The DeSoto Diplomat was an automobile produced by DeSoto from 1946 to 1962 for sale in export markets outside North America. It was never a DeSoto in the American showroom sense: the name covered exported cars built on Plymouth bodies, later on the DeSoto Firesweep front end, and finally on the Dodge Dart.
DeSoto Diplomat at a glance
| Maker | Chrysler Corporation |
|---|---|
| Production | 1946–1962 |
| Markets | export only, outside North America |
| 1938–1956 basis | Plymouth body with a DeSoto-style grille |
| 1957–1959 basis | DeSoto Firesweep front clip on a Plymouth body |
| 1960–1961 basis | full-size Dodge Dart |
| Assembly | Europe, South Africa, South America, Hawaii, New Zealand, Australia |
| 1937 origin | export DeSoto built in Detroit |
| Australian series | SP24 from 1953, SP25 from 1954 to 1957 |
| Australian trims | Custom, Regent, Plaza |
| 1962 | South African cars on the Dodge Dart 440 |
| Name revived | Dodge Diplomat, 16 years later |
History of the DeSoto Diplomat
Beginnings in Detroit and Canada
The export DeSoto based on the Plymouth was first introduced in 1937 and built in Detroit. Chrysler Corporation of Canada, which before 1947 enjoyed Imperial Preference — reduced tariff barriers in British Empire markets — did not begin building export DeSotos until late in the 1939 model year. In 1946 the export DeSoto became the DeSoto Diplomat. The cars were either fully imported into or assembled locally from CKD kits in Europe, South Africa, South America, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia. In 1955 Chrysler of Canada exported no cars at all, so every Diplomat of that year came from Detroit.
Plymouth bodies, Dodge bones
From 1938 to 1956 the export DeSoto used Plymouth bodies with a grille that looked like the regular DeSoto but fitted the Plymouth grille opening. From 1957 to 1959 the Diplomat took the DeSoto Firesweep front clip on a Plymouth body, and the 1960 and 1961 cars were based on the full-size Dodge Dart. In the late 1950s some European taxi drivers preferred a Perkins P4C diesel in the Diplomat; those diesel engines were installed on a Belgian assembly line. Although 1960 was the last year for DeSoto in Canada and 1961 in the United States and export markets, Chrysler South Africa built a number of 1962 Diplomats on the Dodge Dart 440 sedan. After 1962 the name was retired and the Dart was sold under its own name in South Africa. Sixteen years after DeSoto ended production, Chrysler revived the Diplomat name for an M-body Dodge.
Australia
Chrysler Australia introduced a locally produced SP24 series Diplomat in 1953, based on the 1953 American Plymouth P24, followed by the SP25 based on the 1954 Plymouth P25 Belvedere and built from 1954 to 1957. It came in Custom, Regent and Plaza trim, and an Australian-developed coupe utility version of the sedan was added in 1956. The Australian Diplomats were alternatives to the Plymouth Savoy and Belvedere and the Dodge Kingsway, which differed mainly in grilles and badges. All of them together took only about 5 per cent of the Australian market in 1955, and the Diplomat was replaced by the Australian-built Chrysler Royal.
New Zealand
The Diplomat sold in New Zealand came directly from Canada in factory right-hand drive. Unlike Australia, New Zealand had few restrictions on imported cars, so its DeSotos varied considerably from the Australian ones. Chrysler of Canada built the export Plymouth-based DeSoto from 1939 to 1961, apart from 1955; for 1959 New Zealand received the Canadian-built Diplomat Deluxe four-door sedan alongside the Dodge Kingsway Deluxe and Plymouth Belvedere sedans, all in right-hand drive.
Design and features
- Export-only model: the Diplomat was never part of the American DeSoto range.
- Plymouth bones: from 1938 to 1956 the cars used Plymouth bodies with a DeSoto-style grille.
- Local assembly: CKD kits were put together in Europe, Africa, South America and Australasia.
- Diesel option: some late-1950s cars for European taxi work had Perkins P4C diesels fitted in Belgium.
- Australian ute: a coupe utility version appeared in 1956.
DeSoto Diplomat versions
- 1946–1956 Diplomat: Plymouth body, DeSoto-style grille.
- 1957–1959 Diplomat: Firesweep front clip on a Plymouth body.
- 1960–1961 Diplomat: full-size Dodge Dart base.
- SP24 (1953): Australian assembly of the Plymouth P24.
- SP25 (1954–1957): Australian P25-based car in Custom, Regent and Plaza trim, with a ute from 1956.
- 1962 South African Diplomat: Dodge Dart 440 sedan.
The Diplomat shared its showroom with the American Fireflite and Firedome. More DeSotos are in the DeSoto collection.
Sources
- DeSoto Diplomat, English Wikipedia: export history, bodies, diesel, Australian and New Zealand production
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