Why the Dodge Diplomat Was a Decent All Around Car.
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Published 2023-09-23
The second generation 1980 model year brought new exterior sheet metal for the Diplomat. The early '80s brought challenges to the auto industry, such as rising fuel prices and changing regulations. The Dodge Diplomat adapted to these times by offering a more fuel-efficient six cylinder engine and a smaller V8, allowing it to remain relevant during an era of increased emphasis on fuel economy.
Interesting note, Chrysler's then executive vice president for manufacturing, Steve Sharf, met with officials at American Motors (AMC) to use the extra capacity at an assembly plant in Kenosha, Wisconsin to build the cars.[4]
About 250,000 Chrysler and Dodge models were built by AMC at a lower cost than Chrysler could. This relationship evolved into Chrysler's purchase of AMC in 1987.[4]
1981 was also the year that the police package version arrived. The Diplomat its sister the Plymouth Gran Fury were smaller than the Chevy and Ford competition, but had slightly better performance than the Ford and Chevy in certain years.
One of the reasons some police forces liked the Diplomat was that it was shorter than the Ford Crown Victoria and Chevrolet Caprice alternatives, making it more maneuverable in chases.
For 1985 a SE edition Diplomat went on sale with a restyled front end (looking like a Chrysler 5th Avenue) . A few SE edition Diplomats made their way into police forces, but these cars cost more. In the United States, the Dodge Diplomat out-sold the Plymouth Gran Fury every year as cop cars.
The Dodge Diplomat's production came to a close in 1989, concluding an illustrious decade-long run.
All Comments (21)
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My dad and uncle had a diplomat when they were in high school in the 90’s my dad had the civilian car while my uncle had the cop car and both my dad and my uncle loved there cars! Wished Dodge would bring this car back and make Dodge the number 1 sold police car in the USA 🇺🇸 again!
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My Dad had a 1980 Diplomat with a slant 6. Really the first car I drove. Great car! I miss it and Dad. Great memories.
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Back in 1992 I got an '86 Diplomat DeKalb County {Georgia} unmarked detective cop car from a police auction for $800! Had the 318 4bbl with dual exhaust but 360 heads, hotter cam, dual spark distributer & a great suspension ✌💖☮
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My mother had a 1988 Dodge Diplomat four door sedan back in 1995, I drove it quite a few times, it was a smooth driving automobile and had the best stereo system, and it also had the 318 V8😊❤👍
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My late uncle had one and I thought it looked like him… Something about those headlights with the indicators on top (like bold, thick brows) and the confidence in the design (no pretense of sport, straightforward lines, just the right amount of class – alluding a debonair vibe, etc.) will forever remind me of him and the energy of that era
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Diplomat was a fine car. Gave owners their money's worth.
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This is so cool never thought I'd see a video on the dodge diplomat but it's great
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My first car was an 86 4 barrel diplomat cop car. Loved that car, it was bullet proof.
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I had the Gran Fury version of this 💯
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My parents had an 88 Diplomat with a 2 barrel 318. Was a good solid car all around, went over 360,000 miles before they sold it. The lean burn system would give my dad hell trying to get it to pass emissions. I miss cold starting it and the sound of the old Mopar starter.
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I grew up in NYC and these cars were everywhere. highway cops, city cops, transit cops, detective's cars, FDNY etc. they were synonymous with the city, if someone pulled up in one of these you would just assume they worked for the city.
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I remember The Dip didn't rot into iron filings in two years like the Volare/Aspen, it was moderately dependable (a HUGE win for Chrysler at that time) and had decent interior room and comfort for its size. I also recall a body that only felt vaguely connected to the frame when the road got twisty and the brakes were...approximate...at times.
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I learned how to drive on my Dad's 1978 Chrysler lebaron town and country wagon. I have owned 2 Lebaron's a 1978 2door lebaron and a 1979 2 door lebaron. I currently own a 1980 dodge Diplomat with t-tops bucket seats and 318 v 8 engine that is all original and in great shape.
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My father drove many Dodge Diplomat police cars, some marked and some unmarked. His favorite was a mid-80s gold one with no badging, just a red light bar on the top and a bunch of antennas. His favorite police car by far wasn't the Diplomat, though. It was a '69 Polara. He talked about that car at least once a month until the day he died.
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Had a 85' Diplomat ex cop car back in high school. 318 with Rochester quadrajet and straightpiped exhaust. Friends and I would terrorize the neighborhood, shining the spotlight on people's houses at night. Wasn't very quick, but handled well. Built like a tank.Never a squeak or rattle. Only issues were when the dash caught fire, torque converter broke in half, and one of the wheels broke off the hub while driving. Great memories!
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Owned over a dozen M-bodies, all Fifth Avenues except the 82' RWD NewYorker. Still have three. Used to drop 360s with Thermoquads and 727s into them. Had to put at least 8 1/4" axles in to live behind the 360s. Fifth Avenues with luxury wire hub caps blowing the doors off all kinds of stuff at lights, was my party trick through the 80s and 90s, when these were still new. Great fun and unbelievably comfortable to drive distances.
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I had an 83 Diplomat with a Super 6 motor. For a rear wheel drive car with snow tires it would drive through deep snow no problem. They were a heavy car but nice to drive.
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The '70s 440 Plymouth Fury IIIs were my all time favorite. Never found out how fast they went because there wasn't enough straight road available and you'd catch up to the bad guy before you'd top out. I had an '88 Diplomat take home unmarked car for a few years. It was very nice and comfortable, but driving through bad neighborhoods you could screw up whatever the narcs were working on just by passing through. The new Dodge Hemi Chargers are really good, with much more zip than the previous Crown Vics. Many agencies are going to SUVs now.
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I didn't havd a Diplomat - but I did have one of its sisters in the Plymouth Gran Fury and my car a 1986 Chrysler 5th avenue - with the 318 V8 in it really had great torque and was a lot of fun for the fan of big sedans that I was in the early 90's, in my youth. LOL I miss that couch on wheels.
