Dodge’s Li’l Red Express Truck Is a ‘Wunderkind’ for the Modern Hemi: Wicked Wednesday Presented by the All-New Nitto Recon Grappler™ A/T
How an emissions loophole turned into one of Dodge’s coolest productions.
We all know that the 1970s were rife with concern over air pollution, the implementation of the Clean Air Act in 1970 sought to have vehicle emissions reduced 90 percent by 1975, which ended up with many American muscle cars losing up to half of their power output compared to their predecessors from the ’60s. However, the clever team over at Dodge realized that; A) you could technically still modify a motor slightly after it passed emissions testing and B) there were differing emissions laws pertaining to cars and trucks. The result was one of the most interesting trucks we’ve come across, the Dodge Li’l Red Express Truck.
About the Truck
Li’l Red Express Trucks were part of a collection of vans and trucks that Dodge created called “Adult Toys.” The basic premise of “Adult Toys” was fully customizable options lists on vehicles that the consumer could configure to their liking. Remarkably, the Li’l Red Express became the most popular vehicle in the collection. Dodge produced the trucks on a two-year run producing 2,188 units in 1978 and another 5,118 units in 1979.
The heart of the Li’l Reds were modified 360 ci V8 police engines that made around 225HP off the factory floor, mated with A-727 automatic transmissions. Outfitted with side stack exhausts, 4-barrel carbs, stunning canyon red paint, custom decals, real oakwood trim panels, and a litany of other notables, the Li’l Reds are eye-grabbers wherever they go. Although they weren’t just lookers; in fact, according to Car and Driver, the ‘78 Li’l Red was the fastest production vehicle of the year.
That’s right, not Chevy’s Corvette or Ford’s Mustang, but Dodge’s Li’l Red Express Truck was the quickest 0-100mph vehicle of 1978.
What made the 1978 models especially unique (and likely why it was crowned “fastest” vehicle of the year) was that it lacked factory catalytic converters, despite the ongoing emissions crunch. No cats, combined with the engine mods and short wheel-base (115 inch) and you have a truck with some serious punch.
Dodge later added catalytic converters to the 1979 model (likely to please states like California that did not permit sale of the truck). Nevertheless, Dodge still jumped on the opportunity to market the truck as “The Last American Hotrod,” and while that title is surely up for debate, the circumstances of the era certainly give the claim merit.
Mopar Magazine
Mastermind Behind the Vehicle
According to sources such as Allpar and Horsepower Memories, the conception of the Li’l Red Express Truck can possibly be attributed to infamous Mopar engineer Tom Hoover.
Tom, who is regarded to some as the “Father of the Hemi” was apparently the one who figured out the emissions loophole that did not require catalytic converters for light duty trucks so long as the gross vehicle weight did not exceed 6,000 pounds. Furthermore, he was integral in many of the modifications to the 360 ci motors, including the addition of “a hot camshaft out of a 340 V8” that added some serious power to the engines.
The Li’l Reds were also likely one of the last projects that Tom took on while being an employee of Chrysler, considering his resignation in 1979. However, his story doesn’t end there, as multiple reports claim that Dodge sent current engineers to consult with Tom during the conception of the modern 5.7l Hemi.
Not the First or the Only One of it’s Kind
The L’il Red Express was heavily influenced by it’s cousin the Warlock, the first of Dodge’s fully customizable factory trucks, but due to the high price tag of both for their respective times, neither of them are exactly easy to find nowadays. Even more exceedingly rare is the Li’l Reds sister model: The Midnight Express Truck. These were essentially the Li’l Reds but outfitted with 440 ci engines, painted black, and with different decals.
Rumored to be a dealer package that was mainly produced in Chicago, the Midnight Express Truck is one of the rarest trucks in existence. However, hopeful owners of a Midnight Express will not only have trouble finding one to purchase but also verifying if it is real or a clone since they did not have any production numbers tied to their VIN.
All in all, it’s hard to argue against how intriguing the history is behind this truly different production by Dodge. In an era that made high horsepower output taboo, the Li’l Red stands out as a defiant symbol of hope for hotrodders and gearheads everywhere. Do you think it’s truly the “Last American Hotrod” or simply another cog in the forever-changing machine that is American classics?
Photos: Mecum
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