1948 Diamond T 306, CADILLAC OF TRUCKS
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 8 ม.ค. 2023
- Most information on the tube about this lost and mostly forgotten, but stellar classic truck. This one is for sale at classic auto mall
www.classicautomall.com/vehic...
In this episode we cover lots of history of diamond t as well as Hercules (engine used in this model diamond t) Take the tour button switches and knobs enjoy this one this one was really hard to research because information is very spotty at best.
If you’d like to get in touch with me or shoot me a comment in the comment section below or check out our Facebook group by clicking the link below
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 - ยานยนต์และพาหนะ
Just my Imagination, Temptations
You got it man congratulations did you ever notice that this song and I wish it would rain by The Temptations open the same exact way almost
Tomorrow’s episode on what it’s like 1955 dodge coronet 270 v8 red ram hemi be sure to tune in tomorrow to see that episode =)
@@What.its.like. Holy Cow! You really are a Boomer! I never noticed that about the two songs, but you're right! Looking forward to the Coronet! BTW, angelic voice Dude! Ha!
I was born way too late.. I feel like I should’ve been born either in the boomer generation or the generation before them.. sometimes I actually get sad because looking at those cars I totally missed it especially the Art Deco ones I absolutely love those
I love old Trucks the Diamond T 306 is in a class by itself . Thanks for another dandy post.
=) totally agree. This is Cadillac of the trucks.
Beautiful
You'll never see beautiful manufacturing like this ever again.
I still remember that interior those seats were the most comfortable seats I’ve ever been in in any truck from any time period
@@What.its.like. I believe it. The truck was absolutely stunning. The fact you don't see that many Diamond T's, REO, or Diamond Reo's in the show truck scene. It's telling that not many were saved. And the ones that were are mostly hidden away.
That’s why this channel exist to inspire people to go after the lost and forgotten stuff and take it and use it and share it with people so other people can be inspired and hopefully we can find more of this stuff because I have a hard time believing that a lot of these got thrown away even though some of them did I believe they’re still out there it’s a big world
The grill and whole front end look like a heavy duty version of the 1940 Chevy pickup. This beauty looks the business!
What a beauty, Jay. 😊 Cheers from New Zealand
Thanks for the video of Diamond T truck
This was the hardest one to date glad you dig this episode =)
But liked the challenge
I really appreciate your videos, you bring something to people they would never know. I myself have had the good fortune to have driven many old cars and trunks. The oldest was a 1919 demby. I have driven cars I had to crank by hand, or start with a pedal on the floor, and some with a button on the dash. Keep up the good work and thank you.
Thank you so much glad you dig this channel =)
I want to review everything that never got reviewed goal is to cover at least one car from ever brand from 1930-1964 and cars outside those perimeters
A very interesting truck!
Totally agree =)
One beefy ride thanks Jay
When they made trucks
If i had this truck , i would drive it every day
Me too, Believe it or not before I bought my Chevy this was a consideration I almost went to look at one of these but then found out how rare they are and parts are kinda hard to come by
Okay, here is what I know about Diamond T's. They actually made a 3/4 ton truck as well from 1936 until 1938 called the Model 80. The Model 201 had an "X frame" or "X" crossmembers instead of the common side to side crossmembers on other trucks. This made the frame much more ridged and heavy duty. The "X" frame was also reinforced. The Model 201, although rated a 1 ton, had a GVW of 8,000 lbs. The 7 main bearing engine was a well balanced, smooth running engine. By the way, I have a Hercules engine in my 1950 Oliver OC3 dozer. The interiors came in standard and more deluxe models including a clock, jeweled cigar lighter, and engine turned dash panel among other upgrades. Also optional was 20" wheels with premium hubcaps.
Awesome thank you so much for sharing that information =)
The temptations, just my imagination.
Yep =)
When I started work in the building industry in Sydney, Australia in the 1970s, Diamond (T & REO) trucks were common as tippers.
I never paid a whole lot of attention to vintage trucks but I'm gaining a lot more appreciation for them! This one is definitely special and well deserving of the name! Super beautiful and cool 🤩😎
37 studebaker express is one of the sleekest trucks
My girl by the temptations
It is not my girl it could possibly be a temptation song though I guess all of the temptation song sound somewhere there’s three songs that sound like this song my girl and two other ones That I know of lol
When I worked in a parcel delivery firm in the 80’s my supervisor was an old school diesel fitter. He said the drivers weren’t sent out unless they knew how to fix the engine. I like the modern cabs because they are so comfy with sprung seats, a mattress in the roof and modcons like a fridge and a microwave. Dang some even have satellite tv!
