1979 Dodge L'il Red Express Truck

The L'il Red Express was special muscle-truck edition of Dodge's Adventurer 150. Produced in 1978 and '79 only, the truck's 360 V8 meant it was the fastest American car in 1978. The package added big chrome wheels, stacks, lots of wood, and gold pinstriping and signs on the doors. With only 5,118 made, the '79 truck is a rare sight today, but most that survive are in good shape, like the one here.

 

 

 

Creative Car Badging

I always wince when automakers engage in badge engineering, when a car is given new badges and maybe a few exterior pieces to make a different "model." As much as I would like to say that only automakers engage in badge engineering, unfortunately some car owners do the same thing.

Why do people put some wishful badges on their car? You know, like the Honda Civic owners in the United States who slap a "Type-R" badge on the trunk lid. Is it that these people think the badge will add horsepower or trick everyone into thinking their car is something it's not?

The other day I ran across one of the most creative badging jobs I've seen on a car in a while. It was on an old Dodge SRT-4, a car that posts some respectable output figures but in stock form is lacking in handling characteristics. Apparently the owner of this SRT-4 felt inclined to slap a Viper badge on this car's nose. Was it a joke? It made me laugh, but sadly I doubt it. Does the guy think the average person would think his car was a Viper? Most people know that a Viper looks like but sadly probably wouldn't recognize its badge. Or maybe the guy tries to claim he crammed a Viper's engine under the hood.

Whatever the reason, like I said it made me laugh, and hopefully it makes you laugh as well.

1972 Dodge Dart Swinger

The Dart name was first used in the early 60s, on large cars that didn't have much in common with the later ones. The generation remembered more today, the 4th, was introduced in 1967 and lasted until '76. Like the Valiant, the Dart was basic transportation for the masses. It was reliable, handsome enough, and perfect for its role. The Dart, unlike the Valiant, was available with large engines in muscle car packages, including the 440. This Swinger, which was the name given to the coupes, is painted in a fantastic 70s-green, and the look is finished with chrome Cragars.

 

 

 

1970 Dodge Dart Swinger

1966 Dodge Dart 270

1963 Dodge 880

1972 Dodge Dart Swinger

1961 Dodge Lancer GT—Hardtop Coupe

This rendering shows what a dedicated 1961 Dodge Lancer coupe have looked like. The pillarless coupe Dodge produced was hamstrung in the looks department by the beancounter decision to use the exact same roof stamping as the sedan. This meant an additional, stationary window was needed in the C-pillar, which just looked odd with the pillarless glass in front of it. My coupe shows what they could have done if they had OKed a second, sportier, dedicated coupe roofline. It almost hints at sister division Plymouth's Barracuda coming up for '64. With bucket seats front and rear, this Lancer GT would have looked great next to that year's Corvair Monza sport coupe and would have predated the Mustang by three and a half years. Falcon wouldn't have a hot pillarless coupe until the '63 model year.

About the early sixties Lancer in general, it's clear that it's a sister to the original Valiant. I'm convinced that in '61 though, Dodge pulled off the better looking car. I didn't change anything in the front of this rendering, and look at those awesome lines! The grille is expensive looking, the and fender blisters work perfectly with the headlights and hood. With the windshield laid back a few degrees and the roofline lowered a couple of inches, my reversed C-pillar accentuates the rear fenders. It was suggested by an actual stamping in the production car's fenders.

Not My First

This is't the first early sixties Dodge Lancer I've rendered. This road warrior/daily driver sedan was done a couple of years ago. As in the chop at the top, I changed the C-pillar to include that reversed kink. There is a little pressed indentation in the production Lancer's and Valiant's doors (or fenders on coupes) that looks like it would lead to this pillar. The actual production C-pillar doesn't relate as well. I also gave it suicide doors just because I think they're cool, lol. The Lancer in the base photo was in better shape than "mine." I did all the battle-scars and aging in Photoshop.

Not My First
I just realized this is my 100th post here. Time flies! I just wish I could do new ones every day!

1963 Dodge Dart Convertible

1970 Dodge D-100 Pickup

1974 Dodge Dart Sedan

1969 Dodge Charger R/T

1988 Dodge Colt DL Wagon

1987 Shelby CSX

One of 750 made.

1975 Dodge Sportsman