The First Muscle Truck; Dodge’s ’78 Li’l Red Express

The Dodge Lil' Red Express. We wish we saw more of these around today.

Desperate times call for desperate measures. At least that’s what they say. In the automotive market during the late 1970’s, this was more often the case than not. After performance was largely killed off by a fuel shortage, the EPA, and insurance companies, enthusiasts were left out in the cold with no way back in.

As what has been known as the first true performance pickup truck to gearheads everywhere (not counting the El Camino SS and Ranchero GT), the Dodge Lil’ Red Express offered the neglected enthusiasts of the late ‘70s a fresh canvas in which to mold the ultimate street machine.

We dig the factory under-hood chrome, and the "360 Express" call-out on the air cleaner.

Inspired by the custom van and pickup scene that was sprouting up all of the country at the time, the Adventurer D150 that the Li’l Red Express along with its siblings; the Midnight Express and the Warlock trucks that it was based on became a part of Dodge’s “Adult Toys” (it’s not what you think) truck and van group (we’ll delve further into that another time).

Each one of these vehicles served a special purpose, and the Li’l Red Express was as close as you could get to a Mopar muscle car during the two model years that it was made in ’78-’79, apart from the Volare Road Runner and Dodge Aspen R/T.

The LRE truck came equipped with parts-bin performance components that started off with a 360 truck block, Red Stripe valve springs, camshaft and damper from a ’68-spec 4-barrel 340, along with an intake manifold, Thermo-Quad carburetor, windage tray, roller timing chain and sprockets from a ’78 model year police-spec 360. The numbers that resulted were 225hp/245ft-lbs of twist being fed to the rear tires.

Rounding out the performance goodies included a dual-snorkel cold-air intake, low-restriction exhaust with Street HEMI mufflers, dual 2.5” diameter exhaust stacks, and because the fact that in 1978 trucks were largely exempt from the strict EPA guidelines that cars had to follow, catalytic converters were MIA for the initial year of production.

Unfortunately you can’t have too much of a good thing, and EPA caught up to the LRE truck for ’79. Catalytic converters were slipped on, the aggressive throwback camshaft came out and a more modern, lower lift bumpstick went in its place.

You know, at a glance this looks like it could be the cockpit of a '70 Challenger..

So obviously power fell a bit, but at least the 3.55 Sure-Grip rear gear ratio, rear sway bar, A-727 3-speed auto with a 2500-stall converter, and all of the aforementioned induction and exhaust pieces remained in place.

Throw in some chrome and a lot of pin striping that was all the rage in those days, and you had a hot machine on your hands.

In fact the truck was so hot, it was the fastest performance American vehicle in ’78, beating out high-rank contenders like the Pontiac Trans Am and even the Corvette.

A total of 7,306 LRE’s would be built (2,188 units in 1978, 5118 in 1979), and even though model year 1980 units were initially planned, the plug was pulled after issues of dealer overstock of the ’79 models, along with the fact that the decade’s second fuel crisis had kicked off that same year.

We spotted this ’79 version on eBay with a Buy-It-Now price of just under $20k and 61k miles on its ticker. The very clean and near flawless condition suggests that it was recently restored, and it probably helped that it was originally from Arizona as well. Currently located in Kansas from a seller with a 100% approval rating, we say this is a pretty good deal.

Appealing to gearheads and urban cowboys alike, the Li'l Red Express still looks bad ass today despite its wood decorating.

About the author

Rick Seitz

Being into cars at a very early age, Rick has always preferred GM performance cars, and today's LS series engines just sealed the deal. When he's not busy running errands around town in his CTS-V, you can find him in the garage wrenching on his WS6 Trans Am, or at the local cruise spots in his Grand National.
Read My Articles

Hot Rods and Muscle Cars in your inbox.

Build your own custom newsletter with the content you love from Street Muscle, directly to your inbox, absolutely FREE!

Free WordPress Themes
Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

We'll send you the most interesting Street Muscle articles, news, car features, and videos every week.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Street Muscle NEWSLETTER - SIGN UP FREE!

We will safeguard your e-mail and only send content you request.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...


fordmuscle
Classic Ford Performance
dragzine
Drag Racing
chevyhardcore
Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Subscribe to more FREE Online Magazines!

We think you might like...

  • fordmuscle Classic Ford Performance
  • dragzine Drag Racing
  • chevyhardcore Classic Chevy Magazine

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

streetmusclemag

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Street Muscle - The Ultimate Muscle Car Magazine

Thank you for your subscription.

Thank you for your subscription.

Loading