Vehicle Description
Just watch, these cool pickups are going to be the next big thing.
In 1979, this Dodge Lil' Red Express truck was about as close as
you were going to get to a real muscle car, and I doubt we'll ever
get an OEM building a truck with chrome stacks, wood paneling, and
this much personality.
The name says it all: Lil' Red Express. It's a red pickup, neatly
dressed up to look a little vintage, what with the wood paneling on
the bed and the big gold logo on the doors. It was the '70s so
anything was possible, and in an era with giant screaming birds on
the hood, this is a real standout. It was repainted around 2009 in
a correct shade of bright red and a recent professional buff really
brought out the shine, giving it a fantastic look. There's already
a movement afoot to preserve and celebrate these trucks, so they
didn't modify or change any of the details; why would you on
something that's already so custom-looking? It hasn't been damaged
or rusty, so the repaint simply erased several decades of use, and
although certainly not perfect, today it looks just as eye-catching
as it did when it first hit the streets. That's real oak in the bed
and outside on the sides, although it's not structural, merely
decorative, and all of it remains in great shape, too. There's also
plenty of chrome, including the aforementioned exhaust stacks, plus
a heavy-duty rear bumper and a grille with stacked headlights that
were new for 1979.
You had a surprising number of choices inside, with this truck
getting the best combination: black bucket seats with a third jump
seat in between that doubles as a console. The Express was loaded
and was the most expensive truck in Chrysler showrooms in 1979, and
this one includes fully functional A/C that still uses R12
refrigerant inside. The interior is probably original, so it's
showing its age, but there are no splits or tears in the upholstery
and a set of contrasting red floor mats protect the carpets today.
You do get a fairly comprehensive set of gauges as well as an AM/FM
radio that still sounds pretty good. A few flashes of red inside
give it a sporty demeanor and keep it from seeming too serious and
you'll probably find it's easy to get comfortable in this
37-year-old hauler.
There was plenty of muscle on tap when you bought a Lil' Red
Express, thanks to a strong-running 360 that was not necessarily
burdened by the same pollution controls that strangled the muscle
cars. The 360 cubic inch V8 was upgraded by the factory with a cam
from a 1968 340, heavy-duty valve train, a police-spec intake
manifold and 4-barrel air cleaner, and a full roller timing chain.
It's still quite stock, but the performance sill surprise you, even
today. The chrome dual snorkel air cleaner was also part of the
package, and it's dressed pretty much the way the factory did it,
right down to the original decal on the lid. It's tidy and shows
signs of routine maintenance, but no modifications, which suggests
it's always been treated well. A heavy-duty TorqueFlite 3-speed
automatic was the only transmission available, and it spins 3.55
gears out back, so it feels punchy around town but cruises easily
on the highway. Obviously dual exhaust was standard, and this truck
also carries dual gas tanks for bladder-bursting mileage. Cool
aluminum wheels with fat 275/60/15 Goodyears complete the ideal
'70s look.
Lots of fun and sure to be a hotter collectable once everyone gets
their Trans Am fix, this Dodge Lil' Red Express is ready to play.
Call now!
