Rare Tribute: 1991 Dodge Dakota Li’l Red Express

The Dakota was a mid-size pickup built by Dodge from 1987 to 2011 across three generations. From 1990-92, Dodge dealers offered a Dakota Li’l Red Express tribute, detailed by a contractor to resemble the D-Series Li’l Red Express trucks of 1978 and 1979. It’s thought that no more than 500 were produced, and the seller is offering one from Westminster, South Carolina. It looks great (from the few photos) and has lots of new parts. The little red wonder is available here on Facebook Marketplace for $16,000. A nod goes to “PRA4SNW” for the tip.

Dodge cooked up the revitalized “LRE” to give their dealers something different to sell. They sent between 250 and 500 assembly-line trucks, finished in red paint, to LER Industries in Edwardsburg, Michigan, which added the finishing touches, excluding the faux wood paneling of the original 1970s limited-production pickups. You may recall the 1978 editions were able to skirt emissions controls and became the fastest production U.S. vehicles until the Feds caught on.

Like the originals, the Dakota Express models had dual exhaust stacks behind the cab. But they were strictly for looks and did not work. The interiors were stock stuff, and two engines were offered: a 3.9-liter V6 or a 5.2-liter V8. The seller’s truck has the latter, which should make it a more capable performer. This truck was purchased new to be used rather than shown, as it has 112,000 miles and counting.

This tribute looks to be in solid shape, and the seller has recently installed new front brakes, a new starter, alternator, and fuel pump (needs seal). Declining interest has led to its sale, and the seller will not entertain lowball offers as they “know what we have.” I guess that’s why the number of photos provided is limited, because he/she assumes you will know what they have, too.