Dodge Diplomat
The Dodge Diplomat was a then-midsize car of the 1970s and 1980s from Chrysler's Dodge brand and practically identical to the Chrysler LeBaron of 1977, the contemporary Plymouth Caravelle sold in Canada, and the Plymouth Gran Fury from 1982. It was built from 1977 to 1989. The Diplomat name was originally offered on a variant of the Dodge Coronet from 1950 to 1953, denoting the coupé (the station wagon was called Dodge Coronet Sierra). It was later used on a version of the DeSoto. Diplomat was also used on the most luxurious trim package on the Dodge Royal Monaco Brougham two-door hardtop between 1975 and 1977.
The Dodge Diplomat—as a model rather than a trim—was based on the Dodge Aspen, on the M-body platform. While the Aspen had the F-body, the Ms were related to it: the wheelbase was often identical and doors often interchangeable. Hence, another M-body sedan, the Chrysler New Yorker of 1989, had interchangeable doors with the 1976 Aspen. Like the Aspen, the Diplomat had coupé and station wagon variants, though the latter was cancelled after 1981 and the former in 1982.
It was sold in Mexico between 1980 and 1981 as the Dodge Dart, and in Colombia as the Dodge Coronet. Numerous models were spun off the Diplomat platform, including the coupé Dodge Mirada and Chrysler Cordoba. Beginning in 1982, the Plymouth Caravelle was offered in the US as the Plymouth Gran Fury.
The Diplomat was offered with a base 225 in³ six-cylinder engine. In 318 in³ V8 form (and an optional 360 in³) it, and its Plymouth Gran Fury twin from 1982, were widely favoured as a police car in the US. After 1984, the only engine offered was the 318 in³ V8.
As the 1980s progressed, fewer private customers purchased the Dodge Diplomat (in part because of a lack of advertising and also because people were favoring more modern makes), and the make (along with the Plymouth Gran Fury) was dropped in 1989.
External links Diplomat history
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