they never said it in the show what exactly the engine was, you only got one real good look at the engine in season 7 when they tell the story of how the general lee came to be. It certainly wasn't a hemi, but in lore the engine is supposed to be modified for racing; how much is unknown.
ah, ok. thanks :)
Look up the episode "Happy Birthday General Lee", it's a season 7 episode.
Our roads are straight, baby. That's how we roll.
I salute you!
(and im english :D)
A real driver could make the general outrun a Lamborghini
clockwork624 And a really real car fan knows that those numbers are underrated and that the 426 was making closer to 500 HP!!!!! (dyno at 463 in 1965) Side note however I would be interested in seeing a stock 69 Charger with the Hemi take on a stock 69 Lamborghini Espada or maybe an E-Type Jag.
The Datsun 120Y was a really economical and cheap for the time, and was insanely popular during the oil crisis. It's a cute little thing, even if it's pretty basic. Comparing a 120Y to a Camaro, Charger, or any 60s-70s muscle car is like comparing a quadbike to a limousine. Both have 4 wheels and an engine, and that's pretty much where the similarities end.
Everyone knows that American muscle cars don't go around corners very well. Would have been better to do a drag race.
That car drifted through its career, guess she was to scared to try it on pavement.
The car in the pilot, which also did the jump in the titles only lasted a couple of shows it was trashed doing a jump fixed up and repainted as a demo derby car for a later episode then left to rot before being rescued by a Dukes fan. From the second series a '68 Hemi (with round tail lights and silver trim) was used as the main close up car this is now in the TV museum collection in New York.
laps would have been faster if a guy was driving
I KNOW WHY WAS A DAM WOMEN DRIVING,SO STUPID.
my childhood dreams come true!!! fyi...The actual Gen. Lee in the show was a junker with a roll cage, and all motor.. lol so they say on the " reunion" shows.. " they would have loved to had a real car " ( like the one she was using) .. lol.. loved it, great vid
i dont think a british lady is best to be driving american muscle cars at there fullest.
Brother you have said a mouthful! I was thinking the exact same thing. Personally I take offense to her dressing up like an American girl and Daisy Duke clothes. Also, I'm getting sick and tired of hearing that British accent everytime I turn on something American. Those British folks hate our American muscle cars anyway. Am i right?
Tanner Westmore They deeply anti-American, all of them.
Very Nice. Loved both of those cars!
She cant drive
When VBH drives a car, you can be assured that she gives it everything it has, and then some. Probably one of the best drivers out there.
guys every body knows that if you are not from america then you're a Clarkson wanna be and if it is built here in the good ole U.S.A. then it is complete rubbish (or what ever they say) never mind they never learned to drive something bigger the a golf cart ( or have roads able to handle anything much bigger then 1) then throw on top of that there best claim to fame (the rovers) had American V-8's (the Buick 215) what else would you expect?
Lots of people that take the pee out of American cars have never driven one. I'm from the UK and have a C3 Corvette and it is a stunning machine. OK it is a bit different to a Charger but it would outperform and, in the right hands, out handle a modern hot hatchback. And the brakes (all stock) are the best I have ever experienced.
To drive an American classic takes respect and skill that most people don't have in this country, they just expect to throw cars into corners and let a forgiving chassis and stability control do the rest.
very well said O2
and everybody that know anything about top gear, know that it isnt a show for people that wants car facts, its entertainment. besides jeremy clarkson also gets paid for what he says, dont you think its weird that he hates all american made cars, now, but he own a ford gt, and for about 10 years ago he adored american muscles.. its a show
Awesome. And Vicki looks naughtier than ever with the cute pigtails!
1:50 "what was boss hog drivin?" It wasn't him chasing them!!
Vicki can definitely drive, she holds a race license and used to Kart race with David Coulthard.
I think the best part about this, is that this competition already took place in the Music video for the song One Week by the Barenaked Ladies. lol
I'm an American car collector and enthousiast but I don't think any Americans on this video who comment negatively on the given commentary or the driving in the video have a single clue what European cars drive like, so she is comparing them both to that..
She's comparing cars from the time this video was shot to cars that were built 40+ years ago. Of course there's no comparison.
Tony Fair
Come on man lol, they were shit then and shit now in terms of handling.
