1979 Dodge Lil' Red Express

Marcal Eilenstein

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I’m a big fan of trucks, especially classic trucks. Over the years, my taste in trucks has gone from sport trucks to low-rider duallys to desert runners and finally back to the other extreme, mostly original examples of the finest iron and steel Detroit offered.

In that spirit, I want to show you one of my absolute favorite rigs, one that combines a little of everything into one rumbling, tire-smoking, emissions-snubbing work of beauty. Check it out.

What we have in front of us is numbers-matching a 1979 Dodge Lil’ Red Express truck. They only offered this in ’78 and ’79, but it made quite an impression in its time. Remember, this is the late 70’s; muscle cars were all but dead, choked to death by the heavy hand of emissions regulations. The Lil’ Red Express was a sort of last gasp for Dodge, since trucks went mostly unnoticed by the smog police at this time. I’d say they went out swinging. See if you agree.

From the ad:

1979 Dodge LIL RED EXPRESS Truck. 79k original miles with matching numbers (engine –trans), Original Build Sheet, and window sticker. Only 5118 produced in last year of two year run. Engine compression strong. Fresh paint, tires, chrome. Looks and runs great. Rare truck that worth inquiring and adding to collection or weekend driver.

Additional Information:

Production of the Lil Red Express was 5,118 in 1979. Most of the features remained from the 1978 model however there were some changes that included a catalytic converter, unleaded gas and an 85mph speedometer. The most noticeable changes were the flat hood and dual square headlights replacing the round versions and the 1979 models rode on raised white letter tires mounted to 8″ chrome wheels.

The original 360 looks great sitting under that massive hood, although, with a curb weight of over 6,000 lbs., I think I might want a few more than 225HP.

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Not my favorite choice of seats, but it looks like a very comfortable place to sit.

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The oak in the bed matches the oak on the side and the tailgate. It’s in great shape.

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Aerodynamics? On a truck? Surely you jest.

Check out all the pics in the ad, and let me know what you think. This truck ticks all my boxes; it’s big, it’s roomy, it’s mostly original, but still high-performance. Again, I might think about getting a little more power out of that 360.

What say you? Could you see yourself slipping behind the wheel of this brute?

Hat tip: papamarc, who happens to be my old man. He knew I would like this truck, and he was right.

[Source: Hemmings Classifieds]

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Marcal Eilenstein

Marcal Eilenstein

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32 responses to “1979 Dodge Lil' Red Express”

  1. calzonegolem Avatar
    calzonegolem

    One of the fastest things on the road back in the day. It was a truck so it dodged a lot of the smog restrictions.

    Reply
    1. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      Yep. You could work it all day, and still leave 11's on the pavement when you went home.

      Reply
      1. calzonegolem Avatar
        calzonegolem

        My uncle had one. I don't remember it (or him) but my dad always spoke about it in awe. This from a man who drove a beetle with an sbc in the frunk.

        Reply
    2. boxdin Avatar
      boxdin

      The 1978 model had no emissions because its GVW was over 6000 lbs. The 1979 model had full cats and all other emissions equip because the law changed for 1979 when only GVWs over 8500 has no emissions equip. It was the "heavy half" era of trucks. In 1975 the big 3 came out w models over 6000 gvw to avoid emissions equip, but it only lasted until 1979.
      This is my fav site w interests much like mine w old trucks, station wags and other odd vehicles, and the editoral contest suits my odd tastes too.

      Reply
  2. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    For awhile (in the last year or so), I was seeing one of those regularly, while driving to work in the morning. It looked about as good as that one.

    Reply
  3. acarr260 Avatar
    acarr260

    My ex- father-in-law had one of these in immaculate (show quality), original condition with under 50k miles. I got to drive it to a couple of car shows, and I can attest that they are a lot of fun to drive. Unfortunately, the market for these seems exceedingly weak. He tried for years to unload his at car shows, auctions, and swap meets. I really doubt that this example will fetch his asking price… or cover the cost of the restoration work that has been done.

    Reply
  4. LTDScott Avatar
    LTDScott

    I love these things, but if I were going for a Dodge big boy toy, I'd go for a Warlock. JPS colors FTW.
    <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3329/3202545183_3c64154589_o.jpg&quot; width=650>

    Reply
    1. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Also most Warlocks came with a 440. Most Li'l Red Express Trucks had a 360.

      Reply
      1. OA5599 Avatar
        OA5599

        Warlock could be had with any engine otherwise fitted to the D-series truck, including a slant 6. 440 was available (not after 1978, though, when Chrysler scrapped the tooling) , but I don't think it was ever the top selling engine option. Certainly the most desireable version today, though.
        LRE was 360-only in 78. Emission standards changed for 79, resulting in catalytic converters being mandatory, which brought a detuned 360 engine. I seem to remember a 318-4bbl being available that year only (California?) but can't seem to locate any corroboration online.

