These bad-boys were the workhorses for urban police services in Canada throughout the 80s and early 90s. I've never seen a civilian version of this vehicle from back-in-the-day. Thanks for the memories.
My 1st driver/high school car was the '78 Town & Country Wagon. At relatively low miles, it became the family spare, so newly-minted driver I was, got to use it full time. Fake wood sides, AM/FM/CB/cassette, and the 318 (of which seemingly no more than 7 cylinders ran at one time.) Lean burn ignition....shudder. It was luxury. Heavy. Solid. Not built very well, but intended to be so. The interior, the dash, switches and knobs, shapes, materials all so familiar, second-nature. My sense of touch can distinctly recollect just how it all feels in there. It represented, it instilled my earliest freedom. Beyond nostalgia, were I in such a position just now, I'd purchase and proudly drive this wonderful sedan. Good luck!
Briefly rode in a 1985 Diplomat after my rich uncle bailed me out of jail and sped all the way to the airport to send me down the line to the next available relatives. Ahh, the memories. I turned out okay in the end in case you're wondering - no issues since, lol. Fantastic car that will only appreciate over time.
@@dloc6198 Oh yes, you are right! It's the exact same car, same color, just the luxury version. I guess because it's the same color I thought it was the same car. Same color, same wire wheels too. Mike's car had the half padded vinyl top which covered the rear quarter windows and that's the way to tell them apart.
The '88 and '89 M bodies got plastic headlights. They were the first example of the crap headlights we have today in newer cars. This is an early '88 model, built at Chrysler's Kenosha Auto Plant (main plant). In April of 1988, Chrysler began offering the M body with a driver side airbag/SRS, along with numerous other changes. Including an improved engine cradle. By December 23 of 1988, the last M body (a Bright White 1989 5th Ave) rolled off the floor, and the end of automobile production in Kenosha came to an end (as did RWD Chryslers, at least for the next 15 years).
If the AHB cars had the plastic headlights, they didn't last long. Never have seen them in service cars, that would've added to the list of the shortcomings they came with. F,M,J's signaled the end of Chrusler really, truly doing good product planning & development. To make them as nearly as good as the A-body takes a bit of work & upgrading. In fact, even Iacocca pointed out that the F-body was a huge mistake and Chrysler should've updated & modernized the A-body instead of slapping the F,M,J together
@olikat8 no, the plastic lights were very poor in quality. Typically, you'd see a Kenosha car with new glass low-beams, and yellowed high beams. The squads went through headlamps frequently, so the plastic lamps would've been replaced early on. The F body, while similar to the M and J, had nothing of the quality that the later M-bodies did. The A-body was inferior to the M in every way, except that they were lighter. The few '76 A-bodies used in police service did not hold up. The only deficiencies the M-body had were that they were a little smaller than the Ford and Chevy, had no overdrive, smaller trunk, and smaller fuel tank. Some of the '85 - early '88 cars exhibited problems with negative camber, which was determined to be an issue with poor maintenance and poor quality control with certain structural components. It's also worth noting that Iaccoca was wedded to the idea of front wheel drive, and none of the existing RWD platforms when he took over were of any interest to him. He killed off the F body in mid-1980, the R-body in mid-1981, and the J body in 1983. But, much to Iaccoca's chagrin, the M-body caught on with the public and fleets alike. Not that he didn't try to kill them every model year. He did. The "extended K" cars were supposed to replace the M-body in 1983, or '84 at the latest. The customers vehemently disagreed. So, they positioned the so called E-cars just below the M-body, which continued to sell well. In fact, Iaccoca utilized a Chrysler Fifth Avenue as his "limousine" every year from 1986 through 1989. But Iaccoca wasn't finished with his dream of eradicating RWD cars out of the lineup. When Chrysler once again faced tough times after Black Monday in 1987 (the same day Chrysler merged with AMC), Iaccoca decided to go after UAW-72 in Kenosha, which had both the M and L-body contracts at the time. While he was finally able to eliminate the M-body, the breach of contract cost Chrysler over $250 million, at a time they could least afford it. Less than 4 years later, Iaccoca was gone. 15 years after the last M-body was offered, Chrysler resumed production of V8-RWD cars, including squads, with the LX and LD cars. Now, in 2023, the Charger Pursuit is the last American police sedan on the market (as will its LF replacement in 2024).
