1983 Dodge Diplomat

[fedsig7]

Not sure if this is in the right section, but I'm looking into buy this 83 Diplomat for a restoration project. Its an Ex Santa Rosa PD car, with 32k miles. I don't know too much about it YET. Its been sitting for quite a while, so it will take some work to get it started. The inside condition is really good. The outside obviously needs some work.


What do you guys think? What would you pay for it?


[Broken External Image]:http://i1000.photobucket.com/albums/af128/sheriff77/2012-10-15_16-39-41_553.jpg

 

[Hoser]

Curious as to why they would park a car with low miles on it??

 

[fedsig7]

I also find that strange. I have a lot more research to do before I do anything.

 

[OSP959(R)]

What about a 1983 Chevy Malibu police package with 44,000 miles?


Public Surplus: Auction #785551


1988 Caprice


Public Surplus: Auction #785552


1988 Caprice


Public Surplus: Auction #785553


All in California.


I was never a big fan of the Dippy. All I really remember was they had a horrible turning radius. They did look pretty cool though in full police markings.

 

[dg0223]

You also have to take into consideration that the odometer reads 32,XXX miles, but that particular odometer only has five digits, so there is a possibility it could actually have 132,XXX miles.

 

[patrol530]

Back in '07, I paid $800 for an '86 Gran Fury with 60k on it at auction. It was mechanically sound, and ran quite well, however I replaced the "Lean Burn" ignition with a standard electronic ignition conversion kit. I'd not pay over $500 for this Diplomat in it's unknown state. The condition of the driver's seat will usually indicate if it's truly 32k and not 100k+.

 

[PinballCharlie]

Back in '07, I paid $800 for an '86 Gran Fury with 60k on it at auction. It was mechanically sound, and ran quite well, however I replaced the "Lean Burn" ignition with a standard electronic ignition conversion kit. I'd not pay over $500 for this Diplomat in it's unknown state. The condition of the driver's seat will usually indicate if it's truly 32k and not 100k+.

WOW, that is a beautiful car!!!

 

[kitn1mcc]

what year did the caprice stop using carbs

 

[patrol530]

I'd guess at '90. I drove an unmarked '90 that had the 2 big solenoid fuel injectors that sprayed into a carb like throttle body.

 

[Sarge619]

what year did the caprice stop using carbs

'88 was the last year of the carberated Caprice. The '89 introduced fuel injection. My PD owned injected '89 350 ci Caprices and I also owned a brand new '89 350 ci 9C1 Caprice, opting to wait one year after the '88's because of the announcement that they'd be injected for the '89 model year.

 

[kitn1mcc]

ahh ok yeah the old throttle body injection is nice some of the best built motors gm ever built

 

[JennyCop]

so did you buy it?

 

[Reno911]

I would offer less than a grand. Always nice to get it as cheap as possible.


It actually looks like one of my Gran Fury's. Mine sat for 26 years. The outside cleaned up nice enough to be daily driver quality, and still look good.

 

[NoVAFed]

I had one of those Diplomats issued to me on my PD down in Florida. I've always thought it was a great car. Just big enough to be comfortable and enough room in the back seat to toss the bad guys in, while small enough to be able to fling it around without many problems. I don't recall the bad turning radius though but I do remember the massive Goodyear Bluestreaks (?) rubbing the fenderwells during hard cornering.


I'm not sure if ours had 318's or 360's but our's were plenty fast and handled well given the standards of the times. The vinyl bench seat wasn't a bad place to spend a shift. The AC was nicely cool in the hot Florida summers too.


We had S&W lightbars on ours and aircraft landing light bulbs in the spotlights. Seemed like cutting edge stuff back then.


Take pictures people! What doesn't seem like a big deal at the time, it would sure be nice to look back on a few decades down the road.

 

[Sarge619]

I had one of those Diplomats issued to me on my PD down in Florida. I've always thought it was a great car. Just big enough to be comfortable and enough room in the back seat to toss the bad guys in, while small enough to be able to fling it around without many problems. I don't recall the bad turning radius though but I do remember the massive Goodyear Bluestreaks (?) rubbing the fenderwells during hard cornering.
I'm not sure if ours had 318's or 360's but our's were plenty fast and handled well given the standards of the times. The vinyl bench seat wasn't a bad place to spend a shift. The AC was nicely cool in the hot Florida summers too.


We had S&W lightbars on ours and aircraft landing light bulbs in the spotlights. Seemed like cutting edge stuff back then.


Take pictures people! What doesn't seem like a big deal at the time, it would sure be nice to look back on a few decades down the road.

We had Dips and Gran Furys in Richmond, VA when I was working there in 82/83. IIRC ours were 318 4bbl squads (which came equipped with 360 heads). Unfortunately, I don't think they ever had any of the 360 variants (which were offered until '84) unless the Traffic Division had them. Bet those moved out MUCH quicker!!

 

[Uriah1]

Well the car is not bad but it needs a complete detailing which you have done very well. Now its looking completely different from the first picture. So how its running? Is it ok or need to some engine repairing. Anyhow wish you best of luck for your car.

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