Diamonds are Forever: 1947 Diamond T 306 Truck
Diamond T trucks were known for their styling and features and were often called the Cadillac of trucks. This is a very original old Diamond T is on its third owner. It’s said to have only 10,000 miles, but they were likely very hard miles. The owner says even the rear tires are original. Would you drive on tires that old? This Diamond T is listed on eBay in Trempealeau, Wisconsin with an unmet opening bid of $10,00.
Inside, it’s simple, original and in pretty good condition. With a good cleaning, it wouldn’t look too bad.
Things look really complete and original under the hood. Typically, this would be about a 90 horsepower 236 cubic inch Hercules flathead 6.
This old truck really is a time capsule. The “Phone 53” on the door was likely a real phone number. It’s said to run and drive as is. The owner put 800 miles on it in the last year. The 10,000-mile claim is likely true as these trucks were never driven very far. Unfortunately, there is limited use for old trucks like these. They’re not much fun as a driver. Hopefully, the new owner will leave this truck just as it is. If it’s used for marketing it may get new signage, though.
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Comments
Nice, old, honest truck. Not sure if it’s worth 10k, but I have a soft spot for these Diamond T’s.
Beautiful! If only I could get away with parking it on my front lawn.
Excellent truck to turn into a full blown custom!
No, hopefully the new owner will give it a much needed paint job and make it look new again!
I wonder if you could retrofit a 2 speed rear end?
Hi Woodie. I would think that Diamond T offered a 2 spd. axle on its trucks. It could be difficult to find one today but the axles were supplied by other sources so you could get something from another truck that would be compatible.
Just a 2 speed rear end may not help. Many were not higher geared, just gave you an extra gear range below the normal ratios. It takes more study than that. It is like a 5 speed transmission. Not all are overdrive so will not help crusing on the highway. Would be a great show truck but are bringing a lot of money these days.
They might have looked like the Cadillac of trucks but they sure didn’t ride like a Cadillac. Come to think of it, neither did any of the other trucks from that era. Not many of these around so restoration is the only way to go. I’ve seen a couple of these with the cabs pulled and stuck on a modern chassis. It might seem like a practical way to go but all it does is compromise another artifact. Fix it up original and use it…..
And around and around we go ( with these) What do you want to do with it? With a top speed of 47 mph, it limits where you can go, not that I’d want to go any faster than that, as is. Without a resto-mod, it’s not going to do you much good as a truck, just a big toy, really. I’m not surprised at the price. Not too long ago, before the internet, these were $1,000 trucks, at best, and the only way you found them, was stumbling upon them at an auction. The internet has shown, even in the Badger, there’s gold in them thar barns. Pricing me out of the old truck hobby. That’s ok, it’s going to take someone tens of thousands of dollars, to enjoy what us old timers paid peanuts for ( and threw in a parts truck) years ago. I only hope it’s worth it to them. As is, these are pretty miserable to drive.
Hi Howard. I tend to think of something like this as a big toy regardless whether it can go 90 or 45. If I could afford to buy this and restore it, I wouldn’t really care if it only went 45. My old Chevy goes 55 and that’s just fine with me; I’m in no hurry to get where I’m going when I’ve got it out on the road; let those uptight yuppies in their personal luxury cars pass me and give me the single-digit wave…
Hi geomechs, I’m on your side, however, the fact remains, if you want to drive this as is, any distance anyway, it really is a nuisance. If you could take back roads everywhere, that would be fine, and I’m sure in your neck of the woods,( and mine) there’s plenty of back roads, they just may be gravel, (which wouldn’t hurt this old gal one bit, that’s what it was designed for) In a more populated area, it’s just not feasible, as evidenced here. The owners put, what, 300 miles on in the last 20 years? It’s the 2nd reason why I lost interest in my Diamond T ( don’t ask the 1st), is it rode like a lumber wagon ( although, I’m not really sure what a lumber wagon rode like) and it was just too slow.
Oh, and ditch the tires, for heavens sake. 70 year old tires should be hanging on the pier.
I would love a truck like this, but would admittedly want sonething more drivable, like a 1 ton Chevy 90’s drive train under it, and I could not do that to a nice original truck like this. Better for me to find a nearly dead farm truck to convert.
I am looking for a Diamond T Grill to finish my project . If anyone has any info of one for sale? Could you pass me the information.
My email is [email protected]
Thank you. Roger
8 years ago I bought a 404HH and restored it. Spent about $5000 for restoration parts. The tires on looked like the 1947 original tire firestones. got 3 trophies and the sold it.