Dodge Diplomat: Америкалық орта өлшемді автокөлік тарихы

Motor vehicle

The Dodge Diplomat is an American mid size car that was produced by Dodge from 1977 to 1989. At launch, it shared a common design with the Chrysler LeBaron and for much of its later production run was the counterpart of the more upscale Chrysler Fifth Avenue and lower priced Plymouth Gran Fury. It was also sold in Mexico between 1981 and 1982 as the Dodge Dart, and in Colombia as the Dodge Coronet. The Diplomat was initially offered in a coupe and a sedan; in 1978, station wagons were added as replacements for the discontinued full sized C body wagons. The Diplomat was offered with a straight 6 engine a well as optional and V8s. The Diplomat, along with its Plymouth Gran Fury/Caravelle twin, were popular police cars both in North America. The three speed Torqueflite automatic transmission was most popular, but a manual transmission was available until 1981 only on six cylinder and 318 V8 models.

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.

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.