Cooter's Has Been Absolutely Killing It With New Products - Wrapping Paper, Pins, Football and More

For twenty-five years, Cooter's Place has been THE place for everything Dukes of Hazzard related.  We are going to celebrate that milestone this summer.  But before we get to that, I would like to take a moment to recognize the amazing effort the crew at Cooter's has been putting in lately with the newest Cooter's Place exclusive products.  DukesCollector Cooter wanted to help show off these great new items.  Let's take a look.

Maybe you might think this is no big deal, but Cooter's now has it's own plastic bag.  I think this is a huge deal.  Instead of taking your beloved new Cooter's items home in a generic "thank you" bag like before, now your purchase comes in this stunning orange plastic bag that, in my opinion, exceeds anything you would get from Walmart, Target, or anywhere else.  Duke Collector Cooter agrees!

This piece of plastic goodness is basically a collector's item on its own.  Just look at the gorgeous imagery! I love this plastic bag!  When has anyone ever said that before?

Another cool new feature from Cooter's is not just a plain brown box, but what's on the box.  Cooter loves showing this off.  If you look closely at what's keeping this box closed, you'll see...Cooter's Place packing tape!

This stuff is unbelievable!  Anytime you order a package from CootersPlace.com, your box will now come sealed with this tire tread themed tape that has the logo and the General Lee on it.  That is too cool!  

The bag and the tape are details that Michael and the crew at Cooter's have added to their repertoire that really show the passion they have for Hazzard Nation.  These are small additions, but they mean so much.  Think about it, Cooter's could just be selling the same t-shirt and photos they always sold, which we would be happy about, but for twenty-five years now, they've never been content and have always given us fans new and exciting items.  The fact that Ben, Alma, Michael and the crew have gone so far as to invest in these giveaway items just to make our purchases more special shows how much they love us.  We as Dukes fans are truly blessed to have Cooter's and the lovely folks that work there.  Cooter's never sits still and is always innovating.  That is definitely evident with this next item!   

I can't tell you how many times I dreamed about Duked of Hazzard wrapping paper.  When I see modern wrapping paper with the Avengers, Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Transformers, and Jurassic Park on it in stores, I always wish that we lived in a world where we could get Dukes wrapping paper.  Lately I've seen commemorative gift wrap for licenses like Masters of the Universe and WWE. I've even received some wrestler specific gift wrap showcasing Ultimate Warrior and Macho Man Randy Savage when I bought some items from sites that make authorized WWE memorabilia.  I am happy to report we live in that world I dreamed of, because Cooter's now sells 01 General Lee wrapping paper and it is amazing!  

Dukes Collector Cooter loves showing off these rolls of this beautiful orange paper.  The paper has large bold 01s as well as an image of our favorite orange car.  Making the paper orange and only having to utilize black and white inks was an ingenious design.  This is truly special paper.  

Cooter's made the paper available in time for Christmas and I couldn't wait to get some.  Let's say I ordered a lot.  My wife wrapped all the presents she bought me in this perfect orange paper and our tree become a wintery Hazzardy wonderland.  That's the first time I've ever used the term "Hazzardy" and I guarantee it will not be the last.  Full disclosure, I had a hard time ripping the paper off the presents and while opening the first few gifts I acted like my grandmother Dolly, who would always open gifts delicately and not rip it.  Jeff also does this, but I think his intentions are to recycle the paper.  With the large number of gifts I was fortunate to get from Natalie, Christmas morning would have become Christmas afternoon if I opened them Dolly-style.  I stopped thinking about it and ripped in.  I was like a kid on Christmas morning.  That's exactly how I've been on every Christmas morning my entire life.  It was awesome!

But I didn't use up my whole supply.  Cooter's plans on selling the paper for a long time to come, but that doesn't mean I didn't get enough to probably last a lifetime.  I have several unopened rolls, both for future use and to never open. I also asked my mom to wrap this small empty box so I could display the beautiful paper.  Look how great it is!  I love Cooter's 01 General Lee wrapping paper!

Next up Cooter wants to show off a couple of new key chains I recently got.  These aren't new items at the three Cooter's locations, Luray, Nashville, and Pigeon Forge, but are the steadfast items that have been bestsellers for years.  I've picked up so many of these over the years and I found so many uses for them.  I needed a few more.  

This General Lee keychain is such a perfect keychain.  I have one hanging from my backpack, on several sets of keys, and a bunch throughout the collection.  The orange 01 is just so great.  I picked up a couple and have plans for at least one of them in the future.  

