Wish this rare truck could tell its story – because it was given a thorough restoration twenty years ago, then immediately stored. Why! Was it a shop project for a graduating local community college? Was the restorer simply tired of it, now that he knew it so well? Was it a castaway after a divorce? We may never know, but the seller has listed it here on eBay, where it’s bid to $4600, reserve not met. The reserve is no mystery, though, since it’s also advertised on Hemmings, with an ask of $11,500. The truck is located in Ottertail, Minnesota.
Diamond T, known as the “Cadillac of trucks”, was founded in 1905 in Chicago. After making a smattering of touring automobiles, founder Charles Tilt was asked by a customer to supply a truck for his plumbing business. Tilt complied, making the first Diamond T commercial vehicle in 1911. In short order, the company shifted its focus entirely to heavy duty trucks, selling in the Chicago area. By 1914, it had gained national recognition and moved to a larger manufacturing facility. WWI forced military production, but that didn’t stop business, as the company acquired several new dealers positioning for post-war prosperity. In 1921, the company followed other makers and shifted to left hand drive, and by 1925, it had designed a closed cab with rubber mounts to absorb road variations. Streamlined styling featuring a prominent chrome grille was impressing buyers, and production boomed. In 1934 it showed an aerodynamic Texaco tanker truck at the World’s Fair, prodding sales upward again as the Great Depression ended. But by the late 1930s, mass market manufacturing was favoring Ford and GM, nudging Diamond T ever downward in the sales ranks. By the time this Diamond T was made, the company was utilizing the Hercules 236 cu. in. flathead six-cylinder in its heavy-duty trucks, along with a four-speed manual crashbox, Lockheed hydraulic drums, and often, a two-speed rear axle.
To our eyes, this interior will appear spartan, but for the day, it was completely normal if not a slight uptick over earlier trucks in terms of fit and finish. The windshields crank out for ventilation, and a heater was supplied. Driving these is a treat, so long as you are not in a hurry. Torque is great, acceleration is lazy, and all the while, the whine of the rear end gears mark your journey.
The buyer has options as far as the bed. A stake-side? A tanker? Even a dump truck – all are possibilities. But no matter which direction the new owner pursues, it better be for love and not for money. Demand is slender for these heavy trucks, though Diamond T’s lighter 201 pickup is facing a frisky market these days. If this truck were yours, how would you finish it?
Sigh, just when those wounds begin to scab over, BAM, it’s okay, retirement and old age( I’m trying to accept) is all about memories and reflecting. This site helps time and again. If you don’t want another “history” lesson, then stop right here.
I had a heck of a run, and my ’49 Diamond T 201 pickup was the zenith of my vehicle history, no question. Briefly, I found the truck in a truck-only junkyard in SC Wisconsin, circa, 1980 whilst looking for parts for another truck I had, a ’66 C60 Chevy. When I came upon it, it had no wheels, and laying in the mud, dragged there by some yard worker who obviously didn’t care. The “Diamond T” side plates were missing, so the only way I even knew what it was, was the ID plate. Upon discussing with the yard man, it was obtained from a local auction, and numbers were exchanged, we settled on $100. Had that truck almost 30 years, and was tough to let it go. I sold it to a good friend, so that was cool.
The author did a great job, this truck has the newer front, but the old style dash that was discontinued, for a more simple setup after the war. I respectfully must disagree, driving this is no treat. Far from it. While words can’t express what it’s like actually driving such a thing, it’s crude from a radically different time and was made for slow going locally. Operating everything here will require brute force, shifting, stopping, steering, all with no assist, and will surely limit sales, as is. I’m familiar with this bloke from Ottertail, he has, or had a slew of trucks, most all local finds.
This truck? While it kills me to say what will really happen to this, I have to accept, it’s not 1980 anymore, and someone will plop this body on a newer chassis, and that’s okay too. At least it will be used. Great find.
Oops, can’t forget a photo.
Those ones that got away never completely go away. There’s always some memory that comes back time and again and can really make you morose. Working in the old truck parts business, I get a chance to listen to a lot of stories, and some of them are close to heart breaking. But you know you’re not alone. Somewhere there’s someone who lost out on a long relationship with a special vehicle and the photos and memories don’t quite fill the gap.
I’ve had to take a long hard look at my playtoys and it really breaks my heart to think that I’m going to have to let some of them (if not all of them) go. I had a guy call me about my ’49 Chevy and I almost choked up when I talked about it. Fortunately, for the time being, the sale didn’t go through but he also said that he thought the price was realistic but he couldn’t cut it at this time. “I’ll call you back later this winter and we’ll look at it again,” he said. Maybe I’ll luck out with the Powerball (Wife and I and the kids play it), or sell a few more books and I won’t have to go through with it.
But this is a nice truck, needing very little to make for a decent truck to take to the thrashing show. I know that if I had the means I would like something like this to pack the John Deere D around. Perish the thought that someone would pull the cab off and drop it onto a modern chassis, destroying another rare piece of history…
I tried posting a comment and got an error message no matter what I did.
