The 1980s Dodge Diplomat was the end of an era. These were rear-wheel-drive V8 sedans that had the engine mounted facing forward with a hump in the floor above the automatic transmission. This version of the Diplomat ran from 1977 to 1989 and could often be seen in service to local police departments. The seller’s 1987 edition was a one-owner car that only saw 21,000 miles before going into storage for several years. It’s been mechanically refreshed and ready to roll, located in Scottsboro, Tennessee. The Mopar is available here on craigslist for $4.750. Another fine tip from Rocco B!
Diplomats shared their framework with Chrysler’s Fifth Avenue and Plymouth’s Gran Fury. For a time, the cars were offered as 2-door coupes, station wagons, and 4-door sedans, with the lineup eventually being pared down to only the latter. The same was true with engines, which initially included Chrysler’s Slant-Six and 318 and 360 cubic inch V8s. By the time the seller’s car was built, the 318 was the “last man standing”. This vehicle could have been built at AMC’s factory in Kenosha, Wisconsin after Chrysler shifted some production there from 1987 to 1989 (when the car was canceled). While more than 383,000 Diplomats were built in 13 years, the 1987 model year only saw sales of 20,600 as consumer interest had shifted to FWD.
As the story goes, the original owner of this Dodge bought it new in Alabama. Perhaps due to the declining health of said owner, the automobile was parked for many years, possibly going back to the prior century given the date codes on the tires. The seller purchased the Diplomat from an estate and went to work reviving the machine. That included new tires, a gas tank, a fuel pump, and a complete tune-up. The carburetor was also rebuilt but isn’t operating properly, meaning the buyer will need to install a new one.
The body, paint, and interior are great, reflecting its storage and low miles. But the vinyl roof has some gouges in it which you’d want to replace at some point. Until then, you should be riding around in a nice vintage Dodge with an automatic transmission that “shifts smoother than a pocket full of talcum powder.” The seller has not detailed the car, just a wash and vacuum. If you like traveling in old-school autos like this, how about this 37-year-old Dodge?
On these, y’gotta flip lid to the air cleaner..
“..flip THE lid..”
Sold!!!
Had 83 and 85 Fifth Avenues 👍. Formal styling, plush velvet interior, comfortable, and dependable. One of the best revisions (from Valiant Brougham to Volare Premier to RWD LeBaron to Fifth Avenue). Stupidly sold the 85 to a young guy who begged to buy it. Within two weeks he totalled it! Recently saw an 87 Fifth for $4,900. VERY tempted!
Did you purchase this car?
love it , as per underhood a nice cleaning and detailing is a good’s saturdays work, air pump probably seized with unuse and a replacement costs peanuts and rebuilt out of the box carbs aren’t that expensive. So for minimal cash outlay and one full week-ends worth of elbow grease this can turn into a nice week-end machine
Exactly! I like it. Nice, dependable transportation at a cheap price is always a good thing!
There is a Chinese knock off Carborater available for these that is actually pretty decent. Personally, I would scrap the “Electronic Spark Control Computer”, convert it to the excellent “Mopar Performance” Electronic Ignition System or something equivalent then install an Edelbrock Performer 318 intake and an Edelbrock Performer AVS 600 electric choke Carborater and probably a Mopar Performer Reproduction Unsilenced Aircleaner and enjoy it.
It’s over 20 years old so it’s no longer subject to EPA testing so maybe dual exhaust is in the works. You would be real surprised how much that’ll wake a 318 up. An added bonus, this is a roller hydraulic lifter engine with 9.0 to 1 compression ratio and swirl port heads. Just about the best it gets prior to the Magnum series. This could be a very fun sleeper and would probably be quicker than the E58 cop car versions. Think about it. We’re I in better financial shape, I would have this one sitting in my driveway. One other thing though, this likely has 7.25 inch rear differential, it won’t last with any kind of hop-ups. Look for an 8.25 out of an E58 car, have it rebuilt with limiter slip, or find an 8.75 inch rear axle, I’ll bet one from a Dodge Dart from the late 60’s or early 70’s will fit, although those will be more difficult to find.
I owned an 87 Plymouth Gran Fury Police version of this car. Ran well, rode nice, I could sit in that car for 12+ hours at a time and get out without a sore back. It did everything I wanted of it except get good mileage.
Had same exact car, color motor everything but no whitewalls and had Burgandy plush leather like double button tuck Seats, nothing wrong with , could not sell for 500, then 300, then junked it, drove to junkyard took out battery , for 200.00. Sickening.
My late wife had one of these when we got married in 95. Hers had red crushed velvet interior, 318 fully loaded. Her first husband bought it new and then he died shortly after but she had loan insurance on it that paid the car off. One morning in 96 she was heading to work when a vehicle a few cars in front of her was hauling a jet ski and it off loaded itself in the middle of the street the car in front of her hit the jet ski and she hit the car in front of her totaling her Diplomat. Insurance paid off and we bought her a 96 Ford Taurus that we kept for 23 years and over 300,000 miles before selling it it.
God Bless America
A small-town cab company I drove for, favored these. The owner would buy former NYC police cars at auction, for under $1000 each, and take them 500 miles west. The basic bulletproof chassis, and interchangeability, assured a couple of years’ service.
They had value, but, lemme TELL you, they were not art; they didn’t speak to that part of automotive history was worth remembering. Except, maybe, in the same way one might save a Ford Model TT truck.
Back in the day, driving one of these at night, people would slow down, slam on their brakes, change lanes, etc. because they looked like cop cars. Nowadays, almost any vehicle that you see in your rearview mirror could be a cop car. Oh, the memories. 😁
Had several of these in the 80’s. An ’82 Gran Fury Police, ’83 Fifth Avenue, ’84 Gran Fury Ohio Highway Patrol. (That was my favorite). Had velour interior. HP 318 4bbl. The trick with any of these 318 4bbl lean burn engines was to disconnect the computer and switch it to traditional electronic dist. and module. Increase the timing by 10 degrees, run premium and you had an additional 50 hidden horsepower unleashed. I added a 100hp shot nitrious kit rejetted the Thermoquad carb and took on Buick GN’s and Mustang 5.0’s in the late 80’s. Low cost (the ’84 came from a police auction and low insurance rates)
The vinyl top won’t get patched or redone. It’ll either get driven as is, or turned into a replica police car.
These are very good cars until the Lean Burn system starts to give trouble, and it will. I had a low-mileage, plush interior, Gran Fury like this and it was a very nice car until the Lean Burn acted up. I sold it for peanuts after that.
Can I get a haircut in this??
Did this year have a 2 or 4 barrel carb?
2 bbl
Cool piece of history. Would get 27.5 mpg highway with cruise control. The electronic spark control system was pretty good by 1987. The lean burn name was long gone by then.
I’m almost old enough to drive this in the left lane with my blinker on but I’ll keep to the right.
“shifts smoother than a pocket full of talcum powder.”😂
It’s got an ’83 front end, and an ’83 interior. Identical to the 1983 brochure.