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!! :-)