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My dad and uncle had a diplomat when they were in high school in the 90’s my dad had the civilian car while my uncle had the cop car and both my dad and my uncle loved there cars! Wished Dodge would bring this car back and make Dodge the number 1 sold police car in the USA 🇺🇸 again!
Blessess for this very wise words as i'm still own as my daily driver a 5th Avenue which is the same with low engine regulated performance but in the right hand that can fixed in no time back to his high performance glory like i did with mine!😁👍🏾🤘🏽
I fondly remember my Dad's 1978 Chrysler LeBaron 4-door sedan. It was a damn good car and gave him good service, since he was on the road a lot. It had the 225 Super Six (with 2bbl carburetor). He and a neighbor put different main jets in the carb and that made a world of difference. He kept it until it turned 90K miles and traded it in. I suppose he could've kept it but, he was from the era when it was wise to think about trading in at 60K miles. His LeBaron was a good car and that about sums it up.
All the cops in my part of the country have gone to SUVs so I dont think a sedan would sell as well as you think, even if they managed to redesign it well.
Back in 1992 I got an '86 Diplomat DeKalb County {Georgia} unmarked detective cop car from a police auction for $800! Had the 318 4bbl with dual exhaust but 360 heads, hotter cam, dual spark distributer & a great suspension ✌💖☮
I had an 83 Diplomat with a Super 6 motor. For a rear wheel drive car with snow tires it would drive through deep snow no problem. They were a heavy car but nice to drive.
My late uncle had one and I thought it looked like him… Something about those headlights with the indicators on top (like bold, thick brows) and the confidence in the design (no pretense of sport, straightforward lines, just the right amount of class - alluding a debonair vibe, etc.) will forever remind me of him and the energy of that era
My mother had a 1988 Dodge Diplomat four door sedan back in 1995, I drove it quite a few times, it was a smooth driving automobile and had the best stereo system, and it also had the 318 V8😊❤👍
I special ordered my 1982 Dodge Diplomat A38 Police Pursuit in March 1982 at Glendale Dodge in Los Angeles. TX9 Formal Black with dark blue interior. I ordered every possible luxury option. All power options such as power windows, power door locks, power 60/40 seat, power radio antenna, AM/FM Infinity sound system with cassette, carpeted trunk with carpeted spare tire cover, oil pressure gauge which incorporated the switch for the rear window defogger, power trunk lid release with button on lower left side of dash instead of inside of the glove compartment where civilian cars usually have the release button, digital clock on right hand side of the instrument panel, air conditioning, engine block heater which plugs into a 120 volt outlet to keep the engine warm in freezing weather, extra heavy duty springs in rear seat, (standard in front seat), sure grip rear axle, the $8.00 option to disable the dome light switches to prevent the interior lights from coming on when opening all 4 doors, tilt steering wheel, tinted glass all windows, Illuminated vanity mirrors on both sun visors, Police wiring package for lights and radios, 318 4 barrel Thermoquad carburetor, Exempt from California smog devices as all Police Package vehicles were in 1982, under hood light, luggage compartment light, dome and reading light, glove compartment light, remote control outside right and left rear view mirrors, and the power boost amplifier for the Chrysler Infinity sound system. The TX9 Black paint is absolutely 100% original. I always kept towels on the front and rear seats which are still today in brand new condition. I also covered the top of the dash and the rear shelf when I parked the car in the sun, but usually the car always had a cover on the entire car when parked at work. I have many spare parts such as all the chromed plastic trim , grilles, tail light assemblies, etc. Additionally, I ordered the special Blue silicone radiator and heater hoses with stainless steel clamps factory installed. I have a video of this car being driven off the transport truck on June 16, 1982 , the day it arrived from the factory. The day I drove it home. MSRP Total was $13,090.00 on the window sticker. I still own this Dodge Diplomat today in my garage with a cover on it. This may be the only 1982 Dodge Diplomat A38 Police Package car to be built with these many options. One more detail, The transmission is a Torque flight A727. As I remember, 1982 was the last Dodge Diplomat Police car built with the A727. On last thing, in 1986, I replaced the rear package shelf with the carpeted version with the mount for the 3RD stop light, which I installed, as required on 1986 and newer cars.
I didn't havd a Diplomat - but I did have one of its sisters in the Plymouth Gran Fury and my car a 1986 Chrysler 5th avenue - with the 318 V8 in it really had great torque and was a lot of fun for the fan of big sedans that I was in the early 90's, in my youth. LOL I miss that couch on wheels.
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Someone in my town owns a 1985 Diplomat with the SE trim, it was a former sheriff car, and the vehicle still had some “patina” in the shape of the sheriff dept. decals and still has the push bumpers mounted. Creamy white exterior with burgundy interior
I had a Diplomat SE. Super nice car and great highway cruiser. Pretty good fuel mileage also at 22 mpg on the highway. It was just about as nice as the fifth Avenue. The only major problem I had with it was the rear end was going out in it. Bad but not the end of the world. It gave me warning and I was even able to drive it back from New Hampshire to Florida. There it got another rear end. The little 318 was a great engine.
I learned how to drive on my Dad's 1978 Chrysler lebaron town and country wagon. I have owned 2 Lebaron's a 1978 2door lebaron and a 1979 2 door lebaron. I currently own a 1980 dodge Diplomat with t-tops bucket seats and 318 v 8 engine that is all original and in great shape.
Owned over a dozen M-bodies, all Fifth Avenues except the 82' RWD NewYorker. Still have three. Used to drop 360s with Thermoquads and 727s into them. Had to put at least 8 1/4" axles in to live behind the 360s. Fifth Avenues with luxury wire hub caps blowing the doors off all kinds of stuff at lights, was my party trick through the 80s and 90s, when these were still new. Great fun and unbelievably comfortable to drive distances.
I found the Diplomat to be a Dependable and well Engineered car , i have 2 of them an 1986 and 87 . My 87 i bought back in 2010 and has 228,000 on it . which I'm still driving to this day . She's getting old but not for me . I. Love this car .
I had an 80 Dippy sport coupe, with the 225. Oddly optioned, it had pw, but not locks, electric rear window defroster, but no a/c, and AM radio with 8 track and power antenna. White on red with 2 toned cloth, I ran it until it had 310k on it when it finally burned an exhaust valve, and I didn't want to take it apart to fix it. I changed the transmission fluid every 30k, and never had an issue with the 904. I changed the rear diff fluid twice in all that mileage, never had an issue with the wimpy 7 1/4. I did find out that it had the 2.94 gear in it. I did replace the carb after 2 rebuilds, because the linkage ate the throttle plate bushings, but in general, I got a solid 16 city and 27 highway at 65mph. Good riding and fairly good handling car. If I can find an untouched police car, I'll buy it!
