1979 D*dge, <sorry! But, pretty cool!

[grumpin]

https://medford.craigslist.org/cto/d/white-city-dodge-lil-red-express/7040417934.html

[Rembrant]

Ha! I have a soft spot in my heart for the Dodge Lil' Red Express trucks, and well...Dodge "Step sides" in general. I believe the correct brand term for them is Utililine...like Flareside is for Ford.

Anyway, there are a couple of these trucks around where I live, but they're clones...and one of them is blue, which is wrong anyway. There is a factory correct Dodge Warlock around here I see every now and then which is also a very cool truck, and another guy with a 1979 Dodge step-side 4x4 that he bought brand new.

I seem to recall reading that the Little Red Express trucks were tearing up the dragstrip and other competitions at the time (and beating cars) because the truck was somehow not required to have all of the smothering emissions systems that the cars were? Anybody know this story?  

[Rembrant]

Rembrant wrote

I seem to recall reading that the Little Red Express trucks were tearing up the dragstrip and other competitions at the time (and beating cars) because the truck was somehow not required to have all of the smothering emissions systems that the cars were? Anybody know this story?

Quote from a quick search says that it was only the "Cat free" 1978 models...

"It was not only a real looker but these trucks were also real performers. In 1978 the Dodge Lil' Red Express was the fastest American made production vehicle from 0 to 100mph as tested by Car and Driver magazine. Due to a loophole in the emissions regulations, the 1978 Lil' Red Express truck was not required to have catalytic converters. What it did have was a special high performance 360cid, 4 barrel small block engine producing 225hp at 3,800rpm. The package also included HEMI style mufflers with a cross over pipe, a special A-727 transmission and 3.55:1 rear gearing. Production run of 2,188."


I did see another note there that while it got the trophy for the fastest vehicle, it scored absolute last in interior noise...lol:

https://www.hotrod.com/articles/mopp-0111-1978-dodge-lil-red-express-truck/

[Gary Lewis]

I used to know where one was sitting outside Ponca City, OK.  But last time I went by there it was gone.  I really liked those trucks.

[1986F150Six]

Gary Lewis wrote

I used to know where one was sitting outside Ponca City, OK.  But last time I went by there it was gone.  I really liked those trucks.

Well, now is your chance!