1978 Dodge Warlock

The Dodge Warlock pickups, which included fancy wheels, fat tires, bucket seats, authentic oak sideboards and unique customizing of both the interior and exterior, was originally a show vehicle idea. It stirred such interest that Dodge moved quickly to introduce it late in the 1976 model year as a limited production vehicle; its popularity when it first hit the street made it a regular production model in 1977.

The Warlock came with either conventional two-wheel or four­wheel drive, with the D100 model (rear wheel drive) having H70 x 15 raised white letter tires and the W100 (four-wheel drive) having 10 x 15 tires. Other equipment included five-spoke wheels, bucket seats, tinted glass, bright rear bumper, and power steering; options included a radio, air conditioning, cruise control, a rear cargo light, and a clock. Like the standard pickups, they had double wall beds and front disc brakes.

The Warlocks all had black interiors, with a “tuff” steering wheel and gold tape accents on the dash and the doors. The 1976 Warlocks were painted black, dark green metallic, or bright red, with a “custom look” created by solid oak sideboards and small chromed running boards. The exterior had gold pinstriping to outlined the wheel wells and body lines; the pinstriping was continued inside, on the doors, dashboard, and the instrument cluster. The script word “Warlock” was emblazoned in gold on the tailgate. Dodge had just updated their interiors to be a bit more driver-friendly, which helped make the Warlock more attractive.  

The Warlock’s oak-lined pickup bed was later used by the (more popular) L’il Red Express Truck, which had the same body panels and mechanicals (as did all D100 and W100 trucks); the Express also used the Warlock’s standard stepside chrome bumpers and grille, though it had new, five-slot disc wheels instead of the Warlock’s eight-spoke gold wheels (with black pinstripes). Those gold wheels only lasted for the first year, with the Warlock II of 1979 having chrome wheels.

A “Midnight Express” version was built — similar, but rarer. A pilot truck was used to do the 1/64th scale Johnny Lighting die-cast model.