• The 1987 Dodge Diplomat was part of the Diplomat line produced from 1977 to 1989, and it was used as a police squad car in many places. The Diplomat shared the same Chrysler M-body platform as the Chrysler LeBaron and Plymouth Gran Fury. These three cars featured similar dimensions and power options. The Diplomats of 1977 through 1989 are not related to the Diplomat trim package on Dodges from 1950 to 1954.
  
  

Power

• Three engines with varying horsepower ratings powered the 1987 Diplomat. The base engine was a 225-cubic-inch, slant six-cylinder model generating between 85 and 90 horsepower. The 318-cubic-inch V8 offered between 120 and 140 horsepower. A heavy-duty version of the 318-cubic-inch engine equipped with a four-barrel carburetor wielded up to 160 horsepower. Customers also could order the 1987 Diplomat with a 360-cubic-inch, V8 engine that provided 170 horsepower. The Diplomat came with a four-speed manual transmission or a three-speed TorqueFlight automatic transmission.
  
  

Suspension and Brakes

• The 1987 Diplomat featured torsion bar suspension and sway bar in the front and leaf springs with rubber pads positioned between the springs and frame in the rear. Construction of the frame consisted of a unitized body and chassis. The Diplomat was equipped with 11-inch front disc brakes and 10-inch rear drum brakes. Power steering and power brakes were available as options. The Diplomat rode on 15-inch steel wheels and FR78-15 tires.
  
  

Size

• Dodge placed the 1987 Diplomat on a 112.7-inch wheelbase, with the two-door sedan measuring 204 inches long and the four-door model 205.7 inches long. The Diplomat stands 53.3 inches tall and 73.5 inches wide. Its turning radius is 23 feet and its curbside weight is 3,600 pounds. The fuel tank carries 18 gallons. In the cabin of the two-door model, the headroom is 37.4 inches in the front and 36.2 inches in the rear. Front legroom is 42.5 inches with the rear offering 34.1 inches. The four-door versions offer two to three inches of extra head and legroom. The trunk capacity is 17 cubic feet.
  
  

Features

• Features include air conditioning, tilt steering wheel, rear defroster, cruise control, power windows, power locks, a heavy-duty battery, power trunk release, a wide range of audio equipment and warning lamps for the alternator, engine temperature and fuel level.
  
  

Police Cars

• North American police departments ordered 1987 Dodge Diplomat and Plymouth Gran Fury models generally with a two-barrel carburetor, 318-cubic-inch V8 engine, although Diplomats assigned to detectives in congested urban areas sometimes had Diplomats equipped with the slant six. By 1987, the 440-cubic-inch engine was not available to Diplomat police cars, although some police departments claimed they could special order the 440 to equip their pursuit cars. All police versions received extensive suspension upgrades, transmission upgrades and brake upgrades, including 11-inch rear drum brakes, to handle the abuse associated with police driving.