1975 Dodge Lil Red Express Tribute

Description

Believe it or not, the Dodge Lil' Red Express pickup was one of the fastest vehicles you could buy in the late 1970s, so that explains why you'd want to build a tribute like this 1975 Dodge Lil' Red Express replica. With a strong-running 360, a distinctive look, and not a lot of weight to haul around, was this the first muscle truck? Either way, if you want attention, this is an affordable way to get a whole truckload of it.

All the Lil' Red Express trucks were (obviously) Canyon Red, and the combination of the familiar Ram front end with a stepside bed gives it a vintage look that works rather well. This one started as a Dodge Warlock, which is cool by itself, but it got a full makeover to create something even cooler. Whomever was doing the work got it right, so it has a fresh-from-the-70s look that is pretty cool today. The gold decals on the doors are in excellent shape and work well with the wood paneling on the bed and the stake sides that give it an old-fashioned look. This was the '70s, so build quality was decent, and the restoration keeps it pretty much as it would have been when it was new: not perfect but quite good. A big grille, heavy-duty rear bumpers, and yes, a pair of functional exhaust stacks, all help with the big rig attitude. The bed is also beautifully finished with oak planks and color-matched rub strips, with the result being too nice to put to work but just right for cruising to local shows.

The interior in this one is matching red cloth, but you could have Levi's denim in your Lil' Red Express if you really wanted it. Today, this is probably the smarter choice and it looks quite fresh with a new seat cover, nice dark red carpets, and handsome door panels that include matching oak accents. There's also a custom center console that continues the theme. The dash is full of round gauges, including a set of aftermarket dials underneath, and the original radio is gone, replaced at some point when the truck was still young with an AM/FM/CD head unit. The dash pad is in great shape, showing no signs of having baked in the sun, and this truck offers both cruise control and a tilt steering column, so it's a great cruiser. I can think of worse places to spend a Saturday afternoon, can't you?

The engine is a fresh 360 cubic inch V8, which makes plenty of power to make the Express feel downright spunky on the road. It's been rebuilt to stock specs and upgraded with things like an Edelbrock carburetor and aluminum intake manifold, so it's a little stronger than the factory edition. A lot of the other ancillaries were upgraded at the same time, including the valve covers, open-element air cleaner, and a fresh dual exhaust system feeding those tall stacks. The TorqueFlite 3-speed automatic was also rebuilt and feeds the original rear end, which is geared to make cruising at 70 MPH effortless. It's got the right stance for a truck and sits on new aluminum wheels with staggered 235/70/15 front and 275/60/15 rear white-letter radials.

These have always been cool trucks, and with the long list of recent work on this tribute, it sure seems like a smart buy. Guaranteed to draw a crowd wherever it goes, this is a fast, fun little hauler that definitely earns its keep. Call today!