Word came back in March that a modern take on the 1978-79 Dodge Lil’ Red Express Truck was in the works, and now we have learned that the final model is ready to go. The final version, called the Dodge Ram Red Xpress Truck, is ready for sale, albeit this time, it is not an official production truck.
According to Chrysler, the 1978 Lil’ Red Express Truck on which the Dodge Ram Red Xpress was based was the fastest American production vehicle of its year. Equipped with a unique exterior package and a 5.9-liter small block with 225 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque, the Lil’ Red Express Truck was definitely no Little Red Riding Hood.
While that amount of power may have been considered plentiful back then, the Dodge Ram Red Xpress will be available with the current-gen Ram’s topline 5.7-liter Hemi V-8 with 390 horsepower and 407 pound-feet of torque. Gearheads desiring more speed can opt for a 6.1-liter SRT-8 Hemi V-8 crate motor with 450 horses or the downright-devilish 7.0-liter Hemi V-8 with 600 horsepower. Both uprated engines will be mated to a six-speed manual Tremec and Dana 60 rear axle, and, of course, the smoke stacks will be available.
The team responsible for the Dodge Ram Red Xpress Truck is the Performance West Group, which completed all design, engineering, and production work. The specialty truck will be available as a turn-key or in kit form for Dodge dealers interested in doing the modifications on site.