Ahhh… the era before catalytic converters. And I don’t mean the last few years when you’d come out to your vehicle in the morning and find that it, or they, had been sawed off while you were sleeping. This 1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express got its foot in the door with a loophole related to those things. The seller has this one listed here on eBay in Pittsfield, Massachusetts; there is no reserve, and the current bid is $4,700.
The seller says this Li’l Red Express has been off the road for a while, but we don’t know how long. It seems to have been preserved for the most part, other than a few rust spots, and the bed floor is about half gone. The box appears to have been repainted at some point. Maybe someone started a restoration and gave up?
Dodge found a loophole in the evil gub’ment regulations related to catalytic converters that excluded vehicles with a GVW of more than three tons (6,000 pounds). That meant the Dodge D-150 (6,100 GVW) could theoretically get by without what a lot of us now are very glad that the evil government forced on us, in the name of not smelling exhaust at every stoplight. Hagerty is at $14,500 for a #4 fair truck, as a reference.
Dodge made these cool rear-wheel drive trucks (they never came in 4WD) from 1978 through 1979, just two years. Sadly, after all the catalytic converter gab, the 1979 models did have a catalytic converter, along with an EGR valve and they required unleaded gas. Oddly, there was no drop in power. As we know today, most pickups have much more power than this truck did, get better MPG, and pollute a fraction of what this one does, so it is possible to have it all. The interior of this L’il Red Truck – commonly referred to as L’il Red Express but rarely L’il Red Express Truck, even though the decal says that – looks pretty good in this example.
Another interesting and fun fact is that the Express part of the name is reportedly derived from a modified police-spec E58 (E = Express), the EH1, which was a 360-cu.in. OHV V8 with what was crazy at the time: 225 horsepower and 295 lb-ft of torque. It only came with a TorqueFlite automatic sending power to the rear wheels, but it was enough to make it the fastest American vehicle at the time from 0-100 mph. Any thoughts on this Li’l Red Truck, I mean, Li’l Red Express?
Even though I was a little kid at the time when these came out, I remember seeing them and loving them then, even as a 9 year old I also remember the big deal it was that these things were faster than a Corvette from that time as well. ( I’m wondering how many people got surprised at a stop light by one of these?) The wood kit and the stacks were a neat touch on these.
Too bad the stock slotted wheels are missing. As far as I know they are not reproduced and somewhat hard to find.
In Canada, 2 of these were produced with the 440. I do not believe they had been found and documented.
Cool truck and I also liked the look as a little kid. Still do.
I know the Plymouth Warlock could come with the 440 but never knew the “Little Red Express” did. Even with the 440, I think the 360 version was faster.
I remember seeing these rolling down the line at the Windsor truck plant. Cool trucks for that time.
Jim, which plant was that?
I thought all pick ups at that time were built in either the US or Mexico.
Pillette Rd built B vans
This truck based on the VIN was built at Warren Truck assembly in Warren MI.
My high school girlfriend’s father who was 72 at the time, had a 1978 Little Red Express! That 360 sure could go and he did not hesitate to let it go!
Bought one of these in 1988 for $2500. Pretty good shape, around 100K (K) and needed exhaust work, brakes and a new bed floor. Switched it to propane and had it for thirty years. Sold it a few years ago as it needed tons of work, the bed was full of extra parts, including the original wheels. Sold separately, were a pair of rear fenders for $500. Those fenders were new in ’54 and were used late ’53 to ’85, the last year of the uteline box.
I used to attend the Toronto Auto Show every spring. I recall in the spring of 1978 when these were introduced. What a breath of fresh air to see a Little Red and a black Warlock at the Chrysler display! I was impressed, to say the least. I couldn’t afford one at that time, but later in life I came across a poor-man’s substitute. I bought a 1978 D100 shortbox stepside in dark green with the black bucket seat/buddy seat interior like the Little Red had. It had a 318 with 4-speed overdrive stick shift. I had a decal made for the tailgate which read “Li’l Green Truck”. I had a lot of fun with that truck.
Remember when they were new. Always through they were really sharp.
If memory serves me, I think the loophole was closed for ’79 and the ’79 ‘Lil Red had converters. I think they bumped up the GVWR so the only things without converters were 1-ton trucks.
I have a 79 Power Wagon that did not require a converter unless in California. 1/2 ton in 79 had to have converters, by1980 everything had to have them. I thing the 79 grille was the best looking with the 78 a close second and I think the 79 was the last year for aluminum then came plastic. I was also 9 years old in 79 and still love them all these years later, so much I still drive them. 440 in one 451 in the other.
Auction update: this one sold for $6,250.
79 model did have catalytic converters, hence the ’78 model is more desireable