# Dukes of Hazzard's General Lee -- Nitrous Oxide? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [August 1, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360 "2003-08-01T14:12:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SweetP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@SweetP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetP)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/1 "2003-08-01T14:12:54Z")
Please help me settle this bet. I vaguely remember that the General Lee had a switch in its interior that gave it a boost. I’m talking about a physical switch that Bo and Luke used on camera on the show (not the stunt General Lee, which probably had lots of gadgets that made it do tv stunts). My friend suggests that Bo and Luke never used anything but the accelerator to propel the General Lee. Who is right? ---
**Author:** ![Amp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Amp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amp)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/2 "2003-08-01T14:15:50Z")
I remember the switch also. ---
**Author:** ![SweetP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@SweetP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetP)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/3 "2003-08-01T14:21:04Z")
This sounds ridiculous, but … do you know where I might find tangible evidence? You know, maybe an episode summary that describes them using the switch? ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/4 "2003-08-01T14:34:01Z")
Roscoe drove a nitrous-equipped police car used for racing in one episode. I doubt the boys were ever shown operating anything other than the accelerator in the General but I think a switch may have been used in a rare occasion when both weren’t in the General. ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/5 "2003-08-01T14:50:36Z")
I seem to recall at least one of the boys taking over Roscoe’s nitrous police car. Perhaps that’s what you’re thinking of? ---
**Author:** ![SweetP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@SweetP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetP)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/6 "2003-08-01T15:02:05Z")
I’m specifically thinking of a switch in the General Lee. Don’t tell me that I have to admit I was wrong! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Skywatcher](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/skywatcher/32/254_2.png) [@Skywatcher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skywatcher)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/7 "2003-08-01T15:15:11Z")
Well, I found [an episode guide](http://epguides.com/DukesofHazzard/guide.shtml) and the only time it mentions nitrous is in that police car. ---
**Author:** ![SweetP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@SweetP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetP)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/8 "2003-08-01T15:19:05Z")
Yeah, I found the same in my internet search. That’s why I came to this message board. I was hoping there would be snopes (with better memories and internet skills) who could settle the bet. Thanks, Jeff. P. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/9 "2003-08-01T16:04:21Z")
Nitrous was used, but not the General Lee. I vaguely recall one episode featuring a female racer who had NO installed in her car. Good ol’ boys cheating with NO? Say it ain’t so! ---
**Author:** ![SweetP](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9fc348/32.png) [@SweetP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SweetP)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/10 "2003-08-01T16:35:29Z")
Okay … I’ll give you that cheating and the Duke boys don’t go hand in hand. But, do you remember the General Lee having a switch, even if it wasn’t used for NO? Or, am I thinking about Knight Rider or another show? ---
**Author:** ![E-Sabbath](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/e19adc/32.png) [@E-Sabbath](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/E-Sabbath)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/11 "2003-08-01T20:06:53Z")
Ah! Knight Rider with Pursuit Mode or Turbo Pursuit Mode. Used that every episode. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Griffin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@The\_Griffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Griffin)\ **Post date:** [August 1, 2003, 8:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/12 "2003-08-01T20:26:34Z")
Maybe it was a moonshine switch? ---
**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/13 "2003-08-02T00:34:47Z")
Interesting tidbit: as far as there being a “stunt General Lee,” there were hundreds. [http://money.cnn.com/2003/05/14/pf/autos/hazzard/](http://money.cnn.com/2003/05/14/pf/autos/hazzard/) FISH ---
**Author:** ![SirRay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/cc9497/32.png) [@SirRay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SirRay)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/14 "2003-08-02T02:04:13Z")
What you probably are thinking of is a scene from the new ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ movie (NOT the 2 made for TV reunion ones) starring [Britney Spears](http://www.ananova.com/entertainment/story/sm_804857.html) as Daisy. I can easily see your confusion 😛 ---
**Author:** ![TeaRoses](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c37758/32.png) [@TeaRoses](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TeaRoses)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/15 "2003-08-02T02:14:45Z")
> [@](#): > > Britney Spears as Daisy Clearly, it’s time for another “signs of coming apocalypse” thread. ---
**Author:** ![mrunlucky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7993a0/32.png) [@mrunlucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mrunlucky)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/16 "2003-08-02T03:33:13Z")
The switch was to unlock the doors so they didn’t have to keep sliding in and out through the windows. ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/17 "2003-08-02T03:50:56Z")
IMO…Gen. Lee WAS a Dodge/Chrysler/Plymouth product! I’m not sure exactly which, but it, most likely, had a **HEMI.** Who needs some magic switch when you have a hemi? ---
**Author:** ![Rick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/9f8e36/32.png) [@Rick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/18 "2003-08-02T04:02:16Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Fish \* > \*\*Interesting tidbit: as far as there being a “stunt General Lee,” there were hundreds. > > [http://money.cnn.com/2003/05/14/pf/autos/hazzard/](http://money.cnn.com/2003/05/14/pf/autos/hazzard/) > > FISH \*\* Back when the series was being filmed, there was a closed gas station in Burbank where the lot was filled with old Dodge Chargers all 1969 models. Guess what they were being prepped for? ---
**Author:** ![if6was9](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/e47c2d/32.png) [@if6was9](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/if6was9)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 4:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/19 "2003-08-02T04:20:04Z")
LOL!!! (Not really!!!) As **Rick** clarified, and as I suspected but was not sure… There were a LOT of '69 Chargers DESTROYED in the making of “Duke’s.” A TRAGEDY, if you ask me! All those beautiful muscle cars, totalled, in filming. What a waste of legendary vehicles! ---
**Author:** ![D.E.S.K.Top668](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/f07891/32.png) [@D.E.S.K.Top668](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D.E.S.K.Top668)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2003, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360/20 "2003-08-02T14:34:35Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by TeaRoses \* > \*\*Clearly, it’s time for another “signs of coming apocalypse” thread. \*\* I’ll agree with you, but I think that the sign is a Dukes of Hazzard movie, not just Britney as Daisy. **if6was9** , IIRC, the primary General Lees (the ones used for PR photos, on screen close-ups, etc.) were all 440 equipped. If any 426 Hemi chargers were ever harmed, they MUST pay. As for the OP, I don’t recall any of the Duke boys using NoS in any of their cars. Hell, the 'shine Uncle Jesse made probably gave them more horses then Nitrous could. Besides, where in Hazzard County could they find somebody to spell NoS, let alone fill a tank of the stuff? Peace-DESK [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/dukes-of-hazzards-general-lee-nitrous-oxide/192360.md?page=2)