Stuntbuster Mark I
In many ways the Stunt Buster can be seen as the little brother of the Barnbusters set. It takes the winning formula of the barn and the friction powered General Lee and condenses it into a smaller playset. So for this one you get a barn, a run up and woodshed ramp, plus the customary barrels and crates to scatter at will. However, like the Speed Jumper set, this one also features the two speed General Lee. To get maximum revs out of the General you fire him up then let him run up the ramp. A switch on the base of the car locks onto a small ramp elevation. The next thing you know The General receives a boost of speed, leaving him flying out of the barn doors pulling a wheelie and scattering the boxes and crates. More details of the two speed General Lee can be found on the Speed Jumper page.
Originally the playset was manufactured by Knickerbocker Toys, and then Hasbro took over production when they bought the company. Look out for the box variations – early manufactured sets will have a Knickerbocker logo while later ones will have Hasbro. See the Stuntbuster gallery for examples.
Originally the playset was manufactured by Knickerbocker Toys, and then Hasbro took over production when they bought the company. Look out for the box variations – early manufactured sets will have a Knickerbocker logo while later ones will have Hasbro. See the Stuntbuster gallery for examples.
Dukes of Hazzard Stuntbuster Mark I Factfile
Date manufacturing began
1982
Company of manufacture
Knickerbocker Toys then Hasbro
Manufacturing variations
Bases and barn colours vary between sets. Some have a sandy yellow coloured base and chocolate brown barn, others have the colours in reverse. This also applies to the boxes and barrels, where a single colour of either sandy yellow or chocolate brown were supplied. As with the Barnbusters set, grey barrels may also have been manufactured, but I cannot personally confirm this.
Date manufacturing ceased
Approx. 1985
Box
See gallery for examples
Date manufacturing began
1982
Company of manufacture
Knickerbocker Toys then Hasbro
Manufacturing variations
Bases and barn colours vary between sets. Some have a sandy yellow coloured base and chocolate brown barn, others have the colours in reverse. This also applies to the boxes and barrels, where a single colour of either sandy yellow or chocolate brown were supplied. As with the Barnbusters set, grey barrels may also have been manufactured, but I cannot personally confirm this.
Date manufacturing ceased
Approx. 1985
Box
See gallery for examples
Stunt Buster Mark II
There is an even more condensed set which also goes by the name of Stunt Buster.This time the set has “Stunt Buster” spelt as two words. This is a much smaller offering, coming with a General Lee and ‘road closed’ ramp. This takes the ‘buster’ theme out of the farm and on to the road. You’ll notice that the road closed barrier bears more than a passing resemblance to the woodshed part of the Barnbusters set. Perhaps this was Knickerbocker Toys’ way of expanding the potential of the set (or modifying an existing plastic mould by putting another sticker on it). The instructions on the back packaging also contain the following advice: “Your General Lee Stuntbuster can perform all the stunt wheelies shown on the front. It is important to supply additional support to the crash wall by placing a book or other stable objects behind the wall."
At some point the two speed General Lee was introduced to this set, as it had been with the Speed Jumper and Stunt Buster mark I. I would estimate that this was around 1983. I‘m not sure of the benefit of a two speed car for this particular set, as there is no trigger mechanism on the ramp to allow the car to reach its second speed. Examples of single speed and two speed packaging is available in the Stunt Buster gallery.
At some point the two speed General Lee was introduced to this set, as it had been with the Speed Jumper and Stunt Buster mark I. I would estimate that this was around 1983. I‘m not sure of the benefit of a two speed car for this particular set, as there is no trigger mechanism on the ramp to allow the car to reach its second speed. Examples of single speed and two speed packaging is available in the Stunt Buster gallery.
Dukes of Hazzard Stunt Buster Mark II Factfile
Date manufacturing began
1982 (?)
Company of manufacture
Knickerbocker Toys, USA
Manufacturing variations
Not known. Please contact me if you have more information.
Date manufacturing ceased
1985 (?)
Box
See gallery and image above for examples
Date manufacturing began
1982 (?)
Company of manufacture
Knickerbocker Toys, USA
Manufacturing variations
Not known. Please contact me if you have more information.
Date manufacturing ceased
1985 (?)
Box
See gallery and image above for examples