The 01 has the same image on both sides.  The General has info about each Cooter's location including the web address and phone numbers.  It's a must have Dukes item. 

Another newer item at Cooter's are these really cool Hat Pins.  You know I love a good Dukes pin.  It was hard, but Cooter picked a favorite.  

The Exclusive Collection includes four different pins.  They each come on this nice card back that follows the tire tread theme.  The pins include the Gen'ral from behind with and without the Cooter's Garage logo, the Jumpin' General Lee and a front/side view.  I can't pick a favorite, because they are all perfect.  

The back of the package uses that great image of Cooter that was also used on the extraordinary 1/18 Cooter's Tow Truck exclusive from Greenlight.   It's the little details like this that add so much to Cooter's products.  

Next up is an item I saw at the 2023 Hazzard Run and I had to have it.  It's a General Lee pillow case!  I know, there is an official Dukes of Hazzard pillow case that came with the official bed set in 1981, and I have several in my collection, but I'm not putting any of those in the actual laundry rotation.  This bad boy is on my bed right now!

Cooter's has two different designs for the pillow case and they are both perfect.  There's the Cooter's Garage variety. 

And the jumping General Lee version.  I have both in the rotation and I swear I sleep better with my head on a General Lee pillow.  Both pillow cases are soft and comfy and everything you want in a pillow case.  Hat's off to you Cooter's.  Another winner. 

Next up are these great Cooter's socks.  Look at how glorious they are.  I plan on actually wearing these, but haven't made myself open them yet.  I have an older pair from Cooter's that I wear pretty often.  This design is even better than the last.  They keep one-upping themselves. 

I've wanted an 01 flag forever.  I had some plans to make one myself, but never got around to it.  Thanks to Cooter's, I don't have to.  This coat of arms is big and bold.  I love it. 

Like so many items, I got one to keep in the package, but I plan on using one of these flags.  I plan on flying it when the DukesCollector collection is officially open.  The flag will tell passersby that they can come check out my Dukes stuff.  Soon!  

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The final item in this blog is one I never knew I needed, but now can't imagine life without it.  This is the Cooter's Garage football.  And it is spectacular!  It has two designs on it.  The Cooter's Garage logo. 

And a big bold 01.  I never played football officially, but I have played in over a dozen turkeybowls.  An official size and weight football is just a little too big for the average, non Ben Roethlisberger sized hands.  I've always noticed that a junior high sized football is the perfect size to throw around with your neighbors in the backyard or with your cousin on the beach.  Michael and the crew at Cooter's must be on the same wavelength cause that's exactly the size of this orange beauty.  It has the perfect feel.  The composite leather feels just the way a football should.  This ball is perfect.  You know I had to get two.  One for the collection and one to keep in my car.  

Sorry old UA football, this one is getting the prime spot in the little cubby in my hatch.  I'll have this football with me everywhere I go and will always be ready to throw it around if the opportunity presents itself.  Anytime you want to pass, let me know!

Who would have thought that I would be starting a Hazzard County Athletics Association with my 01 balls?  This volleyball has seen so many good games during my open volleyball nights here at my church's new hall in Brownsville over the last few months.  I had to take a picture of them together.  The HCAA is open to all athletes and nonathletes alike in the greater Hazzard County area, which includes all of Hazzard Nation.  Let's play!

This football is remarkable.  And it has become available at the perfect time, just in time for the TaylorBowl, I mean the Superbowl.  

Though my Steelers aren't in it this year, I'll be watching the Superbowl in my 01 Steelers jersey with my 01 football in hand.  It's our year next year Steelers!

Before I wrap this blog up, in figurative 01 wrapping paper, I decided to throw the new orange pigskin around with DukesCollector Cooter.  I asked him if it was to big for him, but he said he could handle it.  

Whoops.  He was wrong.  Sorry buddy.  

He dusted himself off and decided he would just be the holder for me to practice my field goals.  You're a good man, DukesCollector Cooter. 

All of these great items are available now at Cooter's.  You can get them at the three locations, Luray, Nashville and Pigeon Forge, or from the website cootersplace.com.  Michael and the crew also have some unbelievable items planned, and I have been lucky enough to get a sneak peak.  I can't wait to get my hands on them.  We Dukes fans are so blessed to have Ben, Alma and the family at Cooter's.  They really keep this hobby thriving.  