Tony Fair
If you don't have anything nice to say, then shut up.
djdjerojr Except these cars aren't meant to be turned in a conventional manner.
If you actually watch the shows, and how they drive, they rip them around corners at high speeds sideways. You have to slide these cars around the corners.
Robert Tilley
Not sure what I said to ruffle your feathers.
What an excellent point, MrTomohawk. I've never really considered that.
To be fair, the S&H car was meant for city driving. The General Lee was customized for them country roads, high-speed jumps and "hot per-soot!"
I like Vicky Bulter-Handerson. And I like this programme. There is also in Italy on Discovery Channel, its name is "Quinta Marcia" (Fifth Gear in Italian). Nice cars...
Don't talk about the General Lee like that that car is fast as heck
@Loranzo1990 She's a pro racing driver, first woman to win a Maserati works race, done well in rallies, ice racing, ferrari works racing and 24 hour endurance events and many other types of racing. She even races powerboats.
Love to see your racing history.
"...and the brakes are absolutely diabolical."
Who needs brakes when of 4 feet of pure American made steel in front of you and a cattle guard? Just push whatever is in front of you out of the way.
Yeah, I guess that won't work against a cliff.
I was a Duke fan! Back in the day though Smokey and the Bandit did it for me with the Trans Am Firebird and the Big Rig. Lol.
69 Charger v 74 Ford Torino is no match.
They should have tested both cars abilities to drive through convieniently placed piles of boxes down a bay city back alley! Starsky and Hutch couldn't lose!
Well if you're well organized & prepared you wont have any regrets later on if still somethin went outta bounds. Appreciate your attitude!
I remember that the General Lee was a 68 Charger with a 500 ci engine. My mother's 68 charger had a six pack carb. that is why it is almost impossible to find a 68 Charger for any price. The Starsky and Hunch car had a 460 ci engine and was a nightmare to stop.
(Walon Jennings voice)
" Now the boys knew they'd outrun that ol Ford but they played along and raced it anyways"
lol
Get all the tv show vehicles in! Starsky's Ford. General Lee. B.A.'s van. Michael Knight's KITT (which one?). Magnum's Ferarri. Face's Corvette. Ooh. Thats an epic race.
"Turn in... No, you turn in and the steering is optional quite frankly." LOL
There was a 1st Unit version of the Gen Lee, a close up car that had a 375hp v8 that weighed 3,670lbs.
John Schneider's General Lee was one of those 375hp cars
You said it! And she took the trouble to dress up as Daisy Duke just for us - you gotta love her...
One of the main problems with movie cars like this is that you get whatever is laying around - especially in the UK. A properly optioned 69' Charger actually handles pretty good, and has excellent brakes, and goes like hell. Who knows what that one is setup and optioned with.
Ford Torino's, especially with the 351...are just slow. But at least it has disk brakes.
your absolutely right shay- with that large iron 440/383 600lbs. steel big block located in the front of the car-or even iron block 318/360 and that massive 727 trans - and drum brakes- in reality its a toad. BUT the best part of the show was the shaky-super poorly edited next camera shot where it went from almost landing/crashing to driving away, as if it were a perfect landing---------classic! In my mind the General Lee was born to fly!....even if it was a giant iron dart lol
- The "Transformers" Bumblebee Camaro.
- The yellow 1973 Ford Mustang Mach 1, the original Eleanor, from 1974's "Gone in 60 Seconds" (the original film).
- The gray 1967 Shelby GT500, the second Eleanor, from the 2000 "Gone in 60 Seconds" remake.
- The 1972 Ford Gran Torino from "Gran Torino (IF it can even get out of Clint Eastwood's backyard).
- The RV from 1975's "Race with the Devil."
- We all know the "Back to the Future" DeLorean would lose (no offense).
That's all the cars that I know.
you cant beat the General Lee's awesomeness
i think the general lee vs the bandit would be a better race/ challange of the shows
I believe Hod Rod magazine did that about a year ago. The Bandit was flashier but the General Lee was faster. Testing was done off road.
Wow, my fond memories of these cars from my childhood have been wrecked by this clip... The woman is an expert driver, but even she can't make them look good in the corners.
She's right about the weight and handling, but yeah, neither car was stock on their respective shows. Trivia: in the pilot episode of Dukes Of Hazzard, the Starsky and Hutch (Zebra 3) Torino makes a cameo in the background.