        Reply
    2. LTDScott Avatar
      LTDScott

      In fact, I'd ride nearly everything in this ad.
      <img src="http://www.jumpingfrog.com/images/ads-dodge/76dge004.jpg&quot; width=650>

      Reply
      1. LTDScott Avatar
        LTDScott

        Hey. they're not looking at the truck!
        <img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3398/4617630554_f9a60fe5d2.jpg"&gt;

        Reply
    3. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      I saw one at the gas station last week. I'm still kicking myself for not asking the guy for some pictures.

      Reply
  5. Vavon Avatar
    Vavon

    I think that the 70s design front with that 50s design bed looks strange… but apparently that's original.
    However if I needed a pickup truck, I could see myself driving this little Mustang pickup truck everyday.
    <img src="http://fotoforum.fr/photos/2012/05/01.176.jpg"&gt;
    Full disclosure: I found this whilst looking for a prototype yellow Miata coupe… Google works in mysterious ways!

    Reply
  6. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    How could it have a curb weight over 6,000lbs? I think that's the GVWR (that was the standard GVWR for half-ton pickups then). I'm betting it doesn't weigh much over 4,000, maybe less than that. When EPA regs dictated that trucks with a GVWR of 6,000 or less would have to have a catalyst, GM introduced their 6,050 GWVR trucks, the "BIG 10" (Chevy) and "Heavy Half" (GMC), and Ford introduced the F-150 (which sold alongside the F-100 for awhile). That way, they could sell 1/2-tons that didn't need a cat or unleaded fuel.

    Reply
    1. LTDScott Avatar
      LTDScott

      Yep, I bet you're right. Tons of people don't understand the difference between curb weight and GVWR.

      Reply
    2. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      Yes, it is GVWR, not curb weight. My mistake.

      Reply
    3. Kenneth Avatar
      Kenneth

      GVWR= gross vehicle weight rating . Truck weght + passengers and cargo

      Reply
  7. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    I always liked the Lil' Red 'Spress, though, for my sport-truck money, it would be a Gen I Lightning all day.

    Reply
  8. $kaycog Avatar
    $kaycog

    Here's a gentleman who really, really, really likes them. http://blog.hemmings.com/index.php/2011/06/03/hem…
    <img src="http://images.hemmings.com/wp-content/uploads//2011/06/LilRedExpresscollection_01_700.jpg"width="500"/&gt;

    Reply
    1. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      I'm not picky, but I definitely prefer the styling of the '79 to the '78.

      Reply
      1. $kaycog Avatar
        $kaycog

        Well, then you are picky. ;D

        Reply
        1. MVEilenstein Avatar
          MVEilenstein

          I'd drive either one, though!

          Reply
      2. LTDScott Avatar
        LTDScott

        I feel the opposite.

        Reply
  9. dukeisduke Avatar
    dukeisduke

    Back about that time, Car and Driver ran a couple of features looking for the five fastest American vehicles. A Chevy C-10 powered by a 454 made the list.
    C/D Bicentennial Civil-Disobedience Test: Finding the Fastest American Car (April, 1976): http://www.caranddriver.com/comparisons/chevy-cor…

    Reply
    1. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      Great stuff. Thanks for sharing. I wonder if Mrs. Orcutt's driveway is still there.

      Reply
      1. dukeisduke Avatar
        dukeisduke

        I think its location had been hinted at somewhere, and it might even have been revealed, either in C/D or someplace else. It was one of their go-to places for top speed runs.

        Reply
      2. scoudude Avatar
        scoudude

        They did revisit it a few years ago and found it in serious disrepair, though that didn't stop them from using it for another top speed run, IIRC it was a Camaro that time.

        Reply
    2. LTDScott Avatar
      LTDScott

      Wow, that article sure illustrates how far we've come. Top of the line Mustang only going 110 MPH in 4 miles. New Stangs can hit that in 1/4 mile!

      Reply
  10. papamarc Avatar
    papamarc

    I am papamarc and I approve of this message.

    Reply
  11. Peter Tanshanomi Avatar
    Peter Tanshanomi

    Can't think of the L-REX without thinking about this. One of my favorite articles as a kid.
    <img src="http://www.tanshanomi.com/temp/flat-out-C%26D.png"&gt;

    Reply
  12. boxdin Avatar
    boxdin

    The LRT was the fastest production vehicle of 1978, even faster than the Corvette. Not so for 1979.

    Reply
  13. C³-Cool Cadillac Cat Avatar
    C³-Cool Cadillac Cat

    Gross weight and net weight are markedly different.
    The Lil Red Express truck had a gross weight, meaning it and what it could carry, max, of 6100 lbs. It's a half-tonne truck, back when it meant a half tonne, so figure it really weighs more like 5K lbs. Still, not a lightweight, though I'd wager it weighed around 4,300, max, empty & dry.
    Also, said 360 may have cranked out only 225 HP, but there were 395 torques on tap. 0-60 times were 6.6 seconds. Not shabby for the time…at all.

    Reply