Ok. Seems to be working. I think I’ll try again with a second cup of coffee. This is a great find and a great write up Michele. Im sure your Diamond T was your pride and joy back in the day Howard. If it were mine, I’d keep it stock. I was looking under the hood and maybe I’m wrong but it sure looks like it would be a bear of a job to get at those rear spark plugs. I spotted the two speed rear selector on the shifter, which definitely must have helped to get heavy loads going. This looks like a solid truck, if the running gear was missing or the frame was shot, then I would consider dropping the body on a modern chassis. Bit this sure looks way to good to do that too.
Thanks again for another great find.
Dave
Hi Driveinstile, you know the saying, better to have loved and lost, than blah, blah, blah. It was a fun time, made a couple bucks, to boot. To be clear, I don’t think that is a 2 speed rear, and that lever, I think is a reverse lockout. 2 speeds were not popular until the 50s, when longer distances required higher speeds and were generally vacuum or electric.
Those rear plugs a bear?? Obviously you never had the fun of tuning just about any front wheel drive V6 or a Ford Aerostar,etc etc…
What was the song from Fiddler on the Roof, “If I were a rich man.” A few years back I would have put a Mid-west combo body on it, today a closed body for our run to the farmers market where it’s sure to draw a crowd. I’ll back Howard up on no 2sp, that is a reverse lockout lever on the shifter. This truck would have had a double reduction 2sp w/ vacuum shift. Straight cut gears will make that tranny noise and hard to shift but years of old trucks means it wouldn’t bother me.
These old truck are a sweet and sore spot for me, I love’em but can’t afford the time and money. About a year ago a close friend started cleaning up/closing out his brothers estate, a dozen or more old tractors and at least that many old trucks. We farmed together as young men till I moved 350 miles south. He called one day and said “what about you? you want any of this stuff?” I told him in a perfect world I’d have him ship it to me by the trailer load, the reality is I’ve got all the projects I can handle.
Hmm nice long frame I can see a nice camper mounted on the back. Would be great for hunting fishing or just plain camping. No a/c no problem minimal interior no tech gadgets love it. As an x trucker driving it no problem. Would draw a crowd anywhere you go. Oh so nice to dream age and health keeps me out of the game though. To the seller GLWTA. To the buyer don’t be afraid to dream and make it your own and enjoy it.
Dad always said “dream big, it doesn’t cost any more.”
Nice idea about the camper, but this truck was meant for farm-to-town use. Going farther would be a big problem and dangerous (suicidal) at any kind of speed.
I have bid against this fellow at auctions. His advantage is he lives back east in the land of rust and hauled our dry Montana trucks back there to sell, where as when I try to tell people how solid our trucks are on the internet they don’t believe me. I just bought two of these trucks, hope I can find buyers when I get the titles clear in my name.
Love older trucks, was recently looking at an old semi Mack truck for 1000 bucks, thing was huge. Unfortunately, my love for these trucks supercedes my knowledge on getting them up and running. Reading the write ups and comments is always an education and I’m taking notes. Learning the hard way on when to buy, or run away…
I think a period correct rounded- front box with corrugated sides, out of Stainless steel, or aluminum, polished or wrapped with shiney.. To fab one wouldn’t be too difficult, and doors and hardware could be pirated of any old box or trailer. Puts me in mind of the Stallone movie F.I.S.T.
I think a period correct rounded- front box with corrugated sides, out of Stainless steel, or aluminum, polished or wrapped with shiney.. To fab one wouldn’t be too difficult, and doors and hardware could be pirated of any old box or trailer. Puts me in mind of the Stallone movie F.I.S.T. And big red trucks with ” ACE DORAN” in big white letters.
I remember Ace Doran are they still in business ??(
Or, if you’ve been bitten by the bug and have the disease so bad that NOTHING CAN CURE IT, You could do this:
https://youtu.be/99la6SseY1M
Be forewarned, it’s incredibly cool, incredibly expensive and takes an incredible amount of time.
It’s not mine, as I understood I could never afford it (Dirty Harry would say “A man’s got to know his limitations”) and I made my choices a LONG TIME AGO. I have chosen to have few regrets.
I’m happy with the road I’ve taken, and I am satisfied to see that others have tamed the primal scream of a 2-stroke Jimmy mated to a 10-speed Road-Ranger with Overdrive in an ancient Road Tractor.
If you watch until the end, there’s a external clip of this beautiful wee-beastie, being run all of through the gears, bob-tailing down a 2-lane, singing for all its worth.
It makes me nostalgic for pre-interstate days I remember on US 321 between Ridgeway and Great Falls, SC, with tractor trailers flying down hill at 65 mph, only to crawl to the top of the next small ridge cresting at 30 mph, with a heavy trailer full of produce headed to the Northeast Grocery Stores…and dreams of a 4-year old, piloting a big rig, being a ‘knight of the road.’
SOLD-$6,258.00!!