The Warlock was one of several of the “Adult Toys” line-up of trucks offered by Dodge in the late 1970s. Since muscle car mania had mostly moved on by then, Dodge thought they would try it with pickup trucks. The Warlock was largely an appearance item but could be equipped with a 440 cubic inch V8 for those looking for maximum power. This 1977 example, based on the D100 pickup, wears an older, documented restoration that may have held up well. Located in Salado, Texas, this wilder cargo mover is available here on eBay where $15,1000 is below the seller’s reserve.
Of the Adult Toys that Dodge promoted in the 1970s, the Li’l Red Express may be the most remembered. Beating a loophole in the emissions category, the 1978 Red Express was the fastest production vehicle to come out of Detroit that year (the loophole got closed the following year, thus ending the LRE). When you opted for the Warlock, you got some badass looks with or without muscle, and black paint wasn’t the only color choice but the one that seems to have been the most photographed.
Your Warlock came with gold trim, flared wheel wells, and a nice wooden bed floor as opposed to just steel. Virtually any Dodge engine was available in the Warlock, including the 360 cubic inch V8 that’s in the seller’s truck (what’s with the plastic radiator?). The Warlock was only offered with the short-wheelbase D Series trucks, both 2-and-4-wheel drive. The Warlock and other Dodge Adult Toys may have continued past 1979 had it not been for the second OPEC oil supply chain shock that reminded buyers they’d better stick with more fuel-efficient vehicles.
We’re told this Warlock was treated to a frame-off restoration by a prior owner. It was done either 10 years ago or it took 10 years to do, depending on how you interpret the seller’s commentary. It apparently was well-done and the seller has documentation to back it all up. The 360 V8 has fuel injection (a later addition?) and a Bluetooth radio that looks like a stock music maker. The seller has a supply of spare parts to sweeten the deal. The odometer read 35,000 miles which could be on its second time around (speculation on my part). If you’re looking for a truck like this, it might be hard to find a nicer example.
Not a plastic radiator. That is the overflow reservoir. You can see the radiator behind it.
This was the flip side of Dodge’s Little Red Wagon, a similar truck but decked out in red with an appearance package. Nice trucks over all.
I remember looking at the “LiL Red” trucks when they were brand new.
I remember talking to the salesman at a new car show.
When he told me they only came with automatics I said sorry not interested.
I still remember how disappointed he looked when I walked away.
dodge warlock
Not restored. Restored means back to original. It has the 360 Magnum series engine. Alternator and associated brackets and the valve covers are the give -away.
Dodge had all the cool names ! Macho,Power wagon, Warlock, et etc !
I had one of these, mine had the 440″ in it, fully loaded with A/C, cruise control , AM/FM 8 track . Very little of the Gold Striping & graphics was left on it but the Metallic Black paint was still very shiny. The beds wood floor was non existent and the only thing holding the bed in place was gravity & a few cargo straps & a sheet of plywood. It was very fast, We used it to trailer my best buddies ’66 Hemi 4 speed Belvedere to the drag strip, it was always an express trip. Fun truck for sure. Wound up selling it to another friend, Tod Schuster for $ 500.00 and 2 tires for my Harley , he needed a tow vehicle for his nostalgia Super Stock racer , “The War Wagon”