My parents had an 88 Diplomat with a 2 barrel 318. Was a good solid car all around, went over 360,000 miles before they sold it. The lean burn system would give my dad hell trying to get it to pass emissions. I miss cold starting it and the sound of the old Mopar starter.
My neighbors had a '85 Diplomat and an '84 Civic hatchback. The husband drove to other towns a lot and would switch cars depending on where he was going - Civic for the rural 2-lanes in the mountains and Dip for the Interstate - when 12-year-old Car and Driver reader me asked whether that had anything to do with the cars' power and handling he said that no, it was the Dip's cop-car image - it was a drag on the 2-lanes because drivers ahead would slow right to the limit while on the highway they'd get out of the way.
I grew up in NYC and these cars were everywhere. highway cops, city cops, transit cops, detective's cars, FDNY etc. they were synonymous with the city, if someone pulled up in one of these you would just assume they worked for the city.
Also common taxis in the TLC fleet, which would dominated by Caprice and Crown Victoria in the 1990s. The TLC could have returned to the 300/Charger, similar dimensions to the Diplomat.
Growing up my folks had a Chrysler New Yorker 5th Avenue with the Vinyl top, pillow seats and soft shag like carpet & the Pentastar hood ornament. Was a great car.
My dad had a 1979 Caravelle. I remember that car as a big living room, felt like was floating. He had the 318 and still remember that starter sound. Unfortunately it met it's demise when the brake lines burst. Fond memories of that car
A friend of mine's mother owned an 89 Diplomat, and was generous in letting us borrow it. It was larger, roomier, and classier than the junkers we drove.
Had a 85' Diplomat ex cop car back in high school. 318 with Rochester quadrajet and straightpiped exhaust. Friends and I would terrorize the neighborhood, shining the spotlight on people's houses at night. Wasn't very quick, but handled well. Built like a tank.Never a squeak or rattle. Only issues were when the dash caught fire, torque converter broke in half, and one of the wheels broke off the hub while driving. Great memories!
My older sister bought a brand new Dodge Diplomat Salon in 1987. It was dark gray with a light gray interior. It had plenty of room inside for five people & was a good car. She kept it for several years!!! Thanks for sharing another fun video!!! 👍👍🙂
I remember The Dip didn't rot into iron filings in two years like the Volare/Aspen, it was moderately dependable (a HUGE win for Chrysler at that time) and had decent interior room and comfort for its size. I also recall a body that only felt vaguely connected to the frame when the road got twisty and the brakes were...approximate...at times.
The '70s 440 Plymouth Fury IIIs were my all time favorite. Never found out how fast they went because there wasn't enough straight road available and you'd catch up to the bad guy before you'd top out. I had an '88 Diplomat take home unmarked car for a few years. It was very nice and comfortable, but driving through bad neighborhoods you could screw up whatever the narcs were working on just by passing through. The new Dodge Hemi Chargers are really good, with much more zip than the previous Crown Vics. Many agencies are going to SUVs now.
I had an 81 LeBaron ret. Police car. Probably the fastest 318 car I have owned. Even though it was repainted tan it would put the fear of God in anyone who I'd get behind 😂. I only paid 225 bucks for it in 1992. But I ended up shelling the rear end and I got 250 out of it. The only difference in the Chrysler and the Dodge was the turn signals and headlights were flipped
The Dodge Diplomat, the Dodge Aspen and the Chrysler Volare' were the workhorses of (mostly) urban police services in Canada in the late 70s and most of the 80s. A transition service vehicle between the the Ford LTD 2 in the 70s to the briefly used Plymouth Gran Fury in the 80s. All used beyond their shelf-life before I joined the police service. The Ford Crown Victoria became the vehicle of choice from around '89 to 2015. The Diplomat was a tough vehicle and many had a after-life as taxicabs. The Diplomat, the Aspen and the Volare' were sought after at the time as municipalities believed they were fuel efficient and more nimble than the land-yachts they replaced.
Had an 84 Diplomat when Milwaukee PD was using them in the late 80s... Used to get free Burger King and McDonald's in the drive thru! 🤣🤣🤣! It was so Cop looking, the kids at the restaurant windows never gave it a 2nd thought to give us "cops" free food!
I went on a NJ police department in 1984. Our department had a patrol fleet of approximately 25 Dodge Diplomats 318 V8 police packages. Bare bones crank windows no real options. I think they were cheap to buy. The AC didnt work in Summer and the heat rarely worked in Winter. Those cars did run 24 /7 or years, and were all approaching 250 k miles. I remembering a old Sergeant at roll call issuing me an older Dodge Diplomat for patrol and saying please dont drive over 35 mph because the front wheels are ready to fall off. The Department got rid of them by 1987 for Ford LTD police packages.
I bought an ‘88 ex-State Patrol vehicle at the WI State Vehicle auction in Janesville, WI. It was loaded with all power options and 93K on the clock and ran like a watch. Still had the police ticket light on the ceiling and fog lights on the bumper….in the right light and angle you could see where the State Trooper lettering and stripes were on the side of it…traffic would part when they saw you behind them as it looked like and unmarked big time. I put 100K on it and sold it to a buddy and he put another 100K on it and sold it still running well…that 318 and HD Torqueflight we’re bulletproof!
Great show and review Boca ! I always liked the M bodies from Chrysler it always reminded me of my parents 76 Dodge Aspen sedan . The Diplomats were the new and improved F body Volares and Aspen .😊
I had an '88 Diplomat which had the Police package, but had been a Fire Department captain's vehicle. It had 43K miles on it when I got it in late 1994. Drove that beast for about four years. Wish that I'd kept it!
This brought back some memories. My first run in with the Diplomat was a ride in the back seat. It was 1988 in Point Pleasant West Virginia and I was a junior in high school. I was skipping school with a buddy and was caught by a town cop. Students saw me being taken out of the car and brought to the office. It was great!
I patrolled the mean streets in the 80s in Dips, Caps, and Vics. The Dip was the most practical in which to spend a shift. I found the Ford to have the smoothest ride, but the poorest fuel economy (sometimes requiring a refuel mid-shift) and the worst handling. I found the Chevy to be the fastest in acceleration and the best in handling, but the least comfortable to sit in and to have the quirkiest dash and interior layout. Everything just seemed to come together in the Dodge.
I had the Canadian equivalent 1982 Plymouth Caravelle ex police un-marked car, powder blue exterior, dark blue cloth interior with the 318 4 barrel, 727 automatic, heavy duty cooling package, bigger brakes, wider wheels. Bought mine in 1990 during my last year of high school. I loved that car. My father had the 1989 with the two barrel carb, his was so much better on fuel than mine was.
