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1974 Dodge Monaco
Dukes of Hazzard Police Car


by Dave Nicholson, aka DetourDave
Staff Reviewer


“Just two good old boys, never meaning no harm. Beats all you ever saw, been in trouble with the law since the day they was born.” If you know the rest of the words to this Waylon Jennings jingle like a pair of old shoes, or ever dreamed of tearing down a dirt road in a bright orange 69 Dodge while being chased by the law, then sure as shootin’, you must’ve been a fan of the exceedingly popular television series, The Dukes of Hazzard, which followed the adventures of two former moonshining cousins, Bo and Luke Duke, and their souped-up orange 69 Charger known as the General Lee, with big black “01” numbers on the doors and a Confederate battle flag on the roof.

Like a hound dog chasin’ his tail, sitting down on a Friday night to watch the Duke boys put a flaw in Boss Hogg’s slaw was an instinctive behavior for millions of Americans, one that lasted for seven years from 1979 to 1985. Right from the start, when Bo and Luke swiped a truckload of slot machines, it was evident that the Dukes and trouble went together like cornbread and buttermilk. More often than not, trouble came looking for them, thanks largely to the always scheming Boss Hogg and his bumbling right hand man in blue, Hazzard County’s own Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane, who had an easier time catching heck from Boss than cuff’n and stuff’n those pesky Dukes.

Week in and week out, The Dukes of Hazzard featured some classic chase scenes in which Bo and Luke were regularly seen kicking up dirt (and catching some serious air) in the General Lee with Rosco and his dipstick deputies in hot pursuit. Time and again, Hazzard County’s Patrol cars wound up in ditches, lakes, trees, or rolled over in a crumpled heap while the Dukes got away, sometimes with the help of their good friend Cooter, cousin Daisy or Uncle Jesse, the family patriarch. It was one of the most entertaining shows of its time and as a child of the late 70’s and early 80’s, it made a lasting impression. Lord knows I exited my Dad’s car a few times without opening the doors and I once got a good scolding for attempting to hood slide like Luke Duke.

You can imagine my enthusiasm when RC2 released a 1/18-scale diecast replica of the General Lee back in 2000. The model didn’t feature realistic hood hinges, working suspension, or a host of other items common on today’s higher end replicas, but this model wasn’t about high detail or absolute authenticity. Its purpose was to capture the overall look and feel of a truly iconic car and it did that perfectly. Looking at the model now, I can hear Bo Duke shouting “Yeeeee-Haaaaa” as the General Lee flies through the air with the Dixie horn blaring. To date, RC2 has produced close to 20 different versions of its 1/18-scale General Lee, in various paint schemes and finishes, and it’s currently one of their best selling models of the year.

It should come as no surprise then that RC2 recently decided to expand their Dukes of Hazzard lineup, turning their attention to what is arguably the next most significant car star of the show, the Hazzard County Police car. As ‘ole Rosco himself would say, “good news, good news”. And if you happen to be a Dukes fan like me, then it is good news. Based on the 1974 Dodge Monaco mold that RC2 used for their popular 1/18-scale Bluesmobile, this latest model is instantly recognizable as a Hazzard County Sheriff’s Department Police car. Painted in a Plain-Jane coat of white paint, the model is decorated with accurate County Sheriff star logos and Hazzard County tampos on each of the front doors. A Sheriff tampo is centered between the rear taillights and a pair of “stars and bars” decals fill the front and rear license plate frames.

Part of RC2’s Joyride series, the Hazzard County Police car includes a nicely scaled antenna and a drivers-side spotlight in addition to a set of black steel wheels with chrome plated hubcaps. The model also features an opening hood and trunk and four opening doors. Like RC2’s General Lee, the Hazzard County Police car wasn’t assembled with a great amount of detail, but what’s there looks good. Under the hood you’ll find what I felt was a decent rendition of the Dodge’s V8 Police engine, complete with plug wires, hoses, and a pair of blue painted valve covers, together with an assortment of highlighted fluid reservoirs. The interior, trunk and chassis of the Hazzard County Police car are more or less as plain as the exterior, with the parchment colored interior featuring a detailed instrument panel and a tunnel mounted police radio.

The biggest flaw with RC2’s latest Dukes of Hazzard replica is the light bar. The police cars used in the television show employed red and blue Aero-Dynic light bars whereas the 1/18-scale model uses an older style bar with two red dome lights, two red spot lights, and a siren in the middle. For some, this might stand out like a watermelon in a bowl full of chick peas, but in reality, it’s true to the nature of The Dukes of Hazzard show which was full on inconsistencies. In one chase scene, Rosco was tailing the Dukes in a ’74 Monaco and as the scene changed to another angle, the car suddenly became a’74 Plymouth, then a Dodge Polara in another angle, and back to the Monaco. This may not excuse the incorrect light bar on RC2’s Hazzard Police car, but truth be told, it came down to using the existing light bar or forget the model. Thankfully, RC2 chose to do the model.

All things considered, RC2’s 1/18-scale Hazzard County 1974 Dodge Monaco Police car is a neat piece and it effectively brings back many fond memories of watching the Duke boys play their cat and mouse games with Rosco, Enos, and Cletus. Reasonably priced in the neighborhood of $30, I believe many loyal Dukes of Hazzard fans will forgive the issue with the light bar and will instead wait excitedly to park one of these RC2/Joyride Hazzard County Police cars next to their 1/18-scale General Lee. Like the show, the model is pure fun, and in the end, that’s what truly matters most.

In the immortal words of ‘ole Rosco P. Coltrane - “Khee, khee, khee, I love it, I love it!”

Dukes of Hazzard Police Car




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