European taxi drivers in the late 1950s could special-order their Diplomat with a Perkins diesel installed on a Belgian assembly line.
Lead trim: Diplomat (export)
DeSoto Diplomat1946–1962
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Nobody in Burbles has spotted a DeSoto Diplomat yet. See one on the street, point the app at it, and the first card is yours — with your @handle permanently credited on this page.
FactEuropean taxi drivers in the late 1950s could special-order their Diplomat with a Perkins diesel installed on a Belgian assembly line.
The DeSoto Diplomat was produced by DeSoto from 1946 to 1962 for sale in export markets outside North America: the export DeSoto based on the Plymouth, first introduced in 1937 and built in Detroit (Chrysler of Canada started building export DeSotos late in the 1939 model year), became the Diplomat in 1946, sold fully imported or assembled from CKD kits in Europe, South Africa, South America, Hawaii, New Zealand and Australia. From 1938 to 1956 the export DeSoto used Plymouth bodies with a DeSoto-like grille, from 1957 to 1959 the Firesweep front clip on a Plymouth body, and the 1960 and 1961 cars were based on the Dodge Dart (Chrysler South Africa built 1962 Diplomats on the Dodge Dart 440). Some late-1950s European taxi drivers preferred a Perkins P4C diesel installed on a Belgian assembly line. Chrysler Australia built the SP24 (1953, from the Plymouth P24) and SP25 (1954–1957, from the Plymouth Belvedere) in Custom, Regent and Plaza trims plus a 1956 coupe utility, replaced by the Chrysler Royal (1957–1963); the Diplomat name returned 16 years after DeSoto's end on a Dodge M-body. No engine figures are given.
Collectors Spotted in the DeSoto Diplomat Lineage
No member has published a public street spot of the DeSoto Diplomat yet — the First · Worldwide stamp is wide open.
Trims & Figures
One published trim in the catalogue. A blank is a figure not recorded, not zero.
| Trim | Years | Engine | Power | Torque | 0–60 | Drive | Gearbox | MSRP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diplomat (export) | 1946–1962 | — | — | — | — | RWD | — | — |
Owning one
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Owners’ builds
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Photographs
Rivals
Same body, same money, other badges — tap any card to flip.
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