@AHBguru I have both an '89 M-body & a '76 A-body. I'd say the "Twisted torsion bar" set up is not as direct, the A also out handles & out brakes it. Is it more "Coarse" in some aspects? Yes, but I prefer the A for its attributes. Just my personal opinion/ preference. As far as Iacocca is concerned? Like Shelby, I don't put him on a pedestal (oddly enough, have a GT350 in the back garage). In "Ford vs. Ferrari" they painted Shelby & Iacocca as flawless heroes and Leo Beebe as an utter ass. It's the other way around. My college roommates grandfather was the head of metallurgy at Ford until 1978 or 79. Leo was a good friend & a really nice guy. Shelby himself couldn't build sh!t. He was good at finding & recruiting talent, spending Ford's cash, and (snake oil) salesmanship. Want proof? Look at what he did to Peter Brock with Toyota SCCA deal in '70. Screwed him out of it, failed miserably and Toyota - embarassed- pulled the carpet out midway. Pete? He went to Datsun & killed it. Stapleton 42 has an episode with Lee Holman. He really tells what Shelby was like & what he thought of customers.
@AHBguru I like them, don't get me wrong. I've had 3 AHB versions. I go through and make them better- but I do that with every vehicle except my wife's cars & the GT350. Funniest 2? My Buick Regal & Audi A8L Quattro. Nobody, unless they are a real car nut, think they are anything.
@@UnionThugg Damn, for decades I assumed it was like the Chevy small block which received many updates and even different displacements (305, 350, etc.) but was still the same basic engine. So the newer 318 is a completely different design. That depresses me for some reason!
@@moonbeamskies3346 the Magnums were the best Mopar small blocks, for sure. Including the newsr cam-eating 3G Hemi. All the Viper and 3G hemi engines were actually based on the 360 Magnum. They would've been better off putting the hemi heads on that engine.
Hey Bob, the velour interior is gorgeous & I bet it's really comfortable!!! I think that this beauty really needs whitewall tires!!! Thanks for sharing this fun video!!! 👍👍🙂
I've had an ex-Seattle PD Gran Fury ('89), ex- Seattle Fire arson investigators car ('85), and just got an '89 Sheriff's rig. Useless ordered "Non- isoclamp" suspension, all of these cars (including the A38 & AHB cars in the F, M, J family) react to steering inputs like they are connected to jello. The cradle? Rides on rubber pucks. The rear shocks & suspension? Wrapped in rubber. Absolute trash. To make these cars decent, FFI makes the pieces to eliminate that garbage. Next? Get rid of the "No burn" lean- burn ignition and replace the Y-pipe with Walker. P/n 40430.
@@euroasianbob9268 I had a 79 Diplomat Coupe with a factory 318 4bbl/4 speed manual. It was like a Dodge Aspen on steroids. Those are really hard to find now
@@euroasianbob9268 The Fifth Ave. outsold the Dlplomat and Gran Fury combined. It wad selling over 100k a year for a few years. They ride much nicer. The Diplomat wasnt uncomfortable but the Fifth Ave had that ride, like the early 80s Imperial...silky
@@netrioter the retail cars all shared the same suspension. The Diplomat and Fury AHB police models, on the other hand, had much firmer bushings, shocks, and SD leaf springs. They were excellent handling cars, even with this loosy-goosy steering. And that firm ride was still far nicer than today's Charger Pursuit.
SOLD!
not
Woah! That’s my car! Now sitting at 66k miles. Love this!
Enjoy! It’s a great car!
These bad-boys were the workhorses for urban police services in Canada throughout the 80s and early 90s. I've never seen a civilian version of this vehicle from back-in-the-day. Thanks for the memories.
My 1st driver/high school car was the '78 Town & Country Wagon. At relatively low miles, it became the family spare, so newly-minted driver I was, got to use it full time. Fake wood sides, AM/FM/CB/cassette, and the 318 (of which seemingly no more than 7 cylinders ran at one time.) Lean burn ignition....shudder.
It was luxury. Heavy. Solid. Not built very well, but intended to be so. The interior, the dash, switches and knobs, shapes, materials all so familiar, second-nature. My sense of touch can distinctly recollect just how it all feels in there.
It represented, it instilled my earliest freedom. Beyond nostalgia, were I in such a position just now, I'd purchase and proudly drive this wonderful sedan. Good luck!
I've always liked these, they solid and reliable.
Briefly rode in a 1985 Diplomat after my rich uncle bailed me out of jail and sped all the way to the airport to send me down the line to the next available relatives. Ahh, the memories. I turned out okay in the end in case you're wondering - no issues since, lol. Fantastic car that will only appreciate over time.
Mike from Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul
Did he have one of these Diplomats on that show?
@@moonbeamskies3346 Yes. Same exact color and everything.
Wasn't that a 5th Avenue Mike drove in Breaking Bad?
@@dloc6198 Oh yes, you are right! It's the exact same car, same color, just the luxury version. I guess because it's the same color I thought it was the same car. Same color, same wire wheels too. Mike's car had the half padded vinyl top which covered the rear quarter windows and that's the way to tell them apart.
