Continuity mistake: When we hear a gunshot and Luke rolls out of the upstairs window onto the roof, the whole upper house is bathed in sunlight, then is instantly in complete shade. (00:04:15)
Continuity mistake: When Luke and Bo are being chased in the beginning of the movie, a huge bullet hole is made in the left side of General Lee. Moments later it has vanished.
Continuity mistake: When the police cars pull up outside Cooters, just as the Duke's drive out with the fixed General Lee, the position of the police cars keep changing (note it's position in relation with the parking markings.) (00:37:25)
Continuity mistake: The rally race reporter has a microphone with a label around it sporting the channel logo. However moments later in the courthouse scene, the channel logo on the microphone he holds is completely different. (01:30:10)
Continuity mistake: When Billy Prickett walks into the back garage to find Sheriff Rosco and Boss Hogg, there is a car beisde them with a white sheet over it. During shots, the large creases in this white sheet keep changing. (00:42:30)
Continuity mistake: After the opening car chase, when General Lee is trapped between two vehicles, Bo hoists himself out the window, then Luke does the same after. But in the next exterior shot, they both are hoisting themselves out at the same time.
Continuity mistake: When Cooter (the engineer) goes over to his desk to make a phonecall, after Sheriff Rosco has left, the items on the desk completely change their position between shots. (00:24:55)
Continuity mistake: When Boss Hogg is cooking in the bar, the ingredients on the side and on the chopping board change position, most noticeable is the onion. (00:30:20)
Continuity mistake: Bo is waiting for Luke's escapade with Laurie, and meanwhile listens to Al Unser Jr.'s story narrated by Laurence Fishburne. He checks out of the case of the tape propping it against the left or the right of the steering wheel depending on the camera angle. (00:02:40)
Continuity mistake: During the prison scene while Boss Hogg is talking to the Dukes some guy behind them in the cell keeps making fun of Boss. Boss Hogg finally pulls a hundred dollar bill out with his left hand and says he'll give it to whoever knocks that guy out. When the camera cuts behind Boss Hogg he is now holding it in his right hand, with no time to have changed hands.
Continuity mistake: When Bo lands General Lee on the highway after going up the ramp, the cars around him on the highway change and move between shots. Also when the shot changes General Lee suddenly moves from the outside land to the middle lane. (01:07:45)
Answer: Given the massive hype surrounding the film, and the untold publicity it garnered the Charger, I think it's highly unlikely that it was a coincidence, more a cynical marketing strategy.
Manky