Vehicle Description
Believe it or not, the Dodge Lil' Red Express pickup was one of the
fastest vehicles you could buy in the late 1970s, so that explains
why you'd want to build a tribute like this 1975 Dodge Lil' Red
Express replica. With a strong-running 360, a distinctive look, and
not a lot of weight to haul around, was this the first muscle
truck? Either way, if you want attention, this is an affordable way
to get a whole truckload of it.
All the Lil' Red Express trucks were (obviously) Canyon Red, and
the combination of the familiar Ram front end with a stepside bed
gives it a vintage look that works rather well. This one started as
a Dodge Warlock, which is cool by itself, but it got a full
makeover to create something even cooler. Whomever was doing the
work got it right, so it has a fresh-from-the-70s look that is
pretty cool today. The gold decals on the doors are in excellent
shape and work well with the wood paneling on the bed and the stake
sides that give it an old-fashioned look. This was the '70s, so
build quality was decent, and the restoration keeps it pretty much
as it would have been when it was new: not perfect but quite good.
A big grille, heavy-duty rear bumpers, and yes, a pair of
functional exhaust stacks, all help with the big rig attitude. The
bed is also beautifully finished with oak planks and color-matched
rub strips, with the result being too nice to put to work but just
right for cruising to local shows.
The interior in this one is matching red cloth, but you could have
Levi's denim in your Lil' Red Express if you really wanted it.
Today, this is probably the smarter choice and it looks quite fresh
with a new seat cover, nice dark red carpets, and handsome door
panels that include matching oak accents. There's also a custom
center console that continues the theme. The dash is full of round
gauges, including a set of aftermarket dials underneath, and the
original radio is gone, replaced at some point when the truck was
still young with an AM/FM/CD head unit. The dash pad is in great
shape, showing no signs of having baked in the sun, and this truck
offers both cruise control and a tilt steering column, so it's a
great cruiser. I can think of worse places to spend a Saturday
afternoon, can't you?
The engine is a fresh 360 cubic inch V8, which makes plenty of
power to make the Express feel downright spunky on the road. It's
been rebuilt to stock specs and upgraded with things like an
Edelbrock carburetor and aluminum intake manifold, so it's a little
stronger than the factory edition. A lot of the other ancillaries
were upgraded at the same time, including the valve covers,
open-element air cleaner, and a fresh dual exhaust system feeding
those tall stacks. The TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic was also
rebuilt and feeds the original rear end, which is geared to make
cruising at 70 MPH effortless. It's got the right stance for a
truck and sits on new aluminum wheels with staggered 235/70/15
front and 275/60/15 rear white-letter radials.
These have always been cool trucks, and with the long list of
recent work on this tribute, it sure seems like a smart buy.
Guaranteed to draw a crowd wherever it goes, this is a fast, fun
little hauler that definitely earns its keep. Call today!