I don't know why some of the comments say that she needs to learn how to drive when she's got a race car license and she's been winning races since she was 12 years old. And she can probably drive faster than any of you could. She's just as fast as Tiff.
che belle che erano e che sono queste macchine!!! le adoro
These cars belong in a museum
1:41 that's because the Duke boys actually knew how to drive it well. for all the hater comments for that, what I mean is that the hostess is used to driving new, lighter cars, not muscle cars like the General. of course it's going to handle differently, it's a big car! and "I'm surprised they didn't get caught more", they were going up against old iron, not new plastic cars. I hate when people compare old iron to new plastic. that's like comparing apples to oranges
I initially didn't know it was a Fifth Gear video until I clicked on the thumbnail and the title appeared. Also, I didn't say I didn't like Fifth Gear. Although Top Gear is notably expensive cars, they can still do practical tests/comparisons for the "normal person".
For the Dukes they kept about 17 complete cars at a time, cannibalising wrecks. Some were built for different stunts. Engines varied from 318 to 440. Not welded. Fibreglass mostly for production costs. They went through a lot of General Robert E. Lee's.
He}a, Thanks For Helpinl. flagrant coast What's your opinion about thiv 1!
I'm British and love American cars, Cant wait to own one =D
I'm a ford man but the general lee is top dog. I still feel that the red tomato is a granny's car. One thing that always bothered me about the GL was the welded doors, for some reason they left the door handles and key barrel for the door lock (yea this one has them cause it is a road car but watch the show they are still there).
nice. Two of the finest cars in tv/cinema.
GodDAMN!! i would love to see Luke and Bo Duke go against Starskey And Hutch in the streets. man that woulda been a hell of a 70's / 80's cop movie!
General Lee will never let a driver down it's a car with
the general lee used in the show was actually a 318 car (look closely you'll see its a single exhaust car) but the sound from a 440 six pack was dubbed in so that car was stock with 390hp. the 318 was rated at 230 hp and the 440 single 4bbl had 375 hp which the car didnt even pretend to have ...the torino was the 351 windsor rated at 250 hp and was a dog
Ya your right and I've seen her drive a Renault Clio special edition on a mountain road, she's real fast! Many people dont know her!
Yep, there's a big difference between a small block and big block, yet bigger still is there were 2 option engines in the Torino, a 351 Windsor and a 351 Cleveland, same cubic inches, and it ends there, blocks were different and so was the power, the Cleveland preferred higher RPM's making it a true race engine. BTW I've seen her blow Jeremy's top record at the race road course in Germany, even pushed a Ford transit to insane speeds at that same track
The 7.2ltr had 425 bhp and she doesn't know to drive it! Shes expecting it like a sports car
I get it.... The Dukes of hazzard might not have aired over there. But Boss Hogg didn't chase Bo and Luke. And the dodge Super Bees had to be banned from nascar because they were too fast! Still though, good video
At least this show used the General Lee when they were able to get away with it.
The Gran Torino is from the period in US history when safety addons made cars heavy (check the 5mph bumbers) and crude emissions controls made them slow. Don't forget, though, that Euro cars sold in the US at the time were even worst. In 1974 US market Ferraris couldn't even match the Ford's 250bhp. That said, for road course use, Ford made the Mustang and Dodge made the Challenger. The Gran Torino and Charger really only worked well on Nascar tracks.
@68bobba I have factory shop manual's for all cars mentioned. So I don't need to double check my info 'mate'. Yes, I am well aware that the factory output for the 460 was only 202 for that year, but it put out quite a bit more torque. That's where the 460's strength is and why is outlasts the 440. The point of my post was that they used the claimed spec's for Dukes, but used a ford factory COPY of the claimed car for Starsky. The car in the show had the souped up 460, THEY used a STOCK 351.
the duke boys just knew how to drive a muscle car its a skilled art
(Continuing...)
- The 1958 Plymouth Fury from Stephen King's "Christine."
- The 1971 Lincoln Continental Mark III from the 1977 horror movie, "The Car."
- The "Fast and the Furious" Dodge Charger.
- The "Fast and the Furious" Toyota Supra.
- The "Vanishing Point" Dodge Challenger.
- The "Collier & Company: Hot Pursuit" Dodge Charger (the General Lee with no vinyls).
