Saying that a car from the late-1970’s could run with or beat the Corvette of that era isn’t really saying much. Saying that a truck from the late-1970’s could run with or beat the Corvette of that era, on the other hand, is saying something. Such is the case with Dodge’s Li’l Red Express available in 1978 and 1979. This reader submission, found here on eBay, is definitely worth looking at.
The seller states that the truck is a rock solid and is believed to be a two owner truck. It is said to be an original truck, even with an engine and transmission rebuild and a repaint. The paint is said to be okay for driver quality and the pictures would show that it would be nice enough to take to cruise-ins or local shows.
It is an original air conditioned truck but parts are missing for that to still be functional. Other than that and replacing the glove box latch it doesn’t sound like it would need much. The interior looks great and would be very inviting to go cruising in. Brand new raised white letter tires on those original wheels really help to set this Li’l Red Express off.
The seller states that after some years in storage that the truck has received new belts and filters and is ready to drive. There’s no hiding what this truck is with the door decals and the exhaust stacks. With a current bid at a little over $6,000 and the reserve not met, would this be a good buy to go hunting for some Corvettes?
Could you imagine a restomod of this with a hell cat????
I was thinking turbo-diesel but that idea rocks!
Just be sure to go hunting for Corvettes of that era only, someone told me the new ‘vettes are pretty darn fast.
Nice pick up nonetheless.
Just about anything could outrun a Vette of that era. I think the Lil Express trucks used the Dodge 360 motor..not that powerful and terrible on gas.
Someone settle the debate: is it “Lil Red Express,” or “Lil Red Truck”?
little red express
Is there a debate? It’s “Li’l Red Express Truck”. I mean, it’s literally stated on the door.
and on the tailgate, it says “Lil Red Truck”
sweet truck. these and the similar Warlocks are probably the most collectible of the mid-to late-seventies pickups.
those stacks are super cool, way more so than the faux big rig stacks on more modern diesel Cumminses and PowerStrokeses.
i can see a decent version being worth $20k or so to the right fellow.
Personally i’d rather have a Lightning or 454SS. (Syclones are too small for me)
There is another Dodge pickup like these that I have finger printed. True Spirit. One is in Rogers, Arkansas. Brother in law bought new and still has it.
It’s interesting how people’s perceptions differ. Those stacks and the utiline bed are two reasons I have little interest in this truck. To each his own!
Quickest American production automobile (0-60 and 1/4 mile) each year it was built. E58 police 360 4bbl. including factory windage tray in a very light D100 stepside. Nice!
There use to be 2 of these in my town of 1,000 in the early 1990s. I never really liked them but have started to appreciate them more. And I will vouch that they are quick off the line !
sweet truck! fell in love with it back in 78, unfortunately back then it was out of my price range pretty much would leave it as is looks to be the owner(s) have done about everything for it I prefer this over the 79, don’t see them advertised too much! good luck to whomever buys it , hopefully the reserve is lots higher than the current bid
Did I miss it or is it assumed that I,
who can’t recall anything from Dodge called Li’l Red, will Google any info I would like to know about the engine details of a Li’l Red Express? …..
It has the wrong door panels and wrong seats to be a Lil Red.
According to the website for Lil Red’s, only 3 ( I believe ) were ever sold with A/C. The build sheet and serial will prove if this a) a real or clone b) one of 3 ordered with A/C.
You can find a lot of information on the web at these sites:
http://www.lilredexpress.org/
https://www.allpar.com/trucks/dodge/lil-red-truck.html
I read somewhere that in ’78 the bench was an option not chosen very many times. In that second link, you sent “… the high end cabin (including convenience package YF1) was done in red or black, and owners could get either bucket (at extra cost) or bench seats.” I think it was maybe wiki I read that said the bench seats came with different door cards.
These certainly don’t draw enough money to clone.
Them “RIMS” those are the original rims… I totally remember this truck since I was a kid. This truck used be to be advertised in the Van and Trucking magazines. There were a few on the streets back in my time..but wow I totally remember this truck.
Wasn’t this on here for sale once before? I can’t imagine many are left. With trucks getting top dollar these days, I’m sure it’ll go for quite a bit. In the late 80’s, I bought a 78 Plymouth Trailduster Sport with a 440 and a/c. One of those vehicles from my past that I’d give just about anything to get back! It was a beast with that engine, and with the top off as much of the year as possible, it was a ton of fun. That being said, it was in the shop a lot. Just required a lot of maintenance to keep it running right. This is a fun find!
I hate to see it, but I am so bored of these trucks. I see 2-3 A YEAR between my travels through Alberta, BC, Montana, and Oregon. They don’t seem to be rare at all, and to be honest they’re kinda ugly
In 1983 I bought one of these 1978 Lil Red’s. On my air cleaner it said it has a 390 V8. On the title was a designation saying in fact it was a 390 4 Barrell. I had a friend at that time that also had a Lil Red. He bought his new from a Mopar dealer. We did some checking, and found out about three hundred of the Little Red’s came with what was left of Mopar’s 390 4 Barrell carb. My buddy even told me when he ordered his, the 390 wasn’t offered. Yet there it was. A 1978 Lil Red Express with a 390 4 Barrell in it. It had a matching cap on it, and I know why. Without the cap, when you stepped on the accelerator. All the truck did was spin it’s rear wheels. With the cap on, it still did it’s dam nest to pull the front wheels off the ground. I sold the truck in 86. Yet I am a bit more into cars now, and I wonder. How many of the 300 Dodge Lil Red’s with the 390 4 are out there. Everytime I see a Lil Red, I have to check the engine bay out to see what the air cleaner say.
There was never, ever a “Mopar 390”, and the L’il Reds only came with the 360/4V. As far as I know, only Ford, AMC, and Cadillac had 390s. Someone’s mistaken.
I do not remember a Ford 390 in a Dodge! Is the 9 an upside down 6?