I owned the 1979 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country. Loaded included CB radio and wood trim. Big discounts as Chrysler was in the middle of the government bailout loan. Great car for vacations. Up to 24 mpg hiway with 318 V8.
LOL my first car was a 78 diplomat i purchased it in 1999 and it lasted only 3 weeks before breaking down in front a funeral home in Gretna, LA. All my cars been cop cars even my current car. This car was special because it allowed me freedom and ability to get around without the need for a bus pass LOL .
My Uncles and Cousins drove Dodge Diplomats and Plymouth Gran Furys, me I drove the Chrysler 5th Avenues. I always loved the 318 and Torque Flite Automatic Transmissions, they were simple to fix and were a very durable and reliable power train.
I had a 79 red two door coupe. Had to replace the transmission when first bought. After a few trips on the highway, the master cylinder went out in that sloppy slant six. Sold it after that. Should've gotten the upgrade the mechanic offered to the 318 . Terrible drivetrain but it had a clean body.
What car, what a Classic, one of my all-time dream cars, Diplomat, Gran-Fury, or Chrysler version, I love these gorgeous sedans, they are on my bucket list for 2024, ( all things being equal ) lol, great entertaining & informative video on the Dodge Diplomat, thanks for sharing/posting.
I seen some Diplomats with alot more hp then that. Don't forget some guys had big block V8s in theirs. Some had 318s. But they were an easy motor to do up and boost hp.
@@LBS-qw8gf yea people souped them up I heard a story back in the 80s some police departments put racing spec motors in their cars to keep up with cars 10 years ago
I got my license in the mid-80's, and these cars in the rearview were almost always police cars (like Crown Vics were until recently). However, my brothers best friend's family had a gray Diplomat SE. I didn't think much of these at the time, but I really like them now. Nobody did pillowy button-tufted velour seats like Chrysler did in the 80's. The Fifth Avenue interior was epic in burgundy or blue.
I remember so well, my late uncle owned a 1977 Dodge Diplomat four door, and drove it and took good care of it, until it was totaled in a wreck in 1980; after that, he bought a 1974 Challenger from a family friend, and it was a good one. My other uncle did own a 1981 Diplomat Salon two door hardtop, and it was a beauty, white with a red landau top. These were the cars of my childhood here in the South.
I drove them when I was a cop and loved the car so much, I owned 2 of them (ex-police cars) as my personal vehicles. The comfort, air conditioning and handling made them the Best cars ever built.
The 3.7 inline six was a good engine. With only 90 up to 110 HP but with a good torque beginning at low rpm and also very, very reliable; it was bullet proof!😊
I drove two diplomats as a deputy in Florida. The first was a 1986 diplomat and the second was a 1988 diplomat. They both had the 318 with the 4bbl. Sorry to disagree but they were not very good for law enforcement use. The handling was awful they were slow and lousy acceleration. The worst part though was the brakes. After two are three hard braking the brakes would fade to nothing. In law enforcement you have a lot of hard breaking when in a pursuit or running code to a hot call. I did not retire until 2017 and through all the years my favorite patrol car was the 1990 chevy caprice. I think a lot of agencies went with the diplomat was due to the cost being lower than other vehicles.
Both of my grandfathers had a Dodge Diplomat that they drove at one point in time, my dad's father drove a tan 1985 Dodge Diplomat SE that he bought brand new and it had the Ziebart Undercoating treatment on it, because in Indiana where he lived we have rough winters and we use salt on the roads, which is hard on cars, my mom's dad drove a Baby Blue 1987 Dodge Diplomat SE for about a couple of years before he parked it because the carbreuter got messed up because he lived down a gravel road and the gravel road knocked the carbreuter out of whack, and he didn't have the time to fix it, between all of the cars he repaired for other customers (he was a semi-retired mechanic.) I just about got my grandfather's 1987 Dodge Diplomat as my first car but it sat too long before I got to it and the car had some rust spots that were too much to repair.
My Stepdad was a California Highway Patrol officer and he and his partner were in a new Dodge Diplomat. The car had an exhaust leak in the passenger compartment. My stepdad had fallen asleep. His partner was driving and he too fell asleep while on a bridge. The car went off the bridge and down into the stream below. My Stepdad broke his back in 2 places and his partner died in the accident. My Stepdad was on disability for more than 20 years. He eventually returned to desk duty and finally was able to return to work for 5 years before mandatory retirement. He was a Great man and my sister and I loved him like he was blood. He went home last December (2022). He was 82 years old and had a lot of arthritis in his back. He suffered many years because of a Dodge Diplomate.
I worked at a body shop when they were used as police cars .there was rarely a week that went by that we did not have one in the shop getting the front frame section replaced , the crossmember was a little low and the police were wrecking them all the time. that shop made good money on dodge diplomats.
I bought one back in 1992. I believe it was an 85 , but can't remember. It lasted over 300k miles for me, and still actually ran after that. Couldnt beat it for Comfort , power and durability.
Another fantastic video with interesting, informative history. I never heard of the Caravel, but I looked the name up and it's a small, fast, Spanish or portuguese sailing ship from the 15-17 Century. Back in 2010, I watched a Canadian TV show the littlest hobo and the show used alot of Plymouth Furys as police cars. I remember seeing alot of Diplomats in Law and Order. I always thought it would've been cool if someone made a Diplomat race car and called it diplomatic immunity!
My respect to all of you cuz i still own as my daily driver a Chrysler 5th Avenue which was the high trim level at the time. However i made some custom improvements on the 25 years is on my hands after my dad died who he broght brand new in 1990 as 1989 model. He paid $22,980 on a 5 year debt. And today is a 100% healthy runner 33 years later runs like a champ. But with some body minor rust what i'm taking care of it but.👌🏾👍🏾👍🏾. I really appreciate this video on my very underrated M,J body who was and still a true champion for my own experience and a true MoPar guy never miss it. Tons of blessess.🙏🏾👌🏾👍🏾💎!!!
I have the Dippy's later Chrysler sibling, the Fifth Avenue that I bought for a project. 225k miles, she cranked right up and drove home. When I moved to my current house, after a year of sitting, she cranked right up (with a jump) and drove the hour drive to my new home. Still looking for a Dippy cop car for the beefier rear end and springs, so when I rebuild the engine and put a little more power to it, she'll hold up better. Alternately, stuff a 5.9 Magnum in there. .
Back in the late 80's, I was driving cab and several independents had retired NY State Trooper Diplomats bought at auction. They were certainly tough, fast, and good-handling. I was helping a friend doing some engine maintenance once, and was looking under-hood at all the special things that police package included; Heavy-duty radiator, towing special automatic transmission with a transmission cooler, and even the tranny cooler lines made a loop around the power steering pump to keep that cool. Space was tight in the back (especially with a divider installed), and the ride was a bit hard. They all rusted fairly quickly (being a fleet car, they probably spent little on rustproofing..), and all the special parts on the police model became difficult to source in a few years. I don't think any of them lasted past the mid 90's....
