Cadet Blue Metallic, I believe, is the color of this beautiful, very cool, last of the boattail Dodge Diplomats. It’s a bummer that the seller didn’t show at least one full photo of the rear 3/4 view, but you all know what they look like, so it probably doesn’t matter in the grand scheme of life. This 1979 Dodge Diplomat 2-Door is posted here on craigslist in Chesapeake, Massachusetts, and they’re asking $5,950. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Rocco B. for the tip!
Dodge referred to this body style as a 2-Door, so it isn’t really a coupe, although most of us would call it a coupe. I like to use the official factory name whenever possible. Most of us would say it’s a coupe because it has two doors, and I’m right there with you. In any case, this first-gen Diplomat is a great-looking design by almost any standards.
Especially in this coupe, I mean, 2-door body style (cough). Dodge offered another slightly darker blue, Ensign Blue Metallic (they must have had a military theme that year), as shown on page 10 of the slightly pixelated 1970 Diplomat brochure here. It’s usually hard to tell from craigslist photos, but I don’t really see a glaring flaw on the exterior of this car. There’s a bit of possible corrosion (better known as rust) starting to appear above the taillight trim, but maybe that’s dirt? Rust isn’t mentioned at all, but Chesapeake, Virginia isn’t exactly the desert southwest.
The first-generation Dodge Diplomat was made from 1977 through 1979, and then the body changed, not dramatically, but gone was the gorgeous and risk-taking rear boattail design. I’d rank this car up there with the early-70s Buick Rivieras and a few others for a great design as far as what the car behind you saw. After 1989, Dodge would do away with the Diplomat and bring on the Monaco, which by then was a Renault 25-based Eagle Premier with plastic bumpers and almost no resemblance to anything a person would think was a big, chrome-bumpered Dodge. The interior here looks nice, the seats appear almost perfect, and there aren’t any pesky options to get in the way (power windows, etc.). The little deserted island of faux wood on the doors is an unusual touch. “Place door crank here,” is what that says to me. Of course, that’s where the classic Chrysler family power window “paddle buttons” would also go if this car has power windows.
The engine is Dodge’s 318-cu.in. OHV V8, and I’m not sure if it’s a two-barrel or a four-barrel carb, so I went with a two-barrel. That gives a horsepower rating of 135 with 250 lb-ft of torque. Backed by a three-speed TorqueFlite sending power to the rear wheels, and they say it was just serviced, and it runs and drives great. Are any of you fans of the boattail design Diplomat?
This brings back memories. Knew a young lady years ago that had one like this in brown with a Slant 6. It was bullet proof, but unfortunately wouldn’t really get out of its own way. But it was a good safe first car for her. Her friends called it the USS Diplomat. This one looks terrific. And it’s not easy to find one in good original condition these days for sure. The colors on this one is great. Thanks for the High School Memories of the USS Diplomat Scotty!!!
SG I see where you are going with the boat tail concept but without a cathedral or wraparound rear glass, its more of a poop deck than the full boat tail.
Nice car nonetheless…in decent condition for a reasonable ask.
May not be a car people lust after, but boy would it be exciting to see on the road in today’s jellybean world.
I had a salesman try to convince me that this was a “sharp” car…I thought it was an old man’s car when I was a young man, and now that I’m an old man, I STILL think the same…but NOT for me! LOL!! GLWTS!! :-)
(BTW) At the time, I was driving an immaculate ’70 Dodge Charger!
The Riviera is the real boat tail for me.
I agree with above comments and see this as a grandfather car personally.
Good luck with sale!
Sharp car. I hadn’t really thought of the boattail look before, but there it is. Lots of fancy trim, and it looks great in the silvery blue with white. Good condition for not much money,.
I’m with you Bob. I never really saw the Boat Tail thing either till Scotty pointed it out. But now I do.
Had the same car color combo with factory 4 speed
You can’t beat velour for napping in the car while the wife (now ex) is shopping in the mall….
My first ”new” car was a ’79 LeBaron Medallion coupe like this… 318, AC, Leather interior… power windows. White with beautiful aqua leather interior and half roof. A very nice car… smooth.. quiet.. lots of interior lights… Drove it for 9 years and 115k miles… hated selling it..
So in the hope of being 30 again, about 10 yrs ago I bought a very clean 79 LeBaron coupe…. part of the old car thing is to be young again…. It worked for a week or so….
This is a nice looking car. I think the next owner should get it road ready and drive it. I know I’m going to take grief for this, but this car is destined to be recycled at some point regardless of its condition. It is already 47 years old and the people who will drive it is becoming very limited. Drive it in all the weather and wear it out and when it does get finally recycled it deserves to be.
Not Massachusetts…
It’s Chesapeake VA not Massachusetts
My mom had this but is was a 1978 Lebaron had v8 white with brown landau roof and brown i believe vinyl bench with arm rest. I enjoyed driving it . I still think today it had nice lines to it..
Gotta say, this is a car that I haven’t thought of in years. Frankly, I didn’t think about it years ago as well. But you know what? That’s a really good looking car. This would be a fun car for someone…
Whatever Chrysler called it, I’d say it qualifies as a coupe because of the different rear roofline (not to mention the tail), whereas a 2-door sedan would have the same roofline and tail as the 4-door.
Um, that’s Chesapeake, VIRGINIA, not Massachusetts
I had a 78 LeBaron Medallion in triple black. Mine was a lean burn 318/2 barrel and everyone thought it was a police car and I couldn’t get anywhere on time because everyone was going 5 under the limit in front of me everywhere I went! It wouldn’t get out of it’s own way but the torsion bars in front and leaf spring in the rear it cornered like a mountain goat and was surprisingly reliable.