1979 Dodge D-Series

The Li'l Red Express Truck was one of the most unexpected performance vehicles of the late 1970s — a factory hot rod built at a moment when emissions regulations had strangled output from virtually every American performance car. Dodge exploited a regulatory loophole that exempted light-duty trucks from the same emissions standards applied to passenger cars, fitting the D150 with a high-performance 360ci V8, free-breathing exhaust stacks exiting between the cab and bed, and a combination of parts that made it one of the quickest American vehicles available in 1978 and 1979, regardless of category.

The package was completed with a specific red and gold paint scheme, chrome exhaust stacks, chrome running boards, and a Western theme that gave the truck a visual identity as distinctive as its performance credentials. Production was limited across both model years, and just over 7,000 examples left the factory.

This 1979 Li'l Red Express pickup is finished in red over a black vinyl bucket seat interior, and it features wood accents and bed slats, exterior graphics, and, of course, a pair of chromed exhaust stacks. The truck is said to have been previously owned by private investigator Jay J. Armes, who famously rescued Marlon Brando's kidnapped son.