Posted on 07/06/2015 11:23:04 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Golfer Bubba Watson says he'll paint over Confederate flag
Though the Volo Auto Museum already owns one General Lee car from the television series "The Dukes of Hazzard," museum director Brian Grams is making a bid to preserve the historical significance of the very first version seen in the show's opening titles.
That car is owned by professional golfer Bubba Watson, who recently announced his plans to paint over the car's Confederate flag with an American flag because of the recent controversy over what some have said is the Confederate flag's racist overtones.
As he said about the General Lee he already owns, Grams emphasizes that his desire is not to make any political statement about the Confederate flag but simply to preserve a piece of TV history.
Grams reached out and to Watson via social media Friday morning and is continuing to try to make contact with him through any available means.
"I've been working hot and heavy all day," Grams said. "I think it would be a way out for him (Watson). He's up against a double-edged sword."
Though Watson's General Lee has the distinction of being the original -- famously making a giant jump at the start of every episode -- the amount of restoration work it's undergone makes the Volo museum's General Lee No. 8 worth about twice as much, Grams said.
While No. 8 was built with a significant amount of parts recycled from the original, not much of the original is original, ironically.
While Watson bought his car at auction for $110,000 in 2012, Grams ballparked the value of the museum's at about $250,000.
While the original car was largely used for the one major stunt that was preserved in the opening titles, No. 8 was used at the end of the show's first season in the late 1970s.
Demonstrating how much abuse the stunts in the show caused the cars, a total of 249 General Lees were used over seven seasons, Grams said. And of these, only 11 survive.
To compare that to another iconic TV car, only two Batmobiles were ever made for the late 1960s "Batman" show and the backup was seldom used, he said.
If the Volo museum is able to acquire Watson's car, both General Lees would likely be displayed together with an explanation of their distinctions, Grams said.
There is a precedent at the museum, with two different versions of the car KITT from the original "Knight Rider" series on display.
And years ago, there was once four different versions of Herbie from "The Love Bug" movie on display at the same time with an explanation of how they all were used differently.
The original General Lee owned by Watson was found in Georgia in 2001 by an Indiana man named Travis Bell, who spent years restoring it with others.
Bubba Watson had better change his first name. He doesn’t deserve it. What a pussy. I can’t believe I was pulling for him in that Tournament he won a couple of weeks ago.
Every Bubba I’ve ever met, both of them (LOL), loved the South and its Traditions.
Of course, one lived in Mississippi and the other lived in Louisiana.
Watson’s name will be MUD, if he follows through with this assnine idea.
If you’re into cars that’s a great place to visit.
Dumb jock.
Bubba is shallow as spit. He doesn’t get that the only people who really give a damn about him having a Confederate flag on his toy car hate the American flag every bit as much. Oh, and they hate his proclaimed Christianity even more. It’s just a meaningless, self aggrandizing (please like me on Twitter, Facebook, ect.) gesture. Just hit the ball and shut up Bubba.
Without the flag, the General Lee will be worth about 50 cents. Hitler burned books, the new mantra not only does that but destroys relics. Golfer boy is watching his pocket book at any cost.
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