The 1970s and 1980s Dodge Diplomat was an evolution of the troubled Aspen and Plymouth Volare. Along with the Plymouth Gran Fury, it became a popular choice for police cars on the street and in the movies/television. With black paint and a matching vinyl roof, the seller’s 1987 Diplomat SE looks like a sleeper, but it’s not with a 318 cubic inch V8. In great overall condition, this potential survivor is available in Fremont, California, and here on eBay, where the current bid of $5,100 has not triggered the seller’s reserve.
Diplomats were on the assembly line from 1977 to 1989 across two generations. While coupe and wagon body styles were offered for a time, most Diplomats were built as 4-door sedans. Besides the Gran Fury, the Chrysler Fifth Avenue used the same shell and equipment in the second half of the Diplomat’s run. It would be Dodge’s last carbureted automobile for 16 years and the final rear-wheel-drive product except for the Viper hot rod. Going forward, fuel injection and front-wheel drive were the Chrysler order of the day.
Likely repainted, the seller’s ’87 Diplomat presents well with just a few scratches at 139,500 miles. The grey interior looks brand new despite the fact that the car has had seven owners over the past 39 years. It uses Chrysler’s venerable 318 cubic inch V8, so it’s no speed demon and only moderate on the consumption of gasoline. The brakes are new, and we’re told it’s a solid driver. Photos show it with black wheels, black tires, and poverty hub caps, along with wire wheel covers and whitewalls. To me, the former combination is best.
If you’re a fan of old school, this car is as old school as it gets, at least engineering-wise. Its cloth seats and factory air conditioning aren’t rare, but the factory combo of AM/FM stereo, cassette player, and CD player may be. All this car needs to finish off the former cop car look is the big cowcatcher bumper bar to push other cars out of the way with. This ’87 Diplomat restates that black is again beautiful!
Beautiful vehicle, but they ruined it with those police style wheels.