Dodge · 1977–1988

Dodge Diplomat

The Dodge Diplomat is an intermediate car that was produced by Dodge from the 1977 to 1989 model years. Introduced as a higher-priced companion model to the Dodge Aspen as Dodge phased out the long-running Dodge Dart, the Diplomat ultimately replaced the Aspen (alongside the smaller Dodge Aries). Initially offered as a two-door coupe and four-door sedan, the model line also added a five-door station wagon for 1978. From 1982 onward, the model line became offered solely as a four-door sedan. For its entire production, the Dodge Diplomat used the rear-wheel drive Chrysler M platform (an evolution of the F platform introduced by the Dodge Aspen), shared with multiple model lines. Initially launched as the counterpart of the Chrysler LeBaron (the first mid-size Chrysler), it was also sold in Canada as the Plymouth Caravelle and in Latin America as the Dodge Coronet. For 1981 and 1982, the model was sold as the Dodge Dart. For 1982, the Diplomat became the counterpart of the nearly identical Plymouth Gran Fury and the flagship Chrysler Fifth Avenue. Following the 1989 model year, Dodge retired the model line, replacing it with the front-wheel drive Dodge Monaco. The Diplomat would be the final Dodge vehicle sold with a carbureted engine and its last rear-wheel drive car (with the exception of the Viper) sold until the 2005 introduction of the Dodge Magnum. Alongside its Plymouth and Chrysler counterparts, the Dodge Diplomat marked the final vehicles of the intermediate segment, largely eliminated at the beginning of the decade by downsizing.

Text from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0).

Predecessor: Dodge Dart · Successor: Dodge Monaco

All Dodge Diplomat data: UK builds, safety, recalls, model years →

Background

The Diplomat name was originally used by Dodge on 2-door hardtop models from 1950 to 1954. It was also used on the export version of the DeSoto from 1946 through 1962. From 1975 through 1977, the Diplomat name was also used on a trim package available on the Royal Monaco two-door hardtop. Starting with the 1977 model year, the Diplomat became a full model line, rather than as the name of a particular body style.

First generation (1977)

Introduced as a late 1977 model during spring 1977, the first generation Diplomats were a longer, designated as Chrysler's M Body cars sharing much with the Chrysler LeBaron, both of which shared much with F-body Aspen and Plymouth Volare. The chassis and mechanical components are similar with doors and various other body panels interchangeable with the Aspens. Unique to the Diplomat were the front and rear header panels, bumpers, hood and trunk lid. Larger taillights extended into the rear hatch of the station wagon. The station wagons were shorter than the sedans and coupes, which had unique bodywork with a longer rear overhang. The station wagon, introduced for the 1978 model year, used the same rear sheetmetal as the Aspen/Volaré, albeit with its own wraparound taillights. The first year models were available in base and Medallion trim levels; the base engine was the 318 Lean Burn V8 developing 145 hp (108 kW) and the 110 hp (82 kW) Slant Six was a credit option. A vinyl roof was standard on sedans, while a simulated landau roof cover was an option on coupes. For 1978 the Slant Six with a four-speed manual transmission became the base drivetrain, and the station wagon was added. The wagon featured "teakwood"-grain body appliques (a delete option) and was only available in base trim. The sedans and coupes continued largely unchanged, but a low-cost "Diplomat S" was added. This model was offered for one year, and the 3,322 produced represented only about 5% of overall Diplomat production in 1978. The V8's output dropped by five horsepower, but on the other hand, a 155 hp (116 kW) 360 cu in (5.9 L) V8 became a new option. For the 1979 model year, the Diplomat received a minor facelift. The grille was now divided into three rows of eight rectangular openings with an in

Second generation (1980)

