Photo: socal_vintage_911/eBay
The late 1960s and early 1970s saw the arrival of America's most powerful production vehicles. Chrysler had the 425-horsepower HEMI, while GM dropped a 450-horsepower big-block in the Chevelle. Ford sold several nameplates with the Cobra Jet. But all these mills were gone by the mid-1970s. In fact, there was no such thing as a muscle car in 1975.
Unable to get people into showrooms with performance numbers, the Big Three focused on other areas. Some rigs gained premium features, while others became more fuel-efficient. Many vehicles became available with colorful styling packages. However, while Ford and Chevrolet began using go-fast stripes on their pony cars, Dodge focused on custom and hot-rodded rigs.
These arrived in 1977 as part of the "Adult Toys" line, which included special-edition versions of the D100 pickup trucks, Ramcharger SUV, and the Ram Van. The Li'l Red Express is arguably the most iconic product of the "Adult Toys" lineup. Not only did it look wild thanks to its stacked exhausts, but it was also more powerful than any other production vehicle except for the Corvette.
Powered by a police-spec 360-cubic-inch (5.9-liter) V8 engine good for 225 horsepower and 295 pound-feet (400 Nm) of torque, it outgunned the sports car in a 0-to-100 mph (161 kph) acceleration test. It was declared the fastest American production vehicle in 1978.
But the Li'l Red Express wasn't the only truck adorned by features you wouldn't normally see on a pickup. Dodge also offered a similar Midnite Express package and the Warlock. A factory-made hot rod, the Warlock sported gold pinstriping, gold wheels wrapped in wide tires, bucket seats, and a Utiline bed with oak racks.
Unlike the Li'l Red Express, the Warlock wasn't available with a high-performance option. Because it was a styling package above all else, it could be had with any available engine, ranging from the entry-level slant-six to the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB—except for the police-spec 360 V8, which was exclusive to the Li'l Red Express.
With no records of how many were sold, it's unclear if the Warlock is rarer than the Li'l Red Express (over 7,000 made in 1978-1979). All we know is that it's not quite as desirable. However, 440-equipped Warlocks are actually pretty scarce, mostly because Dodge simply did not sell too many 440 pickups anyway. Exactly how many were fitted this way remains a mystery, but if we believe the seller of this 1978 Warlock, Dodge may have produced only 74 units that year.
While the exact production numbers remain a mystery, this pickup is in great shape. The Formal Black paint is not perfect, but it still shines, while the Warlock Gold stripes and decals are in fantastic condition. The timber bed and tinted glass look the part as well.
The interior doesn't disappoint, either. Everything is clean, and the Warlock-specific features, including the bucket seats and the "Tuff Wheel," are still in place. A previous owner replaced the original AM/FM radio with a modern stereo, but the original unit is included.
The 440-cubic-inch V8 under the hood further proves that this Warlock was well-maintained. The bay is as clean as they get, and it doesn't look like the engine was altered significantly. The seller says the mill is numbers-matching.
Located in California, where it was initially sold, this Warlock is looking for a new owner through a no-reserve auction. Bidding is at $21,300, with more than two days to go. How much do you think this pickup is worth?
These arrived in 1977 as part of the "Adult Toys" line, which included special-edition versions of the D100 pickup trucks, Ramcharger SUV, and the Ram Van. The Li'l Red Express is arguably the most iconic product of the "Adult Toys" lineup. Not only did it look wild thanks to its stacked exhausts, but it was also more powerful than any other production vehicle except for the Corvette.
Powered by a police-spec 360-cubic-inch (5.9-liter) V8 engine good for 225 horsepower and 295 pound-feet (400 Nm) of torque, it outgunned the sports car in a 0-to-100 mph (161 kph) acceleration test. It was declared the fastest American production vehicle in 1978.
But the Li'l Red Express wasn't the only truck adorned by features you wouldn't normally see on a pickup. Dodge also offered a similar Midnite Express package and the Warlock. A factory-made hot rod, the Warlock sported gold pinstriping, gold wheels wrapped in wide tires, bucket seats, and a Utiline bed with oak racks.
Unlike the Li'l Red Express, the Warlock wasn't available with a high-performance option. Because it was a styling package above all else, it could be had with any available engine, ranging from the entry-level slant-six to the 440-cubic-inch (7.2-liter) RB—except for the police-spec 360 V8, which was exclusive to the Li'l Red Express.
With no records of how many were sold, it's unclear if the Warlock is rarer than the Li'l Red Express (over 7,000 made in 1978-1979). All we know is that it's not quite as desirable. However, 440-equipped Warlocks are actually pretty scarce, mostly because Dodge simply did not sell too many 440 pickups anyway. Exactly how many were fitted this way remains a mystery, but if we believe the seller of this 1978 Warlock, Dodge may have produced only 74 units that year.
While the exact production numbers remain a mystery, this pickup is in great shape. The Formal Black paint is not perfect, but it still shines, while the Warlock Gold stripes and decals are in fantastic condition. The timber bed and tinted glass look the part as well.
The interior doesn't disappoint, either. Everything is clean, and the Warlock-specific features, including the bucket seats and the "Tuff Wheel," are still in place. A previous owner replaced the original AM/FM radio with a modern stereo, but the original unit is included.
The 440-cubic-inch V8 under the hood further proves that this Warlock was well-maintained. The bay is as clean as they get, and it doesn't look like the engine was altered significantly. The seller says the mill is numbers-matching.
Located in California, where it was initially sold, this Warlock is looking for a new owner through a no-reserve auction. Bidding is at $21,300, with more than two days to go. How much do you think this pickup is worth?
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