This July we'll be celebrating 25 wonderful years of Cooter's Place with a big ol' celebration at the Luray location.  It's shaping up to be a great event and I look forward to sharing a lot of details soon.  You will not want to miss this one.  It's going to be epic.  

Cooter's Exclusive 1/18 1969 Chevrolet C-30 Dually Wrecker - Cooter's Tow Truck from Greenlight

The most anticipated Dukes of Hazzard collectible in a long time is here!  This is the 1/18 Cooter's Tow Truck officially named the 1969 Chevrolet C-30 Dually Wrecker, and it's a thing of beauty!

If awards were given away for toy box art, this diecast would take home the top prize.  The front of the box has a picture of the truck along with the gas pump, more on that later.  

The reverse side has ol' Crazy Cooter himself along with the Cooter's logo.  We all know what Cooter's is saying on the C.B.

"Breaker one, breaker one, might be crazy but I ain't dumb. Crazy Cooter comin' at ya!"  Each side of the box has the logo in front of the diamond plate design that shares it theme with the 1/64 version of the tow truck that was released last year.  

The top of the box might be my favorite though.  Such a clean design that really illustrates the Cooter's Garage theme.  

 

The bottom of the box has the legal info we expect from Greenlight. 

The diecast is securely packaged within a styrofoam housing inside the box.  All of Greenlight's Hazzardous 1/18s are packaged like this with the exception Uncle Jesse's Pickup. 

Taped to the outside of the stryofoam housing is a special treat.  The Exclusive version that you can only get from Cooter's comes with a bonus.

This is the Cooter's Exclusive Cooter's Garage Hoggoco Gasoline pump.  This is a great bonus.  It's a very heavy, solid pump that's 1/18 in scale.

The top has Cooter's logo on the globe.

And Hoggoco Gasoline on the bottom. 

 

The design is very similar to the pump Daisy is leaning on in this famous picture.  There is also a full sized pump with the same topper at Cooter's in Luray.  

The details on this gas pump are great and it makes a great collectible on it's own.  I would highly recommend the Cooter's exclusive version of this truck so you can have the added bonus gas pump in your collection.

Now to the main event of the post.  The truck is incredible!  We have come to expect great things from Greenlight's Hazzardous collection and they did not disappoint with this latest release.  

Like the 1/64 version of this truck, it wouldn't exist without Cooter's Place.  Greenlight has made a number of different police cars because they are the same cars and use the same tooling.  Tooling is the raw parts used to make a diecast.  You can release a police car from every neighboring county of Hazzard because all you have to do is repaint it.  The tooling exists.  The tow truck was almost all new tooling.  Michael Smith, CEO of Cooter's and Mark Bradley, chief designer, spearheaded this project, along with Ben and Alma, of course, and succeeded in creating a perfect diecast.  I'm honored that I got to add a little input as well.

The decals are spot on.  I would expect nothing less when Mark Bradley is in charge.  Mark created the garage set reproduction at Cooter's in Luray and did it again, along with the work-in-progress Boars Nest in Pigeon Forge.  Mark knows his way around the Hazzard County Garage.  

Everything about this truck is great.  It just looks awesome. 

The tow box is complicated.  There's a pulley system that I can honestly say I haven't figured out yet.  There has to be a way to loosen the ropes and unlatch the hooks, but I haven't been able to do it yet.  I'll keep trying.  It all looks really good.  Just like the 1/64 version, the truck has Cooter's SU 0265 license plate attached. 

The interior is detailed with a tiny dash and gearshift.  Again, Greenlight didn't disappoint.  

Here's a shot of the top and bottom of the truck.  The lights on the top and mufflers on the bottom add to the detail of the diecast. 

There is a 2021 year stamped on the bottom.  This truck was planned to come out last year, but we are patient and happy to get it in any year.  

The gas pump and tow truck were made to be displayed together, literally.  They look perfect beside each other. 

These two sides of the box are so great I can't decide which one I like better.  Which one is your favorite?

The 1/18 Tow Truck isn't the only big deal 1/18 diecast released by Cooter's in 2022.  Earlier this year Cooter's made the General Lee available once again by releasing the Cooter's Exclusive version of the beloved Auto World General Lee.  We all know Warner Bros won't let anyone release the Gen'ral right now, but Cooter's partnered with Auto World to release an orange '69 Charger with vector wheels and a push bar that comes in an awesome Cooter's designed box that happens to come with a decal sheet that includes 01s and the rebel flag.  Somehow I didn't blog about this amazing diecast when Cooter's released it in the Spring, but you know I added it to my collection.  Mark and Michael designed an amazing package for this car as well.  