I worked for a Chrysler owned rental car companies caproate offices. At the end of the production of these cars, the rental locations were given really low cost leases on these cars. So low that if the car broke down it was often cheaper to just park the car on the lot and turn it in at the end of the lease then repair and put it out for rental.
We had a 79’ was a handsome car. Chrysler always imo made good looking cars. My brother TRASHED the car. Too bad because that car would have lasted - the slant six was excellent … thank you BOCA boys !!
I have grandmas version the 5th ave and the EPA ratings were no joke. Mine will get 26 if you set the cruise and let it do it’s thing. The 318 is so smooth and reliable but sitting at a screaming 130 hp you gotta plan a week ahead to pass somebody 😂
Thank you for another interesting video. Well put together. The footage and videos were excellent! I liked the information shared as well. I rode in a very late loaded late 1980's Diplomat. It was very close to a New Yorker Fifth Avenue in terms of features and luxury. I recall the Grand Fury and I must admit it was hard to tell the difference between Diplomat, Grand Fury and Fifth Avenue. I know Fifth Avenue started out as a trim package on New Yorker and LeBaron. These cars were all over television and films too. You keep the great videos coming every week. You know what I want to see eventually. Thank you so much.
👍👍 Hey Guys another Great posting and the memories you guys bring back, Thank You... The Diplomat also had as good as or better interior as a "79 Coupe De Ville and I owned a De Ville meaning seat comfortness ... 🍻✌🖐
My uncle use to own an ex-cop car Diplomat, well that car was a beast , yet very reliable. Now as to say I would love to see it back; to say I wish that Toyota would purchase Chrysler probably the Toyota Crown should be sold as a Diplomat in North America.
I like the 1988 Diplomat SE with the cornering light s , didn't know Chrysler did that. My dad had an 1982 Dodge Diplomat with the slant six He found seats out of A 5th Ave., I found a passenger side remote mirror, low washer fluid indicator, dual speaker dash panel, power trunk release, it was great until the front crossmember rusted out. I would love to find an 1980 - '81 two door t tops Diplomat, put a 360 in.
Sadly, the Diplomat lost the cornering lamps option sometime in the early 80s, I think. In fact, I think all of these cars (RWD LeBaron, Fifth Avenue, Diplomat, Gran Fury) lost the option around that time. There is an example in this video at 3:23 that shows where they were located when they were still offered as an option. They were located higher up, sort of an extension of the side marker lamps. The RWD LeBaron had a different side marker lamp than the Diplomat and Gran Fury ... and the LeBaron's optional cornering lamp would be an integrated unit in the same location as the side marker lamp on those LeBarons without the option. The red 1988 Diplomat for sale was customized a bit by a previous owner. The cornering lamps added came off of a late-70s to 1990 Oldsmobile fullsize RWD (98, Delta 88 and Custom Cruiser). Someone also added fiber optic lamp monitors (look closely at the tops of the front fenders). I remember seeing that ad and was excited to think that perhaps, there was a continued option ... until I realized what I was looking at. I cannot remember if that car had other things added to it by the previous owner. I feel like there might have been another thing or two, but am not sure. It's a beautiful car, nevertheless. I've added cornering lamps and fiber optic lamp monitors to several of my cars in the past and did so to my current 1984 Buick Electra Estate Wagon, which was not ordered with those options. I love both options and sourced NOS parts for my wagon so that it looks completely factory. I've also added the low washer fluid indicator, low fuel indicator, Twilight Sentinel (auto headlamps), dash-mounted clock, dome light with reading/map lights, rear window defroster and automatic dimming rearview mirror (with compass and garage door opener) to the wagon.
The cornering lights on that Diplomat are from an Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser of that vintage. Chrysler didn't offer cornering lights on Diplomats (or any M-bodies) after 1981.
I had a ex cop car it was a 1985 Plymouth Caravelle with a 318 and HD suspension it was a great car I still have the rims from the car and the engine too
Lovely car , it reminds me about tv series Dallas and i don't know why , perhaps with its name association for the upcoming Dodge Dynasty . Warm compliments from Argentina for this great footage
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I got a 82 Chrysler New Yorker looking for the lower belt trim clips 6003718 please help me
I have an '89 police package Diplomat ex TN State Trooper car. It's reatored but painted white now and a 408 stroker, 727, 3.55 Sure Grip.
My Dad had a 1980 Diplomat with a slant 6. Really the first car I drove.
Great car!
I miss it and Dad.
Great memories.
I had the 1980 Volare with slant 6 and 3 speed manual on the floor. Lots of torque out of these slant 6!
Me too! First car I learned to drive.
My dad and uncle had a diplomat when they were in high school in the 90’s my dad had the civilian car while my uncle had the cop car and both my dad and my uncle loved there cars! Wished Dodge would bring this car back and make Dodge the number 1 sold police car in the USA 🇺🇸 again!
Blessess for this very wise words as i'm still own as my daily driver a 5th Avenue which is the same with low engine regulated performance but in the right hand that can fixed in no time back to his high performance glory like i did with mine!😁👍🏾🤘🏽
I fondly remember my Dad's 1978 Chrysler LeBaron 4-door sedan. It was a damn good car and gave him good service, since he was on the road a lot. It had the 225 Super Six (with 2bbl carburetor). He and a neighbor put different main jets in the carb and that made a world of difference.
He kept it until it turned 90K miles and traded it in. I suppose he could've kept it but, he was from the era when it was wise to think about trading in at 60K miles. His LeBaron was a good car and that about sums it up.
@elizandrolopez6295 Wow! Very cool.
All the cops in my part of the country have gone to SUVs so I dont think a sedan would sell as well as you think, even if they managed to redesign it well.
Haha the car featured at 1:44 and 8:20 is mine! Truly the best car ever built;)
Back in 1992 I got an '86 Diplomat DeKalb County {Georgia} unmarked detective cop car from a police auction for $800! Had the 318 4bbl with dual exhaust but 360 heads, hotter cam, dual spark distributer & a great suspension ✌💖☮
I had an 83 Diplomat with a Super 6 motor. For a rear wheel drive car with snow tires it would drive through deep snow no problem. They were a heavy car but nice to drive.
Diplomat was a fine car. Gave owners their money's worth.
This is so cool never thought I'd see a video on the dodge diplomat but it's great
Totally agree with you! And it’s probably one of the coolest Dodge’s of the 80’s!
Thanks Owen and Luke. When i finished the video, I called my brother and told him that all the cars looked alike. SQUARE.. hehe!