Awesome story! I've heard of the Diamond T truck, but I've never seen a Diamond T pickup truck.
Information on this one is really hard to find glad you dig this episode =)
Nice, Jay, I can see Metric measurements appearing. Bless you man. 2.4 Metres. So easy for the entire world audience, which you will come to dominate following your invasion of Polan.... Sorry, I got a little carried away. Nice backstory too on the brand. And for a commercial vehicle, a great price for truck fleet owners 1948 and the country is charging forward on its feet since the war. A new, more hopeful time of thinking about the future, with America having come through the great depression and WWII, it was time to play with newer toys. For the owner of a haulage firm, the Diamond T, Reo speed wagon, all 25 of them, are making money for both drivers and the company. They are reliable, which really counts in business, and so, let the prosperity begin.
It took a while to do all the conversions but I figured this channel is bigger than just the US I don’t understand the metric system even though you explained it to me it’s foreign to me just like degrees Celsius I learned about that in science class but I learned Fahrenheit when I was a kid and that’s what I go by lol.. it’s hard to teach an old dog new tricks.. but I will keep converting the measurements so that applies to everybody across the board..
I have always loved butterfly hoods. International was 1 of the last companies to use them in the Paystar I think.
Butterfly hoods are cool =) great information
Great video, amazing restoration.
Thank you I had to dig deep like really deep for this information.. The information for this truck is almost nonexistent it’s crazy because they were a popular contender back in the day. I always like the 201s I wanna find one to review one day I would really love to compare a diamond t and an international one day but that is an extremely tall order =)
The amount of brightwork on that vehicle is amazing for a truck. Truly classy looking! I really enjoyed this video. You did a great job with the information on this truck.
Thank you so much glad you dig this episode =)
The bright work is 1 of the reasons Diamond T was such an upscale truck in it industry.
Just stumbled onto this one. Very nice! I'm retired from trucking. My 2nd truck was a 57 Diamond T 931 (I think it was?) Cabover with a 30 " sleeper. Bostrom air seat. 270 Cummins. It rode like a 55 Roadmaster! By the way.... I dig David Ruffin (RIP)
Aw man you had a big commercial truck that’s awesome I can’t get over how spotty the information is on these.. because these where the trucks to have.
@@What.its.like. It also had shutters for the radiator to keep the heat in the Winter & West Coast mirrors. I believe Hanks Truck Pictures used to have a lot of info about Diamond T. It's been 50 years since I drove it
A very nice one! Gld you might do a few more trucks.
The plan is to hit them all I want to hit every single body style of car made between 1935 and 1964 the 30s would be a little bit harder because some of those cars are extinct.. But yeah I wanna hit all of the trucks one day I’m hoping in the summer this year to find all of the Chevy models and compare them I have a 1 ton I know somebody that has a half ton I gotta find a one and a half ton I know somebody that has a 2 ton that would be epic the line them all up and compare them all =)
Hey Jay, this Diamond T truck is indeed impressive!!! It's beautifully restored!!! Thanks for sharing another exciting video!!! 👍👍🙂
Glad you dig this one last night when writing the script I couldn’t find any information I had to search forums when I found those pages the information was so spread out I think I used 10 different sources.. =)
Excellent video 👍
My Grandfather had a 1940 D. T panel truck.
He had it till he purchased a new 1951 GMC 1 Ton panel for his plumbing business. My Pop said both trucks were tanks, and could haul anything you could load them up with.
Thank you glad you liked this episode this was the hardest one to date conformation is spotty at best but hay that’s what we do on this channel go after the lost and forgotten classic cars =)
What a fantastic restoration... absolutely beautiful. Thanks Jay for showing us around.
This truck was nice =)
Paint and bodywork is very good, but the interior and engine are not restored. Please reply. Dave...
Other than the Studebaker, all the trucks you showed near the start of your video looked pretty good! I'll bet few had 7 main bearings, that's a kind of important aspect when it comes to engine life under stressful conditions like one would assume these trucks lived under.
Totally agree I have no id why Studebaker M16 was so hideous 1937 studebaker express is one of the best looking trucks EVER and then they made that.. the bakers in the 50s looked nice as well
Yo Jay, she looks like a dream from the front grills head on view. Beauty and a purposeful but not arrogant strength. Solidity is what it seems to represent, with the implicit reliability. Great use of style cues for marketing a truck of substance and purpose. You don't need to know about trucks even a bit with this one, you just get it. The Diamond T's fame was borne by its allure, but carried by its true abilities.
Totally agree =)
There used to be what I think was a 201 around Hudson NY but I haven't seen it in more than 10 years 😢.
