Mercedes-Benz started selling diesel cars in America in 1949, nearly three decades before the Oldsmobile diesel brought the idea to Detroit’s big sedans. In between came French and German oil burners, and Ford and Lincoln joined in the early 1980s. Here are eight diesel cars that reached U.S. buyers before 1985.

The list runs in the order each car arrived. For each one, the figures come from the maker, a period road test or a reputable reference.

1. 1949 Mercedes-Benz 170D

Mercedes-Benz opened its American diesel story with a small postwar sedan. The 170D used a 1.7-liter four-cylinder engine, and it made only 38 horsepower. Even so, it set a pattern the company followed for decades.

According to Mercedes-Benz USA, the 170D arrived in 1949 with 71 lb-ft of torque. Later, diesels became the center of the brand’s American business. By 1982, almost 80 percent of Mercedes-Benz USA’s sales were diesels, the company’s history says.

2. 1974 Peugeot 504D

Peugeot gave American buyers another European choice. In 1974, Road Test Magazine ran a 504D through a 50,000-mile test and then tore down the engine. Its staff drove less than half of those miles, while Uniroyal added about 30,000 more at its facility in Laredo, Texas.

Curbside Classic’s look back at that test says the engine needed fresh oil at least every 1,700 miles or so. Later, a Road & Track test of a 1977 504 Diesel automatic found a larger engine with 71 horsepower. However, that car needed 21.7 seconds to reach 60 mph.

3. 1977 Volkswagen Rabbit Diesel

Volkswagen built its diesel Rabbit by adapting a gasoline engine. The diesel kept the gas engine’s crankshaft, connecting rods and basic block. On top, it gained its own aluminum head with a 23.5:1 compression ratio, plus stronger pistons and glow plugs.

The Autopian says Road & Track and Car and Driver both tested the diesel Rabbit in 1977. Its 1.5-liter engine made 48 horsepower, and the EPA rated it at 52 mpg highway and 37 mpg city. Meanwhile, Road & Track saw 43 mpg on its own test loop. The diesel also cost only $170 more than a gas Rabbit.

4. 1978 Mercedes-Benz 300SD

Mercedes-Benz moved its diesel into the S-Class for 1978. The 300SD was a U.S.-only model, and it used a new 3.0-liter five-cylinder turbodiesel. In fact, it was the first diesel S-Class.

According to Mercedes-Benz USA, the engine made 121 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque. The company also credits the 300SD with introducing turbocharging to its diesel line. Even with the turbo, the big sedan needed about 14 seconds to reach 60 mph.

5. 1978 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Diesel

GM’s diesel push started at Oldsmobile. The Oldsmobile diesel launched in the 1978 Delta 88, and its design began with the division’s 350-cubic-inch gasoline engine. From there, GM spread it across its brands.

Hagerty lists 120 horsepower and 220 lb-ft of torque for the engine. It also notes that the Oldsmobile diesel kept the gas engine’s bore and stroke. By 1985, the engine had appeared in 29 models from Oldsmobile, Chevrolet, GMC, Pontiac and Cadillac.

6. Early-1980s Chevrolet Chevette Diesel

Chevrolet’s smallest car got a diesel too, though GM didn’t build the engine itself. Instead, Isuzu, a Japanese company in which GM held a stake, supplied a 1.8-liter four-cylinder.

The Christian Science Monitor reviewed the car in December 1981, when it was already on sale. It reported 51 horsepower and an EPA highway rating of 55 mpg. A two-door cost just under $7,000 with freight, according to the review.

7. 1984 Ford Tempo Diesel

Ford turned to Mazda when it wanted a diesel for its new compact. The Tempo and its Mercury twin, the Topaz, debuted in May 1983 as 1984 models. Both cars replaced the Fairmont and the Zephyr.

Eighties Cars describes the optional engine as a Mazda-built 2.0-liter diesel four with 52 horsepower. It cost $588 extra. For comparison, a base Tempo L sedan listed at $6,936, by the same account. Hagerty adds that Ford also put a Mazda-sourced diesel four in its Ranger pickup.

8. 1984 Lincoln Mark VII Turbo Diesel

Lincoln went to Germany for its diesel. For 1984, the Mark VII coupe offered a 2.4-liter turbodiesel straight-six from BMW. Hagerty’s history of the GM diesels names it as BMW’s M21.

Hagerty rates the engine at 115 horsepower. Lincoln dropped it after the 1985 model year, and estimates of the total run from about 500 to 1,500 cars. After that, Detroit stayed away from diesel passenger cars for more than 30 years, according to Hagerty.

More from Fast Lane Only

• Unboxing the WWII Jeep in a Crate
• 15 rare Chevys collectors are quietly buying
• 10 underrated V8s still worth hunting down
• Police notice this before you even roll window down

This article was created with the help of AI and was reviewed and edited by Fast Lane Only editors before publication.