For Sale: 1978 Dodge Little Red Express in Mesa, Arizona

It's fun to be the outlaw, and none did it better than the rare 1978 Dodge D150 Lil Red Express. With its big V8, side stack exhaust, and cool wood package, this is absolutely distinguishable. But when you also see the level of restoration and the comfy A/C interior, you'll realize this is one bold red machine that has the best of everything.


The story goes that the folks over at Dodge figured out how to return the muscle car era. While emissions regulations controlled cars, the truck market was still able to get some hot packages. So if they were going to be outlaws, they were going to be brazen. The Li'l Red Express lived up to its name with Bright Canyon Red paint and a full gold tape stripe package. It made for a special machine, and this one only gets better because it has been under long-term care for nearly 20 years. In that time it was given a restoration, including in respraying this distinct paint package to keep it looking its best. While the logo on each door was pretty bold, it's nothing compared to the glossy real wood applied to the side of the step-side bed and the tailgate. This example even has a folding tonneau and carpeted bed. The Mopar boys still had more tricks to complete their standout package. Bright chrome bumpers, a bright chrome grille, and those amazing vertical exhaust stacks made people stand up and pay attention. While this total package was instantly attractive, few people could pay the high price. And so this is a rare example with only 2,188 Li'l Red Express trucks produced in its inaugural year.


The interior has a clean style from solid investments. The plush carpeting, smooth dash, wood-like trim makes this quite inviting. Plus, the deep black on individual buckets looks right for a muscle truck. They have been recovered in the correct pattern and still has the correct fold-down console/jump seat. So it provides nice comfort while still keeping the Dodge tradition. Speaking of tradition, you'll slip behind the classic Mopar "Tuff" three-spoke sports steering wheel. There are also the right upgrades like a console-mounted tach and an AM/FM digital tuner w/cassette. We know you'll want to be driving with the windows down all the time to listen to those vertical stacks, and so this one also has cold-blowing air conditioning to let you do that even in the summer season.


The true outlaw nature of this truck comes from what's under the hood. Mopar's strong 360 cubic-inch V8 was already a great motor to start with, and Dodge gave it some terrific power upgrades. That tradition continues today. This 1978 block is believed to be original to the truck, and it has an Edelbrock four-barrel carburetor and Edelbrock intake for that extra kick of performance. You'll also spot nice supporting components like the Accel plug wires and an Optima red top battery. This V8 exhales through those vertical exhaust stacks to deliver a unique high-rise, high-performance soundtrack. Plus, the Torqueflite three-speed automatic transmission, power steering, power brakes, and front discs make it easy to cruise this unique muscle truck.


Complete with the owner's manual, tile documentation, you already know this legend. It's a rare piece of outlaw motoring history. And this one is believed to have only gone 2,300 miles since its restoration. So you know this is the truck you need to get your hand on right now. Call today!!!