- The "Dirty Mary Crazy Larry" Dodge Charger (Light-green with a black side-stripe).
(to be CONCLUDED....)
Why a Dukes of Hazard Starsky & Hutch crossover was never made is beyond me. One idea I thought for a crossover is the Duke boys end up in Bay City to help a family member out of some legal trouble & get into trouble with the law & get in a serious head to head chase with Starsky & Hutch.
1:14 That's gross horsepower, not net, so in reality it's quite a lot lower.
Due to the rollcage placed in the General its doors had to be welded shut, for it to participate in Hazzard Count races.
Did I say "some?" I meant all the cars we all know. Wait. There's actually only seven more cars: the "Ghostbusters" Cadillac Ambulance, the Dodge M4S Torbo Interceptor from "The Wraith," and the 1974 Dodge Charger from "Wheels of Terror," the "Death Race" Ford Mustang, the yellow Corvette from "The Junkman," the 1969 Pontiac GTO from 2008's "Sex Drive," and finally, the 1991 Dodge Stealth from the 90s "Bandit" films (knock-offs of the original "Smokey and the Bandit"). NOW THAT'S ALL OF THEM!!!
I love the General Lee
Yes the general lee wins. I love both the 69 charger and the gran Torino. Two of my most favourite muscle cars. Admit idly 69 charger all time favourite. The engine is a beast waiting to be unleaded... Hell yes
I don't know precisely how accurate Forza is in portraying these cars, but I must say, driving like she's doing (keeping it in line like a modern car) would just about double a lap time in a muscle car. I've found (in the game, mind you) that the best way to do it is pitch the bitch into the corner, and then center the wheel while steering with the gas. You can steer to make some attitude corrections, but if you're steering left while turning left, you're almost guaranteed a slow understeer.
The Trans Am from the Smokey and the bandit movie would smoke those cars!
does anyone know the name of the song playing in the backround?
Does anyone know what the song is at 1:25 please. And general lee all the way yeehaw.
She called the General Lee a mule? She's the mule.
She's driving it like a sports car. "steer with the rear" was the old saying. They used to almost back these monsters into a coner in the 60's & then powering out. Almost like a drift
You have to remember the general lee was not a stock car though it had been customized for shine running so it had better suspension and better brakes. Also a finner tuned engine.
it also isn't a complete general lee, she said rated at 375hp, that was the smaller engine. the general ran a 440hemi which pegged an additional 50hp
The General Lee didn't have the stock motor either. They put a built motor in it, in their barn.
I sat in this General Lee last year and done the Dixie Horn in Bristol. :-D :-D
This is a completely unfair test for both the General Lee and the Gran Torino. Restore the engines to original engine specs, then race them. To race them in the condition the engines are in now, its not only an insult to both cars, but you can't get accurate times for what the cars would have originally done. Back in the day they were quick machines.
To bad they didn't use the car from the Starsky and Hutch movie. Roush powered...
gotta agree with MrDevDay. 426's are hemi's and the 440 is wedge head motor. BUT im pretty sure a 351 windsor is a better motor than the 351 modified..but im a GM guy so im not 100%..
Something the good lady also forgot, is that General Lee in the condition he was portrayed *in the show*, would have been heavily modified with a great deal more suspension upgrades, performance equipment and racing know-how than the probably straight stock, merely-repainted model that she drove in this video. She's commenting on a pale copy, not the real character racecar the General was. Her mistake.
Say what you want the 429 was a better motor for high performance. The 460 was great for pickups needing the torque to pull heavy loads and big tubby cars. Personal choice and to each his own
429 was a boat anchor!
Whats wrong with liking both cars
its because of these two shows, I have the love i do for cars..If I hit the lottery, I'd have probably 25 cars in my garage..just for starters..mopar..fords..chevy's..etc..
Love your outfit, Vicky "Duke" Henderson! :-)
I do not know what a Datsun 120Y is , however my 73 Camaro beat my friend's Datsun 280Z in a road race . Props on your sarcastic remark about driving sideways , A real driver knows better than to purposely lose traction because that in turn will cost speed.
@g00gleb0t and what was your name and was the name of the events you won?
does anyone know what song they play when she drives the Charger?
This comparison should be inconclusive. The General Lee was almost always driven on dirt.
this is propably the first person to not drift through corners in these cars