Welding doors street legal

Is it legal to "Dukes of Hazard" the doors on a car?

I believe that it is, as there are many kit cars that have no doors what so ever.

Manx's Predators and the like

Vehicle laws are determined by each of the states. In the Great State of Texas there is a defined list of items that are required for a vehicle to be registered, licensed, and driven on public roads. Doors are not even required and neither is a windshield though wipers are mandatory. I am not familiar with a law in Kentucky that requires doors or restricts their use.

An exception to this is that most states do have blanket laws that restrict vehicles from being operated in an "unsafe condition." An example of this is that you cant drive with doors that will not close and fly open. Its up to you to interpret that in a way that you see fit...and to suffer the consequences positive or negative.

I'd be scared to do it. In the event of a crash how much time might they lose getting your battered body out of the car while they keep trying to get the door open. And that doesn't even take in to consideration getting your broken body out of the small window space or getting emergency people into you.

thats what the jaws of life are for.... anything for a little better performance! ha!

Ojala wrote: Vehicle laws are determined by each of the states. In the Great State of Texas there is a defined list of items that are required for a vehicle to be registered, licensed, and driven on public roads. Doors are not even required and neither is a windshield though wipers are mandatory. I am not familiar with a law in Kentucky that requires doors or restricts their use. An exception to this is that most states do have blanket laws that restrict vehicles from being operated in an "unsafe condition." An example of this is that you cant drive with doors that will not close and fly open. Its up to you to interpret that in a way that you see fit...and to suffer the consequences positive or negative.

Same with Georgia, I believe working headlights, turn signals, tail lights, brake lights, seatbelts and wipers are the only requirement. Oh that and being able to pass smog in the covered counties around Atlanta. Beyond that, ingress and egress is at the owner's discression...

carguy123 wrote: I'd be scared to do it. In the event of a crash how much time might they lose getting your battered body out of the car while they keep trying to get the door open. And that doesn't even take in to consideration getting your broken body out of the small window space or getting emergency people into you.

After a crash, I wouldn't bank on the stock doors to be operable.

I'd be more worried about scratches on the hood from the rivets of your Levis. Because the only proper way to warm up for stuffing yourself into the car through the window is to slide across the hood. And Uncle Jesse used to amaze me by actually getting in and out of the back seat in the General.

Perhaps I've said too much.

I was watching the Dukes of Hazard Season 1 and so I was just kinda wondering. I don't really have any plans to do this.

Keith wrote: And Uncle Jesse used to amaze me by actually getting in and out of the back seat in the General.

Did you ever actually SEE Uncle Jesse getting in or out of the General Lee? I think I remember ONE time, and they made a big comedy act around it because he was stuffed in head first with his feet hanging out in the air.

I wasn't allowed to watch The Dukes of Hazard CHiPS was okay, though, but I suspect the reason for that was my father owned a Cooper S.

ZOO wrote: I wasn't allowed to watch The Dukes of Hazard CHiPS was okay, though, but I suspect the reason for that was my father owned a Cooper S.

Huh?

How long has CHiPs been an acronym for "Coopers Have Imperishable Provincial Status"?

Daisy-dukes fans (who sometimes appreciate spandexed women) are inquiring.

oldsaw wrote:

ZOO wrote: I wasn't allowed to watch The Dukes of Hazard CHiPS was okay, though, but I suspect the reason for that was my father owned a Cooper S.

Huh? How long has CHiPs been an acronym for "Coopers Have Imperishable Provincial Status"? Daisy-dukes fans (who sometimes appreciate spandexed women) are inquiring.

I'll see your "huh" and raise you an "eh"? Jon Baker, partner to Ponch in CHiPs had a white Cooper S with black roof in the first few seasons.

modernbeat wrote:

Keith wrote: And Uncle Jesse used to amaze me by actually getting in and out of the back seat in the General.

Did you ever actually SEE Uncle Jesse getting in or out of the General Lee? I think I remember ONE time, and they made a big comedy act around it because he was stuffed in head first with his feet hanging out in the air.

I do remember it happening, and not as a comedy bit. But it's been a while. Some research is obviously in order.

The General Lee clearly still has door gaps and door handles. Nobody has a gun to your head saying you have to open the doors to get in. Try it out for a few weeks crawling in through the window. Probably had to open the doors for Uncle Jesse to get in the back.

The story line has the boys welding the doors shut "for safety" right after they bought it.

If you do follow SkinnyG's recommendation, remove the door lock nobs from the tops of the doors, or at least make sure they're flush. Tom Wopat tells a story about his ass getting ripped out by The General's still present door locks, until he unscrewed and tossed them.

Of course, there were a lot of General Lees.

With the windows down on my neon coupe we could go dukes style

ZOO wrote:

oldsaw wrote:

ZOO wrote: I wasn't allowed to watch The Dukes of Hazard CHiPS was okay, though, but I suspect the reason for that was my father owned a Cooper S.

Huh? How long has CHiPs been an acronym for "Coopers Have Imperishable Provincial Status"? Daisy-dukes fans (who sometimes appreciate spandexed women) are inquiring.

I'll see your "huh" and raise you an "eh"? Jon Baker, partner to Ponch in CHiPs had a white Cooper S with black roof in the first few seasons.

Yellow RHD Mk1 with Cooper-esque stripes and a pop up sunroof.

ZOO wrote:

oldsaw wrote:

ZOO wrote: I wasn't allowed to watch The Dukes of Hazard CHiPS was okay, though, but I suspect the reason for that was my father owned a Cooper S.

Huh? How long has CHiPs been an acronym for "Coopers Have Imperishable Provincial Status"? Daisy-dukes fans (who sometimes appreciate spandexed women) are inquiring.

I'll see your "huh" and raise you an "eh"? Jon Baker, partner to Ponch in CHiPs had a white Cooper S with black roof in the first few seasons.

Thanks for the info.

Admittedly, I paid little attention to either series. Given the opportunity, Daisy's legs always took precedence.

ZOO wrote: I wasn't allowed to watch The Dukes of Hazard CHiPS was okay, though, but I suspect the reason for that was my father owned a Cooper S.

You weren't allowed? Why?

In reply to JeepinMatt:

I suspect my father didn't find the level of intellectual discourse between Boss Hogg, Roscoe, and the other characters to meet his demanding standards. Fortunately my friends were allowed to watch it, so it was a highlight of any pre-teen sleepover.

Being British by birth in my adolescent and teenage years my view of America was formed watching the Dukes of Hazard, Cagney and Lacey and later Miami Vice. I can tell you Daisy Duke shorts left a very strong and long lasting impression on me :)

My kids weren't allowed to watch wrestling (WWF at the time), and the neighbour kid wasn't allowed to watch the Simpsons. I didn't say anything when I saw him looking in the window to see what the fuss was about.

This is about to spawn off a "what my parents didn't let me do " thread