I would choose this car any day any time over super cars
My father had one just like it. A really nice car. Smooth ride.
Wow, another ridiculously wonderful find 🙂
I love how the radio is playing '80s pop every time 🤩
The '88 and '89 M bodies got plastic headlights. They were the first example of the crap headlights we have today in newer cars.
This is an early '88 model, built at Chrysler's Kenosha Auto Plant (main plant). In April of 1988, Chrysler began offering the M body with a driver side airbag/SRS, along with numerous other changes. Including an improved engine cradle. By December 23 of 1988, the last M body (a Bright White 1989 5th Ave) rolled off the floor, and the end of automobile production in Kenosha came to an end (as did RWD Chryslers, at least for the next 15 years).
If the AHB cars had the plastic headlights, they didn't last long. Never have seen them in service cars, that would've added to the list of the shortcomings they came with. F,M,J's signaled the end of Chrusler really, truly doing good product planning & development. To make them as nearly as good as the A-body takes a bit of work & upgrading.
In fact, even Iacocca pointed out that the F-body was a huge mistake and Chrysler should've updated & modernized the A-body instead of slapping the F,M,J together
@olikat8 no, the plastic lights were very poor in quality. Typically, you'd see a Kenosha car with new glass low-beams, and yellowed high beams. The squads went through headlamps frequently, so the plastic lamps would've been replaced early on.
The F body, while similar to the M and J, had nothing of the quality that the later M-bodies did. The A-body was inferior to the M in every way, except that they were lighter. The few '76 A-bodies used in police service did not hold up.
The only deficiencies the M-body had were that they were a little smaller than the Ford and Chevy, had no overdrive, smaller trunk, and smaller fuel tank. Some of the '85 - early '88 cars exhibited problems with negative camber, which was determined to be an issue with poor maintenance and poor quality control with certain structural components.
It's also worth noting that Iaccoca was wedded to the idea of front wheel drive, and none of the existing RWD platforms when he took over were of any interest to him. He killed off the F body in mid-1980, the R-body in mid-1981, and the J body in 1983. But, much to Iaccoca's chagrin, the M-body caught on with the public and fleets alike. Not that he didn't try to kill them every model year. He did. The "extended K" cars were supposed to replace the M-body in 1983, or '84 at the latest. The customers vehemently disagreed. So, they positioned the so called E-cars just below the M-body, which continued to sell well. In fact, Iaccoca utilized a Chrysler Fifth Avenue as his "limousine" every year from 1986 through 1989.
But Iaccoca wasn't finished with his dream of eradicating RWD cars out of the lineup. When Chrysler once again faced tough times after Black Monday in 1987 (the same day Chrysler merged with AMC), Iaccoca decided to go after UAW-72 in Kenosha, which had both the M and L-body contracts at the time. While he was finally able to eliminate the M-body, the breach of contract cost Chrysler over $250 million, at a time they could least afford it. Less than 4 years later, Iaccoca was gone. 15 years after the last M-body was offered, Chrysler resumed production of V8-RWD cars, including squads, with the LX and LD cars. Now, in 2023, the Charger Pursuit is the last American police sedan on the market (as will its LF replacement in 2024).
@AHBguru I have both an '89 M-body & a '76 A-body. I'd say the "Twisted torsion bar" set up is not as direct, the A also out handles & out brakes it.
Is it more "Coarse" in some aspects? Yes, but I prefer the A for its attributes. Just my personal opinion/ preference.
As far as Iacocca is concerned? Like Shelby, I don't put him on a pedestal (oddly enough, have a GT350 in the back garage). In "Ford vs. Ferrari" they painted Shelby & Iacocca as flawless heroes and Leo Beebe as an utter ass.
It's the other way around. My college roommates grandfather was the head of metallurgy at Ford until 1978 or 79. Leo was a good friend & a really nice guy.
Shelby himself couldn't build sh!t. He was good at finding & recruiting talent, spending Ford's cash, and (snake oil) salesmanship.
Want proof? Look at what he did to Peter Brock with Toyota SCCA deal in '70. Screwed him out of it, failed miserably and Toyota - embarassed- pulled the carpet out midway. Pete? He went to Datsun & killed it.
Stapleton 42 has an episode with Lee Holman. He really tells what Shelby was like & what he thought of customers.
@@olikat8 I've owned B, R, M, K, LH, LX, LD, ZJ, and WK. The M body was the best of the legacy models I've owned, by far, followed by the WK and ZJ.
@AHBguru I like them, don't get me wrong. I've had 3 AHB versions. I go through and make them better- but I do that with every vehicle except my wife's cars & the GT350. Funniest 2? My Buick Regal & Audi A8L Quattro. Nobody, unless they are a real car nut, think they are anything.