Diamond T is multi faceted.
REO (Rio) It stood for Ransom Eli Oldsmobile. He couldnt use his last name after selling Oldsmobile to General Motors, so he started over with cars first called REO's.
Diamond REO - REO is pronounced like the city in Brazil. The name is an abbreviation of the name of the company founder, Ransome Eli Olds, who founded Oldsmobile then sold it to GM. Jay, you hit the nail on the head with your last 2 musical features, the Delfonics and the Temptations, I've worked with both in my long 60 year career as a professional musician. You sound like you like to sing and I notice you have very good pitch. You should get together with Donald Osborne, he also digs singing. Man cars and music - always worked for me!
I used to sing I could go note for note with Brian Wilson and hit all mike loves deep notes never did anything with it.. I’m nowhere where I used to be, but was to shy to show it. I can do some good impressions I sang a Garth brooks song for the name that tune (sounded just like Garth and got copyright claimed, I don’t sing too often on the show but sometimes do, not the best voice in the world but can stay on key which is a lot of it) =)
Glad you dig this episode
@@What.its.like. Heh heh, I knew you was hiding your light under a bushel, you can't fool an old pro. You do an excellent job with your show, so I don't necessarily recommend that you sing here, but you should be singing someplace. You know how to entertain, you do that on your videos, you should find a place in your life and go ahead and sing. Music is very therapeutic.
It is I don’t have a radio in my 52 truck I listen to a lot of music just like, this channel features a wide range of cars music and cars go together like pancakes and syrup lol
I thought REO was just spelled as in R-E-O That was how the R E O Speed wagon Band was pronounced.
@@What.its.like. I prefer waffles with Cool Whip on top. 😋
Wow, Jay you dug up an awful lot of information on this antique truck. Can't be many left like it; they were the workhorses of their day. My Dad told me how HIS father was the first street huckster (fruit and vegetable sales) to use a truck instead of a horse and cart on the streets of the West side of Buffalo, NY in the 1920's. He says it was a Ford.
Thank you so much for sharing that awesome story what a great memory glad you dig this episode =) There is a guy a town over that has a 50 Chevy huckster I wanted to review it last year but I don’t know I was too busy I didn’t get a chance to hoping this year get to review it =) those are cool and rare
Re: 34" waist. Pre fast food, pre obesity, people throughout the western world ate pretty much what their fathers and grandfathers had eaten. Then eating became medcalised, and doctors began telling us we were eating incorrectly, just like our fore-bears. Then we got fat and sickly and became a society of high blood pressured, diabetic and obese peoples with failing heart and kidneys. Thanks doc, but no, thanks. My point is that for 99% of people the vehicles of their day, fitted the people of their era, and modern vehicles have increased in features to adapt to our chronic dietary illnesses. Or else they couldn't sell their cars. 34" waist man, Jay, I don't think you'll be having any problem with anything you ever try out sitting in ever. Eat lots of meat and control your portions.
*Part of the Health and sociology of automobiles series.* Hah. What a great truck.
I just show that because the cars were made for smaller people there are a lot of new cars that I’m too big for but waists have gotten bigger and there is one car so far 34 waist steering wheel is in crotch 1958-1960 thunderbird so figured show that. I stopped showing it at one point and someone said that was important to gauge if they would fit
No fat truckers in those days. I have a 53 M37 Power Wagon, and being a size 38, it's a tight fit. My dad has a 1943 Ford GPW Jeep that I can barely get behind the wheel.
The seats were so nice in that truck
The wipers were vacuum, on the dash. Headlights, for a very time dash lights and tail lights are on the same circuit. If you don't have dash lights you don't have tail lights. The other knows would be the choke and the throttle.
Great information =)
@@What.its.like. When I can, and I know, I will post information on cars. I have worked and driven some old old stuff.
It's a really handsome truck. I saw a red one in beautiful condition, with a pickup box, in a grocery store parking lot some years ago. I talked with the owner, who had done the work on it, and I took some pictures. (That flip phone is long gone.) It was their grocery getter, that day at least. The hood supports and the horns look like they'd interchange with those on 40 Buicks. The hood supports are simple, light, durable and very effective. So whiz kids have been trying ever since to improve them. Can anyone cite an example of a better design?
Total guess, the toggle switch to the right of the column and below the dash is for instrument lights? No point stretching a 6 volt system, with a crappy generator, too far. I'm unsure, but I thought I saw a few additional switches under the dash on the right side as well? From memory, ergonomics and attention to labelling were invented in August 1963 in New York. Just kidding.
Could be I never thought of that, why the one cars had a switch for panel lights but makes total sense
Is it My Girl by The Temptations?
