General Crerar

[Alex van de Wetering]

Hi Rob,

I always assumed Crerars Caravan was built on a long wheelbase 975 chassis, but given the "CH" prefix and the fact that the census is close to another 969 Wrecker seen in a period picture.....I now wonder if it could have been built on a stretched 969 wrecker chassis in stead(?)

The caravan will no doubt benefit from the new donor Diamond with the closed cab.

By the way.....Jordan, awesome pictures!

Alex

[Alex van de Wetering]

Here is a picture of Crerar with a Diamond T in the background....what I presume is his caravan with the closed cab and "CH" prefix to the census number.

source: https://beeldbankwo2.nl/nl/beelden/d...rows=1&page=13

Alex

[David Dunlop]

Hi Alex.

Might not be the same truck.

Note the census number is right under the window, whereas on the photo Rob has in Post 2, it is nearly mid-door.

David

[Alex van de Wetering]

David,

Good point! I missed that......so it's either another truck or it was repainted at some stage(?)

[Ed Storey]

Or perhaps the photograph was taken while the General was visiting another unit which is also equipped with Diamond T trucks.

[David Dunlop]

You are probably right, Ed. The General is clearly dressed for travel, and when you look at the driver mirror arms on the two photos of the Diamond T’s, the General’s driver has the mirror head set very high, near the top of the door. The one in the second photo is set very low, about one quarter way up from the sill.

David

[Alex van de Wetering]

Attached is another picture of the Diamond T, from Wheels&Tracks magazine no.7, which has an article on the collection of Bill Gregg.

Or perhaps the photograph was taken while the General was visiting another unit which is also equipped with Diamond T trucks.

Sorry Ed; that's what I was meaning to say. Possibly a Diamond that has nothing to do with Crerar.

I do wonder if others can comment on the "CH" prefix.....wouldn't CL be more appropriate if the truck was based on a Diamond T975 chassis?

[Ed Storey]

Judging by the last image posted, it looks like the truck did get a repaint.