1979 Dodge Diplomat Station Wagon
Make: | Dodge |
Model: | Diplomat Station Wagon |
SubModel: | Diplomat |
Type: | Wagon |
Year: | 1979 |
Mileage: | 1000000 |
Color: | Green |
Engine: | Small V-8 |
Cylinders: | 8 |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
Transmission: | Automatic |
Interior color: | Green |
Drive side: | Left-hand drive |
Vehicle Title: | Clear |
Item location: | Oak Island, North Carolina, United States |
Extras |
Air Conditioning |
Listed by |
Private seller |
Description of 1979 Dodge Diplomat Station Wagon |
My parents bought this car new. After my father died my mother kept it until 2003, when I acquired it and drove it regularly until the end of 2015. As Dad was a career Marine, the Dodge got the nickname "The Green Machine", but later on they also called it "The Green Hornet". Dad kept track of all the mileage: local and long trips eventually added up to well over a million miles. The original odometer finally gave up the ghost somewhere over a million miles (it is saved, in a box, in the car) and was replaced with a used one. Dad noted the starting mileage for the replacement and logged trips from that point, too. The battery is dead, so the car has not been started since December 2015; the starting amps required exceed the capacity of my current car to get it going via jumpers. Lubrication should be checked before cranking. The car is in restorable condition, and is mostly original, except for the carpet in the front, some parts in the engine compartment and the transmission, which has been rebuilt several times, plus other items that may have worn out and been replaced from 1979 to 2001 and later. As far as I know, the small V8 engine is the original, but it may have been rebuilt at some point. The faux wood trim peeled off long ago, so the car is green all over instead of (almost) looking like a woodie. It has been repainted in the original color several times. The only body work that has been done that I am aware of, other than minor ding or rust repairs and paint jobs to keep it shiny, was after an encounter with a stray herd of cattle out west that involved my parents, several semis, a bus and another handful of cars. Has some rust, examples in two of the pictures, and the chrome and upholstery need work. Underside looks pretty good (see pictures); there are a few rusty spots but the frame and pans appear to be sound. The last time it was driven, in 2015, I noted that it needed both brake and power steering work. The windshield is cracked, but does not impede visibility. There is a leak in the front that drips onto the passenger side floor, but the car is under shelter, so the interior has stayed dry, except for ambient humidity. The AC needs repair. The tires are still inflated, but would need to be checked for dry rot. There are other items that would need to be addressed for a full restoration. This car has survived hurricanes Hugo, Bertha, Fran, Florence, plus several not named, including the "No Name" blow in late 1993. Please use the eBay 'Contact seller" process if you have questions or would like additional information. |