My late uncle had one and I thought it looked like him…
Something about those headlights with the indicators on top (like bold, thick brows) and the confidence in the design (no pretense of sport, straightforward lines, just the right amount of class - alluding a debonair vibe, etc.) will forever remind me of him and the energy of that era
I'm gutting myself.
My mother had a 1988 Dodge Diplomat four door sedan back in 1995, I drove it quite a few times, it was a smooth driving automobile and had the best stereo system, and it also had the 318 V8😊❤👍
I special ordered my 1982 Dodge Diplomat A38 Police Pursuit in March 1982 at Glendale Dodge in Los Angeles. TX9 Formal Black with dark blue interior. I ordered every possible luxury option. All power options such as power windows, power door locks, power 60/40 seat, power radio antenna, AM/FM Infinity sound system with cassette, carpeted trunk with carpeted spare tire cover, oil pressure gauge which incorporated the switch for the rear window defogger, power trunk lid release with button on lower left side of dash instead of inside of the glove compartment where civilian cars usually have the release button, digital clock on right hand side of the instrument panel, air conditioning, engine block heater which plugs into a 120 volt outlet to keep the engine warm in freezing weather, extra heavy duty springs in rear seat, (standard in front seat), sure grip rear axle, the $8.00 option to disable the dome light switches to prevent the interior lights from coming on when opening all 4 doors, tilt steering wheel, tinted glass all windows, Illuminated vanity mirrors on both sun visors, Police wiring package for lights and radios, 318 4 barrel Thermoquad carburetor, Exempt from California smog devices as all Police Package vehicles were in 1982, under hood light, luggage compartment light, dome and reading light, glove compartment light, remote control outside right and left rear view mirrors, and the power boost amplifier for the Chrysler Infinity sound system. The TX9 Black paint is absolutely 100% original. I always kept towels on the front and rear seats which are still today in brand new condition. I also covered the top of the dash and the rear shelf when I parked the car in the sun, but usually the car always had a cover on the entire car when parked at work. I have many spare parts such as all the chromed plastic trim , grilles, tail light assemblies, etc. Additionally, I ordered the special Blue silicone radiator and heater hoses with stainless steel clamps factory installed. I have a video of this car being driven off the transport truck on June 16, 1982 , the day it arrived from the factory. The day I drove it home. MSRP Total was $13,090.00 on the window sticker. I still own this Dodge Diplomat today in my garage with a cover on it. This may be the only 1982 Dodge Diplomat A38 Police Package car to be built with these many options. One more detail, The transmission is a Torque flight A727. As I remember, 1982 was the last Dodge Diplomat Police car built with the A727. On last thing, in 1986, I replaced the rear package shelf with the carpeted version with the mount for the 3RD stop light, which I installed, as required on 1986 and newer cars.
My first car was an 86 4 barrel diplomat cop car. Loved that car, it was bullet proof.
I had something similar. My car was an ex FBI car, a 1979, 4 door Plymouth Volare with the 318 4bbl engine.
If you got one with a slant 6 with a big carb. They were called a super 6 motor. They were very reliable motor in the Diplomat.
Poke-slow, but reliable. Mopar should have offered the Super Six all along in North American as it had outside of it.
I didn't havd a Diplomat - but I did have one of its sisters in the Plymouth Gran Fury and my car a 1986 Chrysler 5th avenue -
with the 318 V8 in it really had great torque and was a lot of fun for the fan of big sedans that I was in the early 90's,
in my youth. LOL I miss that couch on wheels.
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Someone in my town owns a 1985 Diplomat with the SE trim, it was a former sheriff car, and the vehicle still had some “patina” in the shape of the sheriff dept. decals and still has the push bumpers mounted. Creamy white exterior with burgundy interior
These Furys, Diplomas can really run with 318/360 heads & 727 Torqueflite auto. Lots of low end torque, unlike today.
I had a Diplomat SE. Super nice car and great highway cruiser. Pretty good fuel mileage also at 22 mpg on the highway. It was just about as nice as the fifth Avenue.
The only major problem I had with it was the rear end was going out in it. Bad but not the end of the world. It gave me warning and I was even able to drive it back from New Hampshire to Florida. There it got another rear end.
The little 318 was a great engine.
I had the Gran Fury version of this 💯
I learned how to drive on my Dad's 1978 Chrysler lebaron town and country wagon. I have owned 2 Lebaron's a 1978 2door lebaron and a 1979 2 door lebaron. I currently own a 1980 dodge Diplomat with t-tops bucket seats and 318 v 8 engine that is all original and in great shape.
Owned over a dozen M-bodies, all Fifth Avenues except the 82' RWD NewYorker. Still have three. Used to drop 360s with Thermoquads and 727s into them. Had to put at least 8 1/4" axles in to live behind the 360s. Fifth Avenues with luxury wire hub caps blowing the doors off all kinds of stuff at lights, was my party trick through the 80s and 90s, when these were still new. Great fun and unbelievably comfortable to drive distances.
I found the Diplomat to be a Dependable and well Engineered car , i have 2 of them an 1986 and 87 . My 87 i bought back in 2010 and has 228,000 on it . which I'm still driving to this day . She's getting old but not for me . I. Love this car .
I had an 80 Dippy sport coupe, with the 225. Oddly optioned, it had pw, but not locks, electric rear window defroster, but no a/c, and AM radio with 8 track and power antenna. White on red with 2 toned cloth, I ran it until it had 310k on it when it finally burned an exhaust valve, and I didn't want to take it apart to fix it. I changed the transmission fluid every 30k, and never had an issue with the 904. I changed the rear diff fluid twice in all that mileage, never had an issue with the wimpy 7 1/4. I did find out that it had the 2.94 gear in it. I did replace the carb after 2 rebuilds, because the linkage ate the throttle plate bushings, but in general, I got a solid 16 city and 27 highway at 65mph. Good riding and fairly good handling car. If I can find an untouched police car, I'll buy it!
My parents had an 88 Diplomat with a 2 barrel 318. Was a good solid car all around, went over 360,000 miles before they sold it. The lean burn system would give my dad hell trying to get it to pass emissions. I miss cold starting it and the sound of the old Mopar starter.
I think mine was an 84. Loved the radio search foot button.
Had an 81 with Slant six 225, get up and go was typical slant six, handling was really a surprise, it was good for the period.
I love those cars.
My neighbors had a '85 Diplomat and an '84 Civic hatchback. The husband drove to other towns a lot and would switch cars depending on where he was going - Civic for the rural 2-lanes in the mountains and Dip for the Interstate - when 12-year-old Car and Driver reader me asked whether that had anything to do with the cars' power and handling he said that no, it was the Dip's cop-car image - it was a drag on the 2-lanes because drivers ahead would slow right to the limit while on the highway they'd get out of the way.
I owned a 79 LeBaron 318 that I got for $700 back in the day. Beautiful car
I grew up in NYC and these cars were everywhere. highway cops, city cops, transit cops, detective's cars, FDNY etc. they were synonymous with the city, if someone pulled up in one of these you would just assume they worked for the city.
Also common taxis in the TLC fleet, which would dominated by Caprice and Crown Victoria in the 1990s. The TLC could have returned to the 300/Charger, similar dimensions to the Diplomat.
Growing up my folks had a Chrysler New Yorker 5th Avenue with the Vinyl top, pillow seats and soft shag like carpet & the Pentastar hood ornament. Was a great car.
My dad had a 1979 Caravelle. I remember that car as a big living room, felt like was floating. He had the 318 and still remember that starter sound. Unfortunately it met it's demise when the brake lines burst. Fond memories of that car
A friend of mine's mother owned an 89 Diplomat, and was generous in letting us borrow it. It was larger, roomier, and classier than the junkers we drove.
Growing up in Kenosha, it really catches my ear hearing someone mention it in a video lol. Makes me feel like I live in a famous city.
Had a 85' Diplomat ex cop car back in high school. 318 with Rochester quadrajet and straightpiped exhaust. Friends and I would terrorize the neighborhood, shining the spotlight on people's houses at night. Wasn't very quick, but handled well. Built like a tank.Never a squeak or rattle. Only issues were when the dash caught fire, torque converter broke in half, and one of the wheels broke off the hub while driving. Great memories!
They were nice looking cars. Paired with a 318 or 360, pretty peppy
The feds in Connecticut used to use these the feds in Connecticut used frequently including the postal inspectors
My older sister bought a brand new Dodge Diplomat Salon in 1987. It was dark gray with a light gray interior. It had plenty of room inside for five people & was a good car. She kept it for several years!!! Thanks for sharing another fun video!!! 👍👍🙂
Thanks for sharing!
I remember The Dip didn't rot into iron filings in two years like the Volare/Aspen, it was moderately dependable (a HUGE win for Chrysler at that time) and had decent interior room and comfort for its size.
I also recall a body that only felt vaguely connected to the frame when the road got twisty and the brakes were...approximate...at times.
The '70s 440 Plymouth Fury IIIs were my all time favorite. Never found out how fast they went because there wasn't enough straight road available and you'd catch up to the bad guy before you'd top out. I had an '88 Diplomat take home unmarked car for a few years. It was very nice and comfortable, but driving through bad neighborhoods you could screw up whatever the narcs were working on just by passing through. The new Dodge Hemi Chargers are really good, with much more zip than the previous Crown Vics. Many agencies are going to SUVs now.
I had an 81 LeBaron ret. Police car. Probably the fastest 318 car I have owned. Even though it was repainted tan it would put the fear of God in anyone who I'd get behind 😂. I only paid 225 bucks for it in 1992. But I ended up shelling the rear end and I got 250 out of it. The only difference in the Chrysler and the Dodge was the turn signals and headlights were flipped
The Dodge Diplomat, the Dodge Aspen and the Chrysler Volare' were the workhorses of (mostly) urban police services in Canada in the late 70s and most of the 80s. A transition service vehicle between the the Ford LTD 2 in the 70s to the briefly used Plymouth Gran Fury in the 80s. All used beyond their shelf-life before I joined the police service. The Ford Crown Victoria became the vehicle of choice from around '89 to 2015. The Diplomat was a tough vehicle and many had a after-life as taxicabs. The Diplomat, the Aspen and the Volare' were sought after at the time as municipalities believed they were fuel efficient and more nimble than the land-yachts they replaced.
Had an 84 Diplomat when Milwaukee PD was using them in the late 80s... Used to get free Burger King and McDonald's in the drive thru! 🤣🤣🤣! It was so Cop looking, the kids at the restaurant windows never gave it a 2nd thought to give us "cops" free food!
I had a 1980 Diplomat Medallion two door. It had every option you could get. It was a great car and drove very well!
I went on a NJ police department in 1984. Our department had a patrol fleet of approximately 25 Dodge Diplomats 318 V8 police packages. Bare bones crank windows no real options. I think they were cheap to buy. The AC didnt work in Summer and the heat rarely worked in Winter. Those cars did run 24 /7 or years, and were all approaching 250 k miles.
I remembering a old Sergeant at roll call issuing me an older Dodge Diplomat for patrol and saying please dont drive over 35 mph because the front wheels are ready to fall off. The Department got rid of them by 1987 for Ford LTD police packages.
I bought an ‘88 ex-State Patrol vehicle at the WI State Vehicle auction in Janesville, WI. It was loaded with all power options and 93K on the clock and ran like a watch. Still had the police ticket light on the ceiling and fog lights on the bumper….in the right light and angle you could see where the State Trooper lettering and stripes were on the side of it…traffic would part when they saw you behind them as it looked like and unmarked big time. I put 100K on it and sold it to a buddy and he put another 100K on it and sold it still running well…that 318 and HD Torqueflight we’re bulletproof!
Great show and review Boca ! I always liked the M bodies from Chrysler it always reminded me of my parents 76 Dodge Aspen sedan . The Diplomats were the new and improved F body Volares and Aspen .😊
you guys make the coolest videos!!
Thanks Mike!!!
I had an '88 Diplomat which had the Police package, but had been a Fire Department captain's vehicle. It had 43K miles on it when I got it in late 1994. Drove that beast for about four years. Wish that I'd kept it!
I had a rear-drive Lebaron coupe with the Slant Six. Great car. Later got the front-drive version. Another great car. Now, I have a Charger.
Thanks for sharing!
My brst friend's dad had one of these in high school back in the late 90s and I always wondered why. It was ancient even in 1990!
This brought back some memories. My first run in with the Diplomat was a ride in the back seat. It was 1988 in Point Pleasant West Virginia and I was a junior in high school. I was skipping school with a buddy and was caught by a town cop. Students saw me being taken out of the car and brought to the office. It was great!
I patrolled the mean streets in the 80s in Dips, Caps, and Vics. The Dip was the most practical in which to spend a shift.
I found the Ford to have the smoothest ride, but the poorest fuel economy (sometimes requiring a refuel mid-shift) and the worst handling.
I found the Chevy to be the fastest in acceleration and the best in handling, but the least comfortable to sit in and to have the quirkiest dash and interior layout.
Everything just seemed to come together in the Dodge.
I had the Canadian equivalent 1982 Plymouth Caravelle ex police un-marked car, powder blue exterior, dark blue cloth interior with the 318 4 barrel, 727 automatic, heavy duty cooling package, bigger brakes, wider wheels. Bought mine in 1990 during my last year of high school. I loved that car. My father had the 1989 with the two barrel carb, his was so much better on fuel than mine was.
I owned the 1979 Chrysler LeBaron Town & Country. Loaded included CB radio and wood trim. Big discounts as Chrysler was in the middle of the government bailout loan. Great car for vacations. Up to 24 mpg hiway with 318 V8.
LOL my first car was a 78 diplomat i purchased it in 1999 and it lasted only 3 weeks before breaking down in front a funeral home in Gretna, LA. All my cars been cop cars even my current car. This car was special because it allowed me freedom and ability to get around without the need for a bus pass LOL .
HAD THE HIGHWAY POLICE PACKAGE. WAS BULLET PROOF AND COULD RUN AT 125 ALL DAY LONG.
Ditch that Lean Burn system and that 318 will run forever.
My Uncles and Cousins drove Dodge Diplomats and Plymouth Gran Furys, me I drove the Chrysler 5th Avenues. I always loved the 318 and Torque Flite Automatic Transmissions, they were simple to fix and were a very durable and reliable power train.
In the U.S in 1982, the Dodge Diplomat was also called a Plymouth Gran Fury, (Caravelle Salon in Canada).
I had a 79 red two door coupe. Had to replace the transmission when first bought. After a few trips on the highway, the master cylinder went out in that sloppy slant six. Sold it after that. Should've gotten the upgrade the mechanic offered to the 318 . Terrible drivetrain but it had a clean body.
What car, what a Classic, one of my all-time dream cars, Diplomat, Gran-Fury, or Chrysler version, I love these gorgeous sedans, they are on my bucket list for 2024, ( all things being equal ) lol, great entertaining & informative video on the Dodge Diplomat, thanks for sharing/posting.
Dodge Diplomat is one of my favorite police car I like the design of it only thing it was sadly underpowered making 115 or 160 horsepower
I seen some Diplomats with alot more hp then that. Don't forget some guys had big block V8s in theirs. Some had 318s. But they were an easy motor to do up and boost hp.
@@LBS-qw8gf yea people souped them up I heard a story back in the 80s some police departments put racing spec motors in their cars to keep up with cars 10 years ago
Learned to drive in my Dad's 1983 "Medallion Edition" with a 318 with police upgrade. Loved that car
I got my license in the mid-80's, and these cars in the rearview were almost always police cars (like Crown Vics were until recently). However, my brothers best friend's family had a gray Diplomat SE. I didn't think much of these at the time, but I really like them now. Nobody did pillowy button-tufted velour seats like Chrysler did in the 80's. The Fifth Avenue interior was epic in burgundy or blue.
I remember so well, my late uncle owned a 1977 Dodge Diplomat four door, and drove it and took good care of it, until it was totaled in a wreck in 1980; after that, he bought a 1974 Challenger from a family friend, and it was a good one. My other uncle did own a 1981 Diplomat Salon two door hardtop, and it was a beauty, white with a red landau top.
These were the cars of my childhood here in the South.
It would be cool to have a sleeper diplomat with a supercharged 6.2 Hellaphant motor with the 8 speed transmission behind it
Over the next five years since it's debut, it became the Mopar standard throughout the Eighties. Sales were strong mainly by dint of police orders!
I drove them when I was a cop and loved the car so much, I owned 2 of them (ex-police cars) as my personal vehicles. The comfort, air conditioning and handling made them the Best cars ever built.
I wonder if the reason Mike Ehremantraut from Breaking Bad/Better Call Saul drove one was because he was a cop before he turned dirty.
You got me again!!! I love wagons and cop cars, 😂!!! Thank you for the awesome video, Brothers!!! When are y’all going live again???
Hey Charles! Thanks for watching. We plan to go live soon. Take care!
The 3.7 inline six was a good engine. With only 90 up to 110 HP but with a good torque beginning at low rpm and also very, very reliable; it was bullet proof!😊
I drove two diplomats as a deputy in Florida. The first was a 1986 diplomat and the second was a 1988 diplomat. They both had the 318 with the 4bbl. Sorry to disagree but they were not very good for law enforcement use. The handling was awful they were slow and lousy acceleration. The worst part though was the brakes. After two are three hard braking the brakes would fade to nothing. In law enforcement you have a lot of hard breaking when in a pursuit or running code to a hot call. I did not retire until 2017 and through all the years my favorite patrol car was the 1990 chevy caprice. I think a lot of agencies went with the diplomat was due to the cost being lower than other vehicles.
0:18. "My torsion bars hurt." -- Dodge Diplomat
Both of my grandfathers had a Dodge Diplomat that they drove at one point in time, my dad's father drove a tan 1985 Dodge Diplomat SE that he bought brand new and it had the Ziebart Undercoating treatment on it, because in Indiana where he lived we have rough winters and we use salt on the roads, which is hard on cars, my mom's dad drove a Baby Blue 1987 Dodge Diplomat SE for about a couple of years before he parked it because the carbreuter got messed up because he lived down a gravel road and the gravel road knocked the carbreuter out of whack, and he didn't have the time to fix it, between all of the cars he repaired for other customers (he was a semi-retired mechanic.) I just about got my grandfather's 1987 Dodge Diplomat as my first car but it sat too long before I got to it and the car had some rust spots that were too much to repair.
As I was growing up in the 80s I noticed the Baltimore county police had an extensive fleet of Diplomats
Drove one for a few days as a rental. It was cool nobody would pass me when on the highway.
My Stepdad was a California Highway Patrol officer and he and his partner were in a new Dodge Diplomat. The car had an exhaust leak in the passenger compartment. My stepdad had fallen asleep. His partner was driving and he too fell asleep while on a bridge.
The car went off the bridge and down into the stream below. My Stepdad broke his back in 2 places and his partner died in the accident.
My Stepdad was on disability for more than 20 years. He eventually returned to desk duty and finally was able to return to work for 5 years before mandatory retirement.
He was a Great man and my sister and I loved him like he was blood.
He went home last December (2022). He was 82 years old and had a lot of arthritis in his back.
He suffered many years because of a Dodge Diplomate.
I worked at a body shop when they were used as police cars .there was rarely a week that went by that we did not have one in the shop getting the front frame section replaced , the crossmember was a little low and the police were wrecking them all the time. that shop made good money on dodge diplomats.
I bought one back in 1992. I believe it was an 85 , but can't remember. It lasted over 300k miles for me, and still actually ran after that. Couldnt beat it for Comfort , power and durability.
I loved the Opel Diplomat, never knew Dodge made one
Who you gonna call
Car Busters 🎶
😂😂😂
Another fantastic video with interesting, informative history. I never heard of the Caravel, but I looked the name up and it's a small, fast, Spanish or portuguese sailing ship from the 15-17 Century.
