Canadian Long wheelbase Diamond T975 survivors?

[gjamo]

I think I may have discovered the spare parts book for it.
Graeme

[Alex van de Wetering]

Greame,

I recon the manual you found is for the short wheelbase US versions. The 968 is the normal cargo version, the 969 the wrecker. The Canadians did use the 969 however and I guess for work on the cab and chassis you could use either of the manuals...
Mechanically the short wheelbase and long wheelbase Diamonds were the same, the only difference being the longer chassis rails, one extra crossmember and longer drive shafts.

Attached a picture for some "colour" to this thread. Picture taken by Frits Lamberts in Almelo Holland, 1945. I just love this picture (one of a series taken at the same location) as it shows a number of Canadian Diamonds, but also CMP 3 ton trucks with Bailey bridge equipment.
I visited the location with a friend recently.....no, no Diamonds anymore



source: www.geheugenvannederland.nl


Does anyone know of any survivors of the Canadian Diamonds on Canadian soil???

[Alex van de Wetering]

Does anyone know the current location of Genaral Crerar's caravan? Borden maybe? Any pictures?

I understand the caravan was found by Bill Gregg and put on the back of a Diamond T975 for display in a Canadian museum. From what I have heard the Diamond in question might have been the Dutch one, previously a flatbed painted brown with black camo.

Hello, this one is from Jarno Wormgoor, he also ownes a cab 11 Ford FGT, a Ql, Fordson and a Champ, looks like he likes Canadian Britisch .

@ Hendrik. I think I remember seeing pictures of an cab 11 gun tractor under restoration somewhere in Holland; the fellow also owned the remains of the bodies of two others. Could that be Jarno?
It would be great to see both the FGT and Diamond T975 in a "correct" liberation parade next year!

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

I came across these pics this afternoon; taken at the Canadian War Museum in 2004 according to the source. Great to see a Diamond Machinery truck (Machinery M?) in preservation.

Alex









Source: http://www.hankstruckpictures.com/ro...ry_vintage.htm

[gordon]

About fifteen years back I was in Norway and saw a Canadian T with a Bay City crane / shovel set on it. Looked entirely original.

Gordon

[lendlease]

2 years ago I was in Sweden and looked at a Canadian LWB 6x6 for sale. I was reasonably original except for a missing engine and transmission. Had crane mounted on it as shown above in pictures in this thread. I know is was sold to a collector in Holland with a few big trucks. I have pictures, but don't know how to upload them. I do have an original CANADIAN manual for this military truck that I purchased here in Australia....also anothe CANADIAN manual for the Willys MB jeep....again purchased here from a book dealer.

[rob love]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Does anyone know the current location of Genaral Crerar's caravan? Borden maybe? Any pictures?

I understand the caravan was found by Bill Gregg and put on the back of a Diamond T975 for display in a Canadian museum. From what I have heard the Diamond in question might have been the Dutch one, previously a flatbed painted brown with black camo.

Alex

Crerar's caravan followed Bill Gregg's collection to Shilo. They did not have a truck to put it on, so they removed the rear deck from the Diamond T wrecker which was also from the gregg collection, and spliced the frame to give it the required wheelbase. I drove it about 9 years back after doing a little work on the starter. As far as I know it remains in the Shilo Artillery museum's collection,

[welbike]

Hi All, interesting Topic! My 975 came from the Marshall Museums collection, they had 3 of them, all from Denmark, and the pontoon bridge model, with the spare wheel on the side of the bed.

I don't think mine went to Canada, first it went to Belgium, then Luxembourg, and now is or was in Germany, in a terrible state, believed to be for sale, can find out if anyone is interested.

Drove the truck to Normandy and back in 1989 I believe, with a M3A1 halftrack on the back, a memorable ride!!!



And here how it looked 5? years ago:


Cheers,

Lex Schmidt

[Alex van de Wetering]

Lex,

Thanks for posting the pics of your former Diamond; It must have been your truck that I saw in the 80's than. It was at a Remembrance tour in Haarlem and if I remember correctly (I was a young boy in those days ) the Diamond had about 5 motorbikes on the back before the tour and was driven by two women during the tour (?)

Oh my....it's terrible to see the current condition of the truck...let;s hope it gets saved once again.

Alex

[jwdejong]

hello all,

I have buyed the 3rd diamond T.

Jan Willem de Jong