Contents
01Overview
At a glance
- Built
- 347 Built
- Years
- 1965–1967
- Engine
- V8 OHV, front longitudinal, Chevrolet small-block · 5,354 cc / 5.4 LFactory: 5,354 cc
- Power
- 169 kW / 230 PSFactory: 230 PS
- Top speed
- 206 km/hFactory: 206 km/h
- Body
- Karmann
- Designer
- General Motors (US-based design); Opel designers did interior and ornamentation
- In this archive
- Not yet verified
- Surviving
- Not yet verified
Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.
Why it matters
The Diplomat A V8 Coupé was the largest and most expensive Opel of its time, a two-door body built by Karmann on the KAD (Kapitän, Admiral, Diplomat) platform with a Chevrolet small-block V8. Only 347 were built, and Auto Bild estimates at most 40 survive.
How rare is it?
Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.
Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.
Photos
Exterior, interior and detail photos with their licences.
Opel Diplomat V8 Coupé (Karmann) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: nakhon100 · CC BY 2.0
Opel Diplomat V8 Coupé (Karmann) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Detectandpreserve · CC BY-SA 3.0
Opel Diplomat V8 Coupé (Karmann) (Wikimedia Commons search)
Photo: Triple-green · CC BY-SA 2.0
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02Production & history
Production
Every figure says what it counts.
| What is counted | Figure | Basis | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total model productionDiplomat A coupés built by Karmann (existing page says 304; saloons 8,848) | 3471,2 | Factory production | Registry reported |
Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.
History
The Diplomat saloon arrived in 1964; the coupé reached dealers in March 1965, 13 months after the three KAD saloons. It was offered only with the big 5.4 litre V8, a Chevrolet 327 small-block, and cost 25,500 marks, about 8,000 marks more than the saloon. Buyers were hesitant because the car looked too American and the German economy was in recession, so the coupé found only 347 buyers.
The design and drivetrain came from General Motors in the USA; Opel designers were allowed to shape only the interior, ornaments, hubcaps and lettering.
Variants
How each version differs from the standard Diplomat V8 Coupé (Karmann).
No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
03Specifications
Technical specifications
Engine
| Engine family | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Engine code | Not yet verified |
| Layout | V8 OHV, front longitudinal, Chevrolet small-block1 Independently researched |
| Displacement | 5,354 cc / 5.4 LFactory: 5,354 cc1 Independently researched |
| Bore | Not yet verified |
| Stroke | Not yet verified |
| Compression ratio | Not yet verified |
| Valvetrain | Central camshaft, chain driven, two valves per cylinder1 Independently researched |
| Fuel system | Four-barrel downdraft carburettor1 Independently researched |
| Power | 169 kW / 230 PSFactory: 230 PS1 Independently researched |
| Power at | 4,700 rpm1 Independently researched |
| Torque | 435 NmFactory: 435 Nm1 Independently researchedauto motor und sport gives 420 Nm. |
| Torque at | 3,100 rpm1 Independently researched |
Transmission & drivetrain
| Gearbox | Two-speed automatic1 Independently researched |
|---|---|
| Gears | Not yet verified |
| Driven wheels | Rear1 Independently researched |
Chassis, body & dimensions
| Chassis | Not yet verified |
|---|---|
| Front suspension | Independent, double wishbones, coil springs, telescopic dampers, anti-roll bar1 Independently researched |
| Rear suspension | Live axle, leaf springs1 Independently researched |
| Brakes | Front discs, rear drums, with brake force regulator1 Independently researched |
| Steering | Not yet verified |
| Body construction | Not yet verified |
| Wheelbase | 2,845 mmFactory: 2,845 mm1 Independently researched |
| Length | 4,948 mmFactory: 4,948 mm1 Independently researched |
| Width | 1,902 mmFactory: 1,902 mm1 Independently researched |
| Height | 1,432 mmFactory: 1,432 mm1 Independently researched |
| Front track | Not yet verified |
| Rear track | Not yet verified |
| Kerb weight | 1,630 kgFactory: 1,630 kg1 Independently researched |
| Dry weight | Not yet verified |
Performance
| Maximum speed | 206 km/hFactory: 206 km/h3 Independently researchedAuto Bild says over 200 km/h. |
|---|---|
| 0–100 km/h | 9.5 s3 Independently researched |
| Fuel tank | 82 LFactory: 82 L1 Independently researched |
“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.
04Colours & options
Factory colours & interiors
Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Factory options & codes
Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
05Individual cars
Chassis register
Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Competition history
Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
Auction & sale history
Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.
Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.
See one in person
Museums where an example of this car can be seen.
No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.
06Reference
Identification guide
How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.
Coupé-specific panels (doors, rear side panels, boot lid, sill trims, side glass) are no longer available as spares, which makes the coupé body a way to separate it from the saloon. Features listed: two-door pillarless-style roof, full wood trim inside, two-tone steering wheel, wide bar speedometer scaled to 250 and no Opel Blitz badge in the cabin. The engine is a reinforced 327 small-block rather than a stock Corvette unit.
Sources
Each number links to the exact facts it supports.
-
1
Kaufberatung: Opel Diplomat A V8 Coupé Level B Auto Bild Klassik · 2012-10-15
- Lediglich 347 Diplomat Coupés hat Karmann für Opel gebaut
- V8, vorn längs • untenliegende zentrale Nockenwelle, über Steuerkette angetrieben
- Hubraum 5354 ccm
- zwei Ventile pro Zylinder
- Vierfach-Fallstromvergaser
- Leistung 169 kW (230 PS) bei 4700/min
- 230 PS bei 4700/min
- max. Drehmoment 435 Nm bei 3100/min
- 435 Nm bei 3100/min
- Zweistufenautomatik
- Hinterradantrieb
- vorn an Doppelquerlenkern, Schraubenfedern, Teleskopstoßdämpfer, Stabilisator
- hinten Starrachse mit Blattfedern
- Scheibenbremsen vorn, Trommelbremsen hinten
- Radstand 2845 mm
- L/B/H 4948/1902/1432 mm
- 4948/1902/1432
- Leergewicht 1630 kg
- Tank 82 Liter
-
2
AUTO BILD Klassik – Sportcoupé der 60er Jahre: OSI-Ford 20M TS (incl. gallery of 1960s cars) Level C
- 304 Diplomat coupés built by Karmann in Osnabrück 1965–1967
-
3
Opel Diplomat V8: Amerikanischer Motor für die deutsche Luxusklasse Level B auto motor und sport
- Höchstgeschwindigkeit von 206 km/h
- 0 auf 100 km/h in 9,5 Sekunden
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