The 1980 model year brought new exterior sheet metal for the Diplomat, although wagons were unchanged from the doors back. While the previous coupes used the same 112.7 inch wheelbase as the other models, the 1980 coupe used the 108 inch wheelbase of the Aspen coupe (though the square body was very different) to better differentiate it from the new Mirada which used the 112.7 inch span. The front end was more evolutionary than revolutionary, but in order to share a hood with the newly restyled Chrysler LeBaron the grille was narrowed considerably. The roofline of the sedan was also made more square, marginally improving headroom, and conservative, Buick-like taillights appeared on all but the wagons. Manual transmissions were dropped. Following the discontinuing of the Dodge St. Regis R-body in 1981, the Diplomat became the largest sedan in the Dodge lineup, despite technically being a mid-size car. Dodge would not market another truly full-size car (at least based upon United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) passenger volume statistics) until the Monaco debuted as a 1990 model. By 1981, Chrysler was switching to smaller front-wheel drive designs. However, its older and larger rear-wheel drive Dodge Diplomat (as well as the Chrysler LeBaron and Fifth Avenue) continued to sell. Chrysler's then executive vice president for manufacturing, Steve Sharf, met with officials at American Motors (AMC) to use the extra capacity at an assembly plant in Kenosha, Wisconsin to build the cars. Chrysler's tooling was moved from St. Louis to Kenosha, and from 1987 until 1989 about 250,000 Chrysler and Dodge models were built by AMC at a lower cost than Chrysler could. This relationship evolved into Chrysler's purchase of AMC in 1987. In 1982, the coupe and station wagon were

Discontinuation

When the Diplomat and similar Plymouth Gran Fury were discontinued, it marked the last rear-wheel drive sedan sold by the corporation until the Dodge Magnum and Chrysler 300 were introduced in 2005. The Diplomat's other rear-wheel drive sibling, the Chrysler Fifth Avenue, also ended production, but the nameplate was continued on a front-wheel drive chassis. In the Dodge lineup, the Monaco became the top-of-the-line sedan until the introduction of the LH platform.

Sections adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0); text is shortened. Read the full article for the complete history and citations.

Specifications

name: Dodge Diplomat
Manufacturer: Dodge (Chrysler)
Production: 1977–December 1988
Model years: 1977–1989
Class: Mid-size car
Assembly: United States: Fenton, Missouri (Saint Louis Assembly), United States: Kenosha, Wisconsin (Kenosha Assembly: 1987–1988), United States: Newark, Delaware (Newark Assembly), Canada: Windsor, Ontario (Windsor Assembly), Colombia: Bogotá
Layout: FR layout
Platform: M-body
Body style: 4-door sedan (1977–1989), 5-door station wagon (1978–1981), 2-door coupe (1977–1981)
Engine: 225 cuin Slant 6 I6, 318 cuin LA V8, 360 cuin LA V8 (1978–1979)
Transmission: 4-speed A833 manual, 3-speed A727 automatic, 3-speed A904 automatic, 3-speed A999 automatic
Wheelbase: Coupe: 112.7 in, 1977–1979, 108.7 in, 1980–1981, Sedan & wagon: 112.7 in, 1977–1989 (wagons through 1981 only)
Length: Coupe:, 1977–1979: 204.1 in, 1980–1981: 201.2 in, Sedan:, 1977–1983: 206.1 in, 1987–1989: 204.6 in, Wagon: 205.5 in
Width: Coupe & wagon: 74.2 in, 1980–1983 Sedan: 72.8 in, 1987–1989 Sedan: 72.4 in
Height: Coupe: 53.4 in, Wagon: 55.5 in, Sedan: 55.1 in
Predecessor: Dodge Dart
Successor: Dodge Monaco
aka: Dodge Coronet (Colombia), Dodge Dart (Mexico), Dodge Magnum (Mexico), Plymouth Caravelle (Canada; 1977–1981), Plymouth Gran Fury
Related: Chrysler Fifth Avenue, Chrysler LeBaron, Dodge Aspen, Chrysler New Yorker, Chrysler Town & Country, Monteverdi Sierra

Specification summary from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0). Measured facts from Wikidata (CC0). Check the linked sources for citations.

More photos

Sources

Wikidata — https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q655498CC0 1.0 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dodge_DiplomatCC BY-SA 4.0 · Text © Wikipedia contributors; revision 1352578017 · retrieved 2026-10-01
Wikimedia Commons — https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:1977Diplomat.jpgPublic domain · Photo: No machine-readable author provided. ApolloBoy assumed (based on copyright claims). · retrieved 2026-10-01
Car Model Index — https://models.autoculturesociety.com/Compiled record. Sources that do not permit reuse are not copied; this index is credited instead.