When it comes to late-’70s performance icons, few vehicles stand tall like the Dodge Li’l Red Express Truck. Today, these bright-red, wood-paneled haulers sit at the top of the Mopar collector world—but finding one that hasn’t been restored, repainted, or worn down by decades of use is nearly impossible. That’s why this particular truck, a 1979 Dodge D150 Li’l Red Express with just 5,672 original miles, stands out like a beacon. It’s a one-owner survivor in Clarence, Iowa, being offered by Kinion Auto Sales & Service Inc., and it may be one of the finest unrestored examples left on Earth.
For anyone who has followed Mopar history, the Li’l Red Express isn’t just a cool-looking special edition—it’s one of the boldest moves Dodge made during the emissions-choked late 1970s. At a time when V8s were getting strangled by regulations, Dodge engineers found a loophole that allowed them to build a true performance truck without catalytic converters in 1978. The result was a fire-breathing, small-block pickup that shocked the industry. In fact, the 1978 model became the fastest American production vehicle from 0–100 mph, beating out sports cars of the era. That momentum carried straight into 1979, even as Dodge was forced to add a catalytic converter and other emissions updates.
This 1979 example carries the legendary heart of the package: the high-performance 5.9-liter (360-cubic-inch)(EH1) V8, a beefed-up version of the police-spec (E58) small block. From the factory, it came with a four-barrel carburetor, unique cam specs, heavy-duty cooling, HEMI-style mufflers, and that unmistakable pair of vertical chrome exhaust stacks behind the cab. A tough 727 TorqueFlite automatic and a 3.55 rear gear completed the setup, delivering the kind of low-end grunt that made these trucks feel like hot rods with a bed.
What makes this particular truck special isn’t just its originality—it’s the way it has survived. The factory Bright Canyon Red paint, real wood trim, chrome stacks, inside surfaces, wheels, and even the small details look almost untouched. Trucks like this were often used, abused, crashed, painted over, or modified. This one avoided all of that. It spent its life with a single owner who cared enough to preserve it.
Inside, the cabin is pure late-1970s Dodge charm. The bench seat, dash, gauges, and trim are all factory original, and unlike many survivors, nothing here looks tired or brittle. Even the 85-mph speedometer—added in 1979 to comply with new federal regulations—looks like it just rolled off the showroom floor. The “tuff wheel,” carried over from 1978 into early ’79 production, remains an iconic touch.
Of course, 1979 brought a few changes to the Li’l Red Express formula. The truck adopted a new flat hood and dual square headlights, which gave it a more modern face compared to the 1978’s round-lamp setup. Tire sizing also changed, with Dodge fitting LR60x15 raised white-letter tires on 8-inch chrome wheels at all four corners. Performance remained strong for the era, even amid changes in emissions, and demand was huge. Dodge built 5,118 units for 1979—more than double the 1978 run.
That production number sounds big until you realize how few were preserved. Most lived hard lives as work trucks or weekend cruisers. That’s why a 5,672-mile, one-owner, untouched survivor like this demands attention. It’s not just a collectible—it’s a benchmark. A reference point for restorers. A museum-quality example of one of the most memorable trucks Dodge ever built.
Suppose you’re a Mopar collector, a classic-truck enthusiast, or someone who wants an investment-grade piece of American automotive history. In that case, this Li’l Red Express is the kind of opportunity that doesn’t come around often. Trucks this original simply don’t exist anymore—and certainly not with mileage this low.
Kinion Auto lists it for $69,900, and given what this truck represents, the price makes sense. You’re not just buying a vehicle—you’re buying a preserved moment in Dodge history.
1979 Dodge Li’l Red Express Truck Image Gallery:
