1949 Diamond T 306

The Diamond T Motor Car Company was founded in Chicago in 1905 by C. A. Tilt. Reportedly, the company name was created when Tilt's shoe-making father fashioned a logo featuring a big “T” (for Tilt) framed by a diamond, which signified high quality. The company's hood emblem on trucks was a sled dog in harness. From its beginnings manufacturing touring cars, the company later became known for its trucks. By 1967, as a subsidiary of White Motor Company, it was merged with Reo Motor Company to become Diamond Reo Trucks, Inc.

For consignment, what at first glance appears to be a restored 1949 Diamond T 306 flatbed truck but upon further inspection we see a mid-mounted Chevrolet V8 peering through a tilt bed...more than meets the eye here. Built by locally famed master mechanic, designer and fabricator George Sheibe as a representation of classic restoration mixed with street rod excitement and filling both ends of the spectrum well. With a photo album of the build, receipt log and build notes it's hard to say no to this once "Cadillac of the truck world" hauler turned local and regional award-winning show piece.

***Note: This vehicle is sold with a Pennsylvania reconstructed branding on the title***

Exterior
Drenched in a coating of pale yellow, the body with its well minded gaps and straight panels retain all of the original Art Deco charm that Diamond T incorporated into their trucks. Bullet style headlights flank a divided horizontally barred chrome grille with a shiny chrome bumper below. The big "T" logo sits proudly in its flowing chrome spear leading back to the twin cowled center hinged hood with each side decorated with chrome venting and brass Diamond T plates. Framing the hood are rounded front fenders which flow back into short running boards with nice oak step inlays. A raked back windshield forms the front of the cab giving an almost custom look, but it's exactly the way it left the factory in 1949. On the back is an oak lined bed with pneumatic lift cylinders to give a clean view of the V8 lurking underneath. When lowered, the bed has a cutout to show the sides of the engine while the rest is a mix of stained oak and pale yellow steel. Bringing up the rear are a pair of chrome bumpers with industrial style round taillights and in the center another simple T cutout within a cut out diamond logo. Black steel 20" wheels are on the corners with dual tires being on the rear. A shout out to the highly polished saddle mounted fuel tank under the driver's side of the bed.

Interior
Extreme utilitarian would best describe the door panels which are black painted stamped steel with chrome cranks, levers and a simple black vinyl padded armrest. Moving inside we see a pair of gray and black striped tweed broadcloth bucket seats courtesy of a Camaro floating in a seat of clean black carpet. A 3 spoke Lazy S Streetrods emblazoned leather wrapped and padded wheels is atop a late model steering column. This fronts the full metal jacket black painted dash with a bevy of round white face chrome bezel VDO gauges installed front and center. In front of the passenger seat is an AM/FM/Cassette stereo and just below is a CB radio for a big 10-4 baby bear. Chrome knobs and pulls are throughout the rest of the dash and above is a tachometer while to the driver's left is the pressure gauge and control for the lift bed. All buttoned up and easy to use.

Drivetrain
Lifting either side of the narrowing cowled hood reveals...well nothing. An empty engine bay where the original powerplant sat now houses a mirror finish firewall and a clear view of the suspension and steering components below. Lifting the pneumatic bed however gives up an eagle eye view of a 350ci V8 nestled just behind the cab. A Crane Fireball II 290h camshaft has been installed along with polished valve coverings. Sitting atop this engine is a Edelbrock 4bbl carburetor under a ribbed and shiny air cleaner assembly. Bolted to the back is a TH350 3-speed automatic transmission and bringing up the rear is the original heavy duty 4.62 geared rear axle.

Undercarriage
While too big to traverse our lift we did our best impression of a worm and worked our way under this hauler. All rust free black framing and floors make up with heavy duty undercarriage with only minor surface rust appearing on untreated components. Leaf spring suspension is seen both fore and aft with the aft units having a helper airbags mounted. Power drum brakes are on all 4 wheels, an added luxury over the manual drums from the factory. We also note power steering and some underbody lighting. Silver coated snakelike headers drop down from the big V8 and flow into highly polished pipes with muffler deletes and visible baffling installed.

Drive-Ability
With a twist of the key this big truck fell into a smooth but loud idle and off to the test track I went. I really enjoy driving these old trucks and often envision myself delivering milk, sundries, and any other services required to all the housewives in the neighborhood, but I digress... On the patented and well hidden Classic Auto Mall test track this drove like, well a truck. Acceleration was very good for a truck of this size and the power steering and brakes made all the world of difference in ease of drive-ability. All told, it handles like a 1949 Diamond T but much improved thanks to the street rodding upgrades, all functions were operational at the time of my drive but it wasn't able to reach the American Freedom Convoy on the CB.

A well built mix of restoration and street rodding, retaining almost all of it's high class hauler charm from the skilled pens of the Diamond T engineers. Crafted into this head turning and show winning truck seen before you. Guaranteed, you'll be the only one in your neighborhood with one and you certainly won't lose it at even a regional car show thanks to the skillful hands of Mr. Sheibe. Y'all got your ears on good buddy, come back.

Classic Auto Mall is a 336,000-square foot classic and special interest automobile showroom, featuring over 650 vehicles for sale with showroom space for up to 1,000 vehicles. Also, a 400 vehicle barn find collection is on display.
This vehicle is located in our showroom in Morgantown, Pennsylvania, conveniently located just 1-hour west of Philadelphia on the I-76 Pennsylvania Turnpike. The website is www.classicautomall.com and our phone number is (888) 227-0914. Please contact us anytime for more information or to come see the vehicle in person.