Love this Diamond T by the way!
It is not my girl it might be a temptation song though.. I can’t explain how comfortable those seats were they were the best seats of any truck that I’ve ever sat in ever
even new trucks don’t even come close. I don’t know what material the seats were made out of it wasn’t leather it wasn’t vinyl it was something in between.. One of the advertisement pieces said that the cushions were 8 inches deep or tall I should say I believe it it was comfortable without having a beanbag chair feel
@@What.its.like. I would love to have 8-in thick cushions in any chair I sit in!
Modern car seats are so stiff.. make my rear end hurt!
I have no idea why manufactures nowadays think that everybody wants sport seats.. It’s kind of sort of a fad I think in my opinion... I miss the plushy seats
Diamond R E O. Diamond Rio makes me think of music.
Ok awesome I said it right for once =) lol
@@What.its.like. I don't know which is correct. I was just giving my preference, which doubles as a guess.
It’s all good I’ve heard it both ways so I figured I would state it both ways but the original company was called REO as an REO Speedwagon they actually had a truck named that in the band name their band after that truck..
I was going to tie all of that in there too but I did it for whatever reason I took a bunch of takes and I didn’t see it in the takes that I liked
The name was taken from the truck, but I don't know why, Anybody?
I thought it was Warwick Avenue by Duffy.
There's a pretty significant point you missed on the engine. When was the last time you saw a flathead with the distributor on the same side as the manifolds? Like never? I'd guess that they kept one side pretty clear to allow for hydraulic pumps or air compressors. Also, you used a very odd turn of phrase.... 'Do me a solid' ...? I have visions of a doctor giving you a sample tray, pointing the way to the toilet and saying exactly that.
Thank you so much for pointing that out I didn’t recognize that I’m looking at the engine how was more concerned that half of it was exposed and half of it sat underneath the firewall. Thanks again for pointing that out =)
Ah, yes, the setback of the motor. I can speculate on the reason for it. A truck is a big investment and the more hours per day it works, the better the investment is recouped. A factor in how much it can work is how tired it makes the driver. (Did you say it had a comfortable seat?) If the engine is not directly over the front axle, then some of its weight will be on the back axle, thus making the steering easier. There may also be advantages in the gearstick location, making it easier to drive. As I say, this is speculation, but I'm sure you'll see the logic of it.
Instead of primer gray... the term used most often back then was BATTLESHIP GREY
Awesome =) I like that term
The behind the scenes developments of engine compression, are sort of charting a graph, of engine power output within the American civilian engine scene. Which I have been quietly noting. By the 60s, the comp. Ratios begin to increase steadily with the HP war's building intensity. Higher stressed engines are appearing, but using the old tech of push rods still, for the most part. While European cars, cannot afford to use displacement to increase HP/PS/KW due to the very high fuel costs they labour under.
(I.e., converted, to US Imperial gallons roughly, $10~$12 + gallon) answers the question of why they have such small but very high technology, with very high efficiency engines used. Which also applies to Japanese auto engines. DOHC 4 valves per, high compression, smaller displacement engines which have tremendous power output for their size. Compare a 5 litre Windsor to a Japanese 3.5 litre V6 engine, and the Windsor is a lawnmower engine, by any comparison. (very heavy cast iron block and head using push rods and 2 valve heads which use large amounts of fuel to produce a pleasant burble sound at idle, but power output figures which are embarrassingly low) (165BHP?) without antipollution gear. From a 5 litre engine under a weight penalty is awful. Despite that being said, measure for measure the High displacement 7 litre American V8 with a good carburettion pack (4 barrel) gave a good account of itself where gas was cheap and plentiful
Just my imagination by the temptations
Yeah buddy =)
Obviously it doesn’t have a glove box to put your camera in. What about the compartment on the passenger side running board? Would the camera fit into that?
That was a missed opportunity I’m sure it would find in there that was a big area
Wasn't the Hercules engine the one that Tucker either wanted to use in his new post-war vehicle, or ended up using, as it could have been either way.
He wanted a really complex design I’m not entirely sure offhand he ended up getting engines from Franklin
@@What.its.like. Oh yeah, Franklin, thanks. In my opinion, I believe Tucker wasn't a shyster, and he was found not guilty, but certain interests were baying for his blood. A Cord/Tucker inspiration would have made the cars of the 50s truly space age, and not with the use of fins either. We shall never know.
@@billconway3225 Thanks, I believe you're setting me straight, now you have reminded me.
In later years Diamond T merged with REO. I think they are not in business anymore.
What is the old blue truck in front of the diamond T truck?
