WWGRMD: modern-day Dukes Of Hazzard

If you had to build a GRM version of a General Lee (so not a semi-rare 70's muscle car nor a $40,000+ modern muscle car) how would you do it?

You gotta be able to take dirt roads at 60mph, smash some hay bales and powerslide (drift?) past a gaggle of chickens.

Maybe not stick a 100' jump over a ravine but you know, do General Lee type stuff.

Myself, I'm thinking SN95 GT as a base. It's certainly got a hint of redneck about it. Then what kind of suspension? What else? Skid plate? Welded diff?

(I'm exhausted so this might be a stupid thread, don't be afraid to tell me!)

Mid eighties Monte Carlo? I'd want two doors, bigger than a mustang, RWD and V8. Lincoln mark 8 maybe?

And yeah, weld the diff.

The Dukes are based off the B-movie MoonRunners about a moonshining family.

In the 1975 Movie they drive a '55 Chevy Stock car. This is the stereotype of moonshine and racing.

In the 1979 TV series that car becomes a '69 Mopar with numbers on the side. Seems like a stock car.

In my 2017 version of the story, I'd probably go with a Gen1 WRX in stage rally garb or generally a Ken Block look to it.
If still set in the south, the other brother would have to have some sort of Brodozzer.
Modern Daisy can stay in a Jeep but these days it is more likely to be a heavily lifted 4dr version.

Has to be RWD. Has to be two doors. That leaves pony cars and a few full size cars.

From GM I'm going with a caprice. But any of the 2door B-bodys would work.

Lot's of cheap suspension upgrades form circle track racing. Cheap power available. A natural fit really.

From Ford I would either go with a or the ultra rare

If it's going to be a mopar it has to be a charger. Maybe a little later one though. I think those are still cheapish.

Oh, and a Miata

Ideal: Blobeye WRX on Forester struts with skid plates, hydraulic handbrake.

Most redneck: Hacked up C4 on super swampers, skid plates, exocage, lift, welded diff, hydro E.

Sorry to be Captain Obvious here, but the TV show debuted using a 10 year old (at the time) Dodge muscle car.

Would you not start now with a nearly 10 year old Dodge muscle car? '08 was the first year for the 2 door to return (Challenger), so I'd start there.

See what you can find under Dawsonville's MoonShine Festivel a Yearly Event Lots of restored Runner cars for Inspiration.

Fox body Mustang seems appropriate.

The idea with moonshiners is to be inconspicuous, but fast and able to outrun the fuzz. Subaru wagon of whatever flavor with an ej seems to fit the bill.

Easy. Slightly lowered RWD GMT400 with patina, steelies, and enough suspension work to make it handle.

This, but not quite as low.

mndsm wrote: The idea with moonshiners is to be inconspicuous, but fast and able to outrun the fuzz. Subaru wagon of whatever flavor with an ej seems to fit the bill.

So... not a bright orange car with "01" on the sides and a flag on the roof? There's "realistic" and then there's "TV".

I agree - either a new Challenger or a beat-up 4x4 truck which seems to be what current "real" moonshiners drive (vaguely remembering a short-lived show on History Channel or something).

John Welsh wrote: The Dukes are based off the B-movie MoonRunners about a moonshining family. In the 1975 Movie they drive a '55 Chevy Stock car. This is the stereotype of moonshine and racing.

In "Moonrunners", they used the '55 race car "Traveller" (named after Robert E. Lee's favorite horse) as, well, a race car on a dirt track. The transport cars were assorted plain-looking sedans.

Traveller:

Edit: Here are the opening credits for MOONRUNNERS. Skip to about 0:40.

Waylon Jennings: "The next time you see moon out, ain't everybody asleep. Some folks are working."

I'm thinking a mid '90s Toyota pickup.

Either that or a Chevy Cavalier. As they're ridiculously cheap and expendable, and have a fairly rugged suspension, I've heard a lot of tales of them getting used for various aerial shenanigans in real life.

Ford Raptor, Done.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/qZO4Oq6YaDU

Am I really the first to mention P71? It does all that stuff on a regular basis.

Another vote for WRX.

NEALSMO wrote: Am I really the first to mention P71? It does all that stuff on a regular basis.

That's been my thought the whole time but everyone keeps stressing 2 doors.

A modified p71, like say ls swapped, would fit the bill perfectly I'd think. Jump, slide, vroom, it would just do everything perfectly.

Use what modern day drug runners of the USA. A WS6 TA. I'm super serious. In southern Illinois that was THE car to outrun the cops.

In reply to MadScientistMatt:

I was thinking smaller pickup as well. Maybe a V8 Rally Ranger?

MadScientistMatt wrote: I'm thinking a mid '90s Toyota pickup. Either that or a Chevy Cavalier. As they're ridiculously cheap and expendable, and have a fairly rugged suspension, I've heard a lot of tales of them getting used for various aerial shenanigans in real life.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/l7pGw0b8bco?ecver=2

As evidenced by Ryan Symancek going for distance.

ebonyandivory wrote: Myself, I'm thinking SN97 GT as a base.

Not sure if you meant SN95 or S197, but I've always thought the S197 Mustang would look great slightly lifted on meaty A/T tires...And it certainly fits the '10 year old muscle car' description. So that's the direction I'd probably lean if going more 'traditional' with it.

If going for a modern 'reinvention' of the concept though, I agree on some form of turbo Subaru.

NEALSMO wrote: Am I really the first to mention P71? It does all that stuff on a regular basis.

Too identifiable as a police car. You don't want the hero car to look like the ones chasing it. That goes for the modern Charger, too, for that matter.

I like the Fox body Mustang idea. Old enough to be cool, but still plentiful, cheap, and infinitely modifiable.

In reply to Driven5:

Ooops! Gonna go edit that, thanks! I meant SN95 (4th Gen).

Nick (Bo) Comstock wrote: Has to be RWD. Has to be two doors.

Does the number of doors matter when they're welded shut?

In reply to Duke:

Yes, it's a style​ thing.