Even though one is Auto World and one is Greenlight, they are both Dukes of Hazzard toys and they look great together.

These might be my favorite sides of both packages.  The General in Cooter's garage is such a great piece of artwork.  It should be a poster or metal sign or something.  It's outstanding.  Great job Mark!

The bottom of the Gen'ral and the back of the Tow Truck box share the same image of Crazy Cooter coming at ya.  The design cohesion is flawless.  

They did everything right.  The Auto World General Lee sold out immediately earlier this year.  Michael has more coming because the demand is high for it.  The Tow Truck will probably sell out too.  Everyone loves Dukes diecasts!  

It wouldn't be a proper DukesCollector diecast post if I didn't bring out some other diecasts for some cool comparison shots.  Cooter's tow truck is without question a main Dukes of Hazzard car.  Greenlight has released quite a few 1/18s since the start of the Hazzardours collection, but the Finchburg, Osage and Chickasaw Counties Sheriff cars aren't main Dukes vehicles.  I got out Uncle Jesse's Pickup, Daisy's Dixie Jeep, Rosco's Plymouth Fury Patrol Car, and Enos's Dodge Coronet Patrol Car. These are the main Dukes of Hazzard vehicles that are a part of Greenlight's Hazzardous Collection.

To think, when I posted all the Ertl, Johnny Lightning, and Auto World 1/18s cars, just five short years ago, I was pretty sure we wouldn't be seeing any new Dukes 1/18s for a long time.  And now we have near perfect versions of just about the entire cast's main cars.  Incredible.  Ever notice that all the main cars on the Dukes, besides that orange one, are all white?  Strange.

Here's a comparison shot of the two most famous trucks in Hazzard County.  

The diecast versions of both of these cars are spotless and I can't remember once on the show when these two cars weren't dirty.  But that's ok.  They look great.

We all know Cooter Davenport was an honorary Duke.  Here's his truck between Daisy's Jeep and Uncle Jesse's pickup.   

Ok, enough group shots without the General Lee!  Greenlight be not make a General, but that doesn't mean we don't have one.  This is the Auto World General Lee from 2012.  It is the best representation of our favorite car in diecast form.  It was plentiful for a while but now has become an expensive collectible.  Cooter's new Auto World is the same car; it just doesn't come with the decals installed.  If you missed out on the release earlier this year, get on the pre-order list for the second wave.  Look at these great Dukes vehicles!

Everyone in Hazzard must be together because all of their cars are parked outside.  

The gas pump just looks so good with all these cars.  We got nearly all the main cars from the Dukes of Hazzard.  There's only one missing.  We haven't had Boss Hogg's Cadillac in diecast form since the 1997 Racing Champion 1/144 version and all of the rereleases of the 1/64 version were the same as the original 1981 release.  Wouldn't a 1/18 Boss Hogg Caddy be great?  Let's all cross our fingers and keep our little fat buddy on our minds because there are rumblings that Greenlight might be bringing us that one before long.  I sure hope so!

Admittedly, I wasn't able to actually tow the Gen'ral because I can't figure out the pulley system on the truck's boom.  I still managed to set up a cool picture of Cooter's bailing out the Duke Boys, again.  This is a familiar scene on the dirt roads of Hazzard County. 

Imagine what cool shots the stunt men and camera operators could have come up with if they had drones when the show was in production.  I'm sure we would have seen this once or twice.  

I think I'm ready to crown these two diecasts as the top 1/18s in Hazzard.  I love the Jeep, and all the other ones, but the Tow Truck is on par with the AW General Lee.  It's that special!  

Here's a shot of all the Hazzard vehicles' tail ends.  It almost looks like they're parked some where.  But where?

Ok, I don't have a 1/18 Boars Nest diorama, but I do have an awesome wooden sign from Cooter's.  I think I got the point across.  I love it!

Here're the six cars in their boxes.  I am fond of window boxes like the General and Uncle Jesse's pickup, but with all the tiny details on the tow truck and the Jeep, I understand why GL uses the styrofoam packages.  

I can't give enough praise to the 1/18 Cooter's Tow Truck.  It's a masterpiece.  Ben, Alma, Michael, Mark, everyone at Cooter's, and everyone at Greenlight made a perfect collectible and it belongs in everyone's Dukes collection.  I love this truck so much!