REO speed wagon I whatevs to review that one as well the diamond t was from the first time I was there just got to it now tomorrow’s video is from the second time and it wasn’t there the second time
@@What.its.like. There’s a rock band called REO Speed Wagon. “I Can’t Fight This Feeling Anymore “ was one of their songs.
Time for me to fly lol another song of theirs =) they were a good band keep on loving you is another good song
@@What.its.like. i always thought that the lead singer sounded like Michael W Smith. Michael was always associated with Amy Grant.
@@glennso47 I think his name was Kevin Cronin. Been almost 40 years since I listened to them.
Did they make fire engines?
I think so
I think my hometown had one
Surely you have heard of the REO speedwagon? Im not talking girly boy pop group
I’ve heard of REO Speed Wagon. They are originally from Champagne Illinois. I also have heard of the truck of the same name. I just never saw one before that I could remember.
I almost made that a thing as a tie in to REO
just my imagination. Temptations
You got it man somebody beat you to it =) do you ever notice just my imagination and I wish it would rain open up pretty much the same
Do you know Warwick Avenue by Duffy? It started off almost exactly the same.
It's Reo--one word, like Kia.
From 'Engines of the Red Army' ..."Throughout WW II, the Red army seriously lacked one type of vehicle that most other armies already had : wheeled tank transporters.
It didn't take too long until the arsenal of democracy (the US) partially closed that gap by first delivering 190 Reo 28XS and subsequently 295 Diamond T-980 M20 to the USSR.": {PS...Stalin was never presented with an invoice for all the material he rec'd! from the West!}
Thank you so much for sharing that information =)
Roosevelt was pretty keen to keep the USSR fighting on the Eastern Front and giving all kinds of supplies delivered by the Merchant Navy chaperoned by the Royal Navy along the Baltic coast was one way of guaranteeing Soviet cooperation.
Wrong GM Brand It the Oldsmobile of Trucks. A Caddie would never get caught doing manual labor.
Cadillac did make “trucks” tho so did Lincoln.. plush seats make it the Cadillac of trucks and I wasn’t the one that coined that phase
@@What.its.like. Well the grill is from an Oldsmobile. A '38 I believe.
REO was Oldsmobile I believe diamond T is totally different company, at this point in time diamond T would merge with REO to form diamond REO but that was in 67
@@What.its.like. We are both right since these trucks had a Continental or a Hercules engine in them. Like White and Sterling, it was part of GM's past and nothing else. Like Locomobile, the Company was acquired and not an original offshoot like Pontiac and Autocar was from Oakland.
You need to remove this off my site
I’m confused what site are you talking about
Hey Jay, Just before I go to bed. 6:00 AM, you can go to my channel, per my address line and check out the' Ford Australia', developed designed and built in Australia, Ford GTHO Phase III Falcon, which had to be homologated for track racing purposes. In 1967, it was the fastest 4 door family passenger car in the world @ 140MPH, with a car magazine driving it from Sydney to Melbourne. The journos found a safe place, (no cops) and a photographer n the rear right, sat behind the driver front right, and took the magazine's cover photo of the speedo showing a verified 140 MPH. You could take your wife and 3 kids for holidays in it, and so many did. The motor was a standard 5.8 Litre Cleveland, which was blueprinted for the homologation required which was 500 vehicles, but they built so many more than that. If you own one, you could trade it for an MC'mansion style house.(we have the biggest houses in the world for some reason, ) where your family with 2.5 kids can get lost and waste money heating and cooling. So it is stevenhoman2253 (which appended the numbers automatically by Ute-Ube one day, probably for tracking purposes???) Pretty sure my names up top, but I can't see it till I finish the message. Look around if you want, but it isn't a true channel, just some of my viewable saved ute-ube files.
Just for your personal interest and viewing pleasure of one of our 60s muscle cars. GMH and Chrysler had their V8's and Chrysler their Hemi V8s, yet all in smaller, lighter packages. GMH even had a 2 door compact with bolt on flared guards and air dams and rear spoilers with the 307, or 308 or even a straight 6, with some tuning they were monstrously quick, and the Government eventually intervened, before
all the countries sporting legends ended up wrapped around a tree.
The compact GMH 'Torana,' could pull 12's Good night/morning Jay, get back to you latter and check out the Diamond T.
I’ll be sure to check it out I wish youtube made it way easier to click on peoples channels to check them out I’ll have to do it when I get to a PC I don’t do anything on a PC generally everything I do is on an iPad and the iPad system is way dumb down and I think that is a huge misstep for TH-cam I wish they offered all the features they offer on a PC on an iPad in other words..