Great looking car ! My parents owned a 76 Dodge Aspen in which the Diplomats were based on . You sure lucked out on this cream puff .
That is a really nice pretty old car!
So cool!
Mike did not drive this car. He drove a Chrysler 5th Ave!
My 1996 Grand Cherokee had the 318 in it, great motor.
Different engines. This car has a 318 2bbl LA, engine code ELD.
The ZJ V8 used a 5.2 318 Magnum.
@@UnionThugg I thought it was the same engine but updated with electronic fuel injection and a few other updates.
@@moonbeamskies3346 same displacement, but different block, heads, and valvetrain.
@@UnionThugg Damn, for decades I assumed it was like the Chevy small block which received many updates and even different displacements (305, 350, etc.) but was still the same basic engine. So the newer 318 is a completely different design. That depresses me for some reason!
@@moonbeamskies3346 the Magnums were the best Mopar small blocks, for sure. Including the newsr cam-eating 3G Hemi. All the Viper and 3G hemi engines were actually based on the 360 Magnum. They would've been better off putting the hemi heads on that engine.
My grandmother had one of these and then my cousin bought it and ran it into the ground after years of owning it. Love this car.
Welcome to Mopar cop car land bro!
Hey Bob, the velour interior is gorgeous & I bet it's really comfortable!!! I think that this beauty really needs whitewall tires!!! Thanks for sharing this fun video!!! 👍👍🙂
NO please no whitewall tires! These Cars never came with those either!
@@oneflewoverthecuckoosnest2823 yes, they did!! My sister bought one new & it had whitewall tires!!! 🙂
@@christopherkraft1327 Not from the factory but an dealer option!
@@oneflewoverthecuckoosnest2823 in any case, you could get them with whitewall tires!!!! What's the big deal???
@@christopherkraft1327 They are ugly and don't suit the Car!
Carrão MARAVILHOSO
I've had an ex-Seattle PD Gran Fury ('89), ex- Seattle Fire arson investigators car ('85), and just got an '89 Sheriff's rig.
Useless ordered "Non- isoclamp" suspension, all of these cars (including the A38 & AHB cars in the F, M, J family) react to steering inputs like they are connected to jello. The cradle? Rides on rubber pucks. The rear shocks & suspension? Wrapped in rubber. Absolute trash.
To make these cars decent, FFI makes the pieces to eliminate that garbage. Next? Get rid of the "No burn" lean- burn ignition and replace the Y-pipe with Walker. P/n 40430.
Put whitewalls on it and that will be the crown!
Headlights were rectangular glass halogen headlights on y 88 Grand Fury. They were never plastic housings on Chrysler "M" bodies.
Very cool
That is an awesome survivor. My wife would kill me if I bought it though.
Looks like a can of Dr. Pepper
If it was the Fifth Avenue...id jump on it
You see more Fifth Avenues now than a Diplomat SE. Makes it kind of cooler in my eyes.
@@euroasianbob9268 I had a 79 Diplomat Coupe with a factory 318 4bbl/4 speed manual. It was like a Dodge Aspen on steroids. Those are really hard to find now
@@euroasianbob9268 The Fifth Ave. outsold the Dlplomat and Gran Fury combined. It wad selling over 100k a year for a few years. They ride much nicer. The Diplomat wasnt uncomfortable but the Fifth Ave had that ride, like the early 80s Imperial...silky
@@netrioter the retail cars all shared the same suspension. The Diplomat and Fury AHB police models, on the other hand, had much firmer bushings, shocks, and SD leaf springs. They were excellent handling cars, even with this loosy-goosy steering. And that firm ride was still far nicer than today's Charger Pursuit.
Well hello again Bob, how ya doing buddy. Beautiful car you have there Bob. Regards from John in England 🙂🇬🇧🇺🇲🇬🇧🇺🇲
Thanks John!
Thats not a Diplomat, thats a Greenwood from Grand Theft Auto San Andreas 😂
Can dodge Diplomat reach on highways and Open roads 8l/100km?.
Carro show
Existe Dodge Diplomat diesel??
The ol 1 lady owner...
Plymouth Gran Fury much better and the Fifth Avenue ( that’s what Mike drove ) is way more plush then the Lincoln’s & Cadillacs & Buicks
I was told if you have nothing good to say then………….just not my thing. I loved the previous MG!!
There is an ass for every seat. Lol.
Still 4 sale?
Sold
hey not a cop car. se is smooth edition. you don't have own mechanic kinda suspect.
This is not a Mike car.
fuck me i literally just lost my opportunity for one this weekend, this same year and spec, very clean too,