This 1979 Dodge Lil Red Express is an eye-catching, performance-oriented pickup truck! After the muscle car era was brought to a screeching halt in the first half of the 1970s, due in large part to changes in government regulations, the American automakers were essentially forced to start building less exciting cars that now had to be more energy efficient and emit less emissions. However, the downside of these changes was that the new cars coming out of Detroit suffered from a lack of performance under the hood, especially compared to the muscle cars that were produced just a few years earlier. Of course there was, like most government regulations, a loophole that would allow Dodge to produce high performance vehicles; that being, trucks. In the late 70s, Dodges parent company Chrysler was facing serious financial peril and the man hired in late 1978 to save struggling giant was none other than famed automotive executive Lee Iacocca. Iacoccas first full year in 1979 leading Chrysler was a struggle but mostly due to factors outside of his control, such as gas shortages, risks of inflation, a possible recession, and record-high interest rates. It was no surprise then that with their backs against the wall, Dodge was willing to try just about anything to drum up additional sales. One way Dodge attempted to generate sales was the introduction of a group of vehicles known as The Adult Toys From Dodge, which were comprised of the Warlock, Ramcharger, Street Van, and, of course, the Lil Red Express. The resulting vehicles were way ahead of their time. The Warlock and Lil Red Express were some of the first performance-oriented pickup trucks, released decades before Fords Lightning and Raptor trucks or even GMs Typhoon and Syclone models. The Lil Red Trucks had an iconic look with a bright Canyon Red paint scheme, elevated wood paneling, special decals, and perhaps its most iconic feature, dual chrome vertically-mounted exhaust pipes with heat shields. The Lil Red Express trucks were both eye catching rigs and also the fastest production vehicles on the road at the time. This particular example is believed to have been cared for by the same family for nearly 40 years and it is clear that they were fantastic stewards of this truck. Powering this Lil Red is a 360 Cubic Inch V8 tucked underneath an upgraded aluminum intake and single 4 barrel carburetor. The 360 V8 is backed by a Torqueflite 727 automatic transmission that makes this Dodge pickup easy for anybody to take for a joyride. Exhaust exits the beefed-up Dodge powerplant via a pair of chrome vertical exhaust stacks that not only give this truck its iconic look but also generates a wonderful throaty sound. In addition to the exhaust stacks, the chrome and brightwork around the exterior of this pickup truck is in wonderful condition as well. This 79 Lil Red Express comes with some great options! Power front disc brakes make bringing this classic Mopar to complete stop much easier, especially with all of that horsepower under the hood. This 1979 Dodge is also a wonderful truck to drive since it comes with power steering that makes maneuvering the truck in and out of a tight spot much easier. Riding on a set of raised letter BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires on chrome wheels, this 1979 Dodge pickup has a great look and even better ride cruising down the road. The steel pickup box is in great shape and retains what is believed to be its original wooden slats. The steel body of this 1979 Lil Red Express Pickup has been refinished in a beautiful Canyon Red complete with the golden Lil Red Express decals that complete the iconic look of this Mopar. This 1979 Dodges cab is in fantastic shape! The bench seat has been reupholstered in beautiful red vinyl and has enough room for two passengers in addition to the driver. The matching red padded dash, matching red upholstered door panels, black carpeting and Tuff steering wheel are all in wonderful condition and appear to be in their stock configuration. The instrument cluster is outfitted with an 85 MPH speedometer, oil pressure gauge, temperature gauge, alternator gauge, and fuel gauge, along with an indicator light for the parking brake. The dash is finished with an AM/FM push-button stereo, heater controls, windshield washer controls, ashtray and a locking glovebox. Whether youre buying your first classic pickup truck or youre adding to your existing mopar or pickup collection, this 1979 Dodge Lil Red Express would make an excellent addition. Give Ellingsons a call today at 763-428-7337!
