89k Original Miles: 1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express

Today, it seems incredible to think that America’s fastest production passenger vehicle from the late 1970s was a truck. When Dodge released the Li’l Red Express in 1978, it broke new ground in the Pickup market. It proved so popular that the company brought it back for an encore in 1979. This Li’l Red Express rolled off the line that year, presenting nicely as a genuine survivor with 89,000 miles on the clock. It is ready for action with a new owner behind the wheel, and I must say a big thank you to Barn Finder Curvette for spotting this Pickup listed here on eBay in Cheswick, Pennsylvania. The seller set their BIN at $32,950 OBO.

Thanks to the Malaise Era, excitement wasn’t an option for buyers in the late 1970s. However, Dodge rolled the dice, releasing the Li’l Red Express in 1978. To describe it as striking is an understatement. From its Red paint to the Gold decals, exhaust stacks, and the timber trim, the Express made a bold visual statement. The 1979 model year brought styling upgrades for a more modern look, but the changes typically divide opinions. If you prefer the second-year version, you will probably like this beauty. It shows no evidence of cosmetic issues. The paint shines wonderfully, the decals are crisp, and the timber hasn’t deteriorated significantly. Even the bed timber beneath the tonneau looks clean, with no significant scratches. The cover will undoubtedly ignite debate, as it did when I last wrote about one of these classics. There were questions raised about whether it was a genuine Dodge accessory, and while I have seen several examples sporting one, I can’t confirm whether it was a factory option on the Li’l Red Express. The trim and stacks are in good condition, but the wheels aren’t original.

The beating heart of the Li’l Red Express is its 360ci V8. These Pickups were auto-only propositions, with Dodge selecting the three-speed A-727 TorqueFlite to perform shifting duties. Unsurprisingly, power steering and power brakes were standard equipment. The company breathed on the 360, fitting the camshaft from the 1968 340, a spread-bore high-rise intake, and an 850cfm ThermoQuad carburetor. With 225hp and 295 ft/lbs of torque at the driver’s disposal, the Li’l Red Express could storm the ¼-mile in 15.7 seconds. However, contemporary road tests saw better figures, but since these aren’t official, they must be taken with a grain of salt. To understand how fast the Express was, it is worth noting that it could show a clean set of heels to the Camaro Z28 and Pontiac Trans Am, while Corvette buyers had to order the L82 variant with a four-speed to give the Dodge a run for its money. The indications are that this Pickup is a turnkey proposition, with this YouTube video confirming that its V8 sounds sweet and tough.

Although it isn’t loaded with factory options, this Dodge’s interior is surprisingly clean for a vehicle of this type and vintage. The seller doesn’t mention evidence supporting their mileage claim, but the interior makes it plausible. The Red vinyl is in good condition, and the carpet is free from wear and stains. Some faux aluminum on the dash shows wear, but the interior is acceptable for a driver-grade vehicle. The new owner won’t receive air conditioning or power equipment, but this Express features an AM/FM radio/cassette player.

Dodge was quite nervous when it released the Li’l Red Express, because the market for a high-performance Pickup was unknown. Buyers swarmed to dealerships, quickly snapping up the 2,188 vehicles produced during that model year. Buoyed by this success, it produced another 5,118 in 1979, all of which rolled out the door as soon as they hit the showroom floor. This ’79 example is a beauty, but it needs to be. The BIN price is at the top end of the market, and is usually reserved for vehicles with under 30,000 miles on the clock. Do you think the seller will taste success, or is a major compromise required before this survivor finds a new home?