Back in 2010, I watched a Canadian TV show the littlest hobo and the show used alot of Plymouth Furys as police cars. I remember seeing alot of Diplomats in Law and Order.
I always thought it would've been cool if someone made a Diplomat race car and called it diplomatic immunity!
Thanks Bob!
@@ThisOldCarChannel You're welcome.
My respect to all of you cuz i still own as my daily driver a Chrysler 5th Avenue which was the high trim level at the time. However i made some custom improvements on the 25 years is on my hands after my dad died who he broght brand new in 1990 as 1989 model. He paid $22,980 on a 5 year debt. And today is a 100% healthy runner 33 years later runs like a champ. But with some body minor rust what i'm taking care of it but.👌🏾👍🏾👍🏾. I really appreciate this video on my very underrated M,J body who was and still a true champion for my own experience and a true MoPar guy never miss it. Tons of blessess.🙏🏾👌🏾👍🏾💎!!!
I have the Dippy's later Chrysler sibling, the Fifth Avenue that I bought for a project. 225k miles, she cranked right up and drove home. When I moved to my current house, after a year of sitting, she cranked right up (with a jump) and drove the hour drive to my new home.
Still looking for a Dippy cop car for the beefier rear end and springs, so when I rebuild the engine and put a little more power to it, she'll hold up better. Alternately, stuff a 5.9 Magnum in there. .
Back in the late 80's, I was driving cab and several independents had retired NY State Trooper Diplomats bought at auction. They were certainly tough, fast, and good-handling. I was helping a friend doing some engine maintenance once, and was looking under-hood at all the special things that police package included; Heavy-duty radiator, towing special automatic transmission with a transmission cooler, and even the tranny cooler lines made a loop around the power steering pump to keep that cool. Space was tight in the back (especially with a divider installed), and the ride was a bit hard. They all rusted fairly quickly (being a fleet car, they probably spent little on rustproofing..), and all the special parts on the police model became difficult to source in a few years. I don't think any of them lasted past the mid 90's....
Great story. Thanks for sharing Alex.
I worked for a Chrysler owned rental car companies caproate offices. At the end of the production of these cars, the rental locations were given really low cost leases on these cars. So low that if the car broke down it was often cheaper to just park the car on the lot and turn it in at the end of the lease then repair and put it out for rental.
We had a 79’ was a handsome car. Chrysler always imo made good looking cars. My brother TRASHED the car. Too bad because that car would have lasted - the slant six was excellent … thank you BOCA boys !!
Thanks for watching Peter!
A friend has a 1981 dodge diplomat with a 440 in it 😊
Drove several when I was with the C.H.P. Had a 318 with a 4bbl carb. You didn't need a clock to time them, you needed a calendar 😂
I have grandmas version the 5th ave and the EPA ratings were no joke. Mine will get 26 if you set the cruise and let it do it’s thing. The 318 is so smooth and reliable but sitting at a screaming 130 hp you gotta plan a week ahead to pass somebody 😂
Thank you for another interesting video. Well put together. The footage and videos were excellent! I liked the information shared as well. I rode in a very late loaded late 1980's Diplomat. It was very close to a New Yorker Fifth Avenue in terms of features and luxury. I recall the Grand Fury and I must admit it was hard to tell the difference between Diplomat, Grand Fury and Fifth Avenue. I know Fifth Avenue started out as a trim package on New Yorker and LeBaron. These cars were all over television and films too. You keep the great videos coming every week. You know what I want to see eventually. Thank you so much.
Thanks OLDS98. Much love from the Boca Bros!
👍👍 Hey Guys another Great posting and the memories you guys bring back, Thank You... The Diplomat also had as good as or better interior as a "79 Coupe De Ville and I owned a De Ville meaning seat comfortness ... 🍻✌🖐
Glad you enjoyed it
My uncle use to own an ex-cop car Diplomat, well that car was a beast , yet very reliable.
Now as to say I would love to see it back; to say I wish that Toyota would purchase Chrysler probably the Toyota Crown should be sold as a Diplomat in North America.
I like the 1988 Diplomat SE with the cornering light s , didn't know Chrysler did that.
My dad had an 1982 Dodge Diplomat with the slant six
He found seats out of A 5th Ave., I found a passenger side remote mirror, low washer fluid indicator, dual speaker dash panel, power trunk release, it was great until the front crossmember rusted out.
I would love to find an 1980 - '81 two door t tops Diplomat, put a 360 in.
Sadly, the Diplomat lost the cornering lamps option sometime in the early 80s, I think. In fact, I think all of these cars (RWD LeBaron, Fifth Avenue, Diplomat, Gran Fury) lost the option around that time. There is an example in this video at 3:23 that shows where they were located when they were still offered as an option. They were located higher up, sort of an extension of the side marker lamps. The RWD LeBaron had a different side marker lamp than the Diplomat and Gran Fury ... and the LeBaron's optional cornering lamp would be an integrated unit in the same location as the side marker lamp on those LeBarons without the option.
The red 1988 Diplomat for sale was customized a bit by a previous owner. The cornering lamps added came off of a late-70s to 1990 Oldsmobile fullsize RWD (98, Delta 88 and Custom Cruiser). Someone also added fiber optic lamp monitors (look closely at the tops of the front fenders). I remember seeing that ad and was excited to think that perhaps, there was a continued option ... until I realized what I was looking at. I cannot remember if that car had other things added to it by the previous owner. I feel like there might have been another thing or two, but am not sure. It's a beautiful car, nevertheless.
I've added cornering lamps and fiber optic lamp monitors to several of my cars in the past and did so to my current 1984 Buick Electra Estate Wagon, which was not ordered with those options. I love both options and sourced NOS parts for my wagon so that it looks completely factory. I've also added the low washer fluid indicator, low fuel indicator, Twilight Sentinel (auto headlamps), dash-mounted clock, dome light with reading/map lights, rear window defroster and automatic dimming rearview mirror (with compass and garage door opener) to the wagon.
The cornering lights on that Diplomat are from an Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser of that vintage. Chrysler didn't offer cornering lights on Diplomats (or any M-bodies) after 1981.
I had an '87 Gran Fury and a '88 Diplomat in succession. Had very little trouble with the GF, nothing but trouble with the Diplomat.
I had a ex cop car it was a 1985 Plymouth Caravelle with a 318 and HD suspension it was a great car I still have the rims from the car and the engine too
Lovely car , it reminds me about tv series Dallas and i don't know why , perhaps with its name association for the upcoming Dodge Dynasty . Warm compliments from Argentina for this great footage
Cool cars. I remember them.
Had a 79 Dip with a 360 and a 86 Fury with the 318 the two best cars I ever owned as far as practical, not that cool but were what you really needed.