Through a fluke in Federal emissions regulations, a pickup truck became the fastest U.S.-produced vehicle in 1978. The Li’l Red Express was a two-year muscle truck based on the Dodge D-100 pickup. It had a 360-cubic-inch police interceptor V8 rated at 225 hp. The 1978, like the seller’s, is the one to have because the Feds caught on in 1979. This truck has only had one owner who doesn’t have the means to fix it up. Located in Nampa, Idaho, it’s available here on Facebook Marketplace for $13,000.
In 1978, this truck beat everyone else in Detroit when it came to going from 0 to 100 mph. Part of the reason was that it had no catalytic converter, as trucks weren’t yet required to have them. All of these vehicles were painted Canyon Red with gold door graphics and had twin vertical chrome exhaust stacks. Real wood was also included on/in the bed and tailgate. Just 2,188 copies were built in 1978 while another 5,118 were made in 1979, though the emissions loophole had closed.
This truck appears to have had some work done, but we doubt it runs (and the seller makes no such mention). The bed is full of parts, some of them from the engine compartment. We’re told the truck has traveled 385,000 miles, but we’re guessing that’s a fluke in the listing. All Li’l Red Express pickups had an automatic transmission, also with a cop pedigree. This machine will need a full restoration, but at least they fetch top dollar in prime condition.
The Li’l Red Express wasn’t the only time Dodge dabbled in the “adult toy” market. The Dodge Warlock truck and Street Van were a couple of other examples from the same era. Ford and Chevrolet may rule the truck market, but Dodge has always put in the extra effort.
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