Canadian Long wheelbase Diamond T975 survivors?

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Ad found on HMVF:

Well i have decided to sell my Diamond t to finance another project. The Diamond T 975 is one of only 1500 of this model made between 1940/41 to 1943. The 975 was a long wheel base.These were built for the Canadian Army and came in different forms such as GS cargo as mine and bridge laying bodys ect. My truck is in good running order and i have used it on a regular bassis it gets run at least once a month even in the winter time so no long periods of standing still. It still needs some paint work doing to the wheels and other odds and ends doing.It still has its hercules petrol engine, its 6 volts electrics and 12 volt starting.I am asking £7000.ono. I dont know of another 975 over here in the UK but i may be wrong.I can email more pics on request. My email Hwade111@aol.com Tel 01379 871161.

Thanks for Looking
Howard

No connections, not a CMP, but a truck built specifically for the Canadian Army and worthy of finding a good home!

- Hanno

[Neil Ashley]

I think this one has changed hands a few times in recent years and the cost of petrol cannot help.

If it is the one I am thinking about it started life as a Bridge Carrier and subsequently ended up with this body during a post war rebuild (ex-Denmark?). Still a very rare truck.

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Neil Ashley

I think this one has changed hands a few times in recent years and the cost of petrol cannot help.

Indeed, the seller bought a GMC CCKW 353 which he hopes he can take out to shows more often than the Diamond T.

Just read on HMVF this Diamond T was sold to a new owner in Holland. The Dutch are at it again!

- Hanno

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another Diamond T 975, this time a Pontoon Truck, was recent sold by Army Cars, to an unknown buyer.

[Alex van de Wetering]

I don't know of any exact numbers, but I guess several thousands of long wheelbase Diamonds must have been built under canadian contracts.....but how many of these T975's survive today?

The Dutch army picked up quite a few from the vehicle dump in Deelen, but I don't know if any of these survive today(?).
The Danish army sold a number of the Canadian Diamonds a few years ago and most of the trucks now seen on shows seem to have come from their stocks. Sadly most of them lost their "Canadian" bodies somewhere in their career.

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

but how many of these T975's survive today?

Alex,

Here´s a couple of them. One was for sale in the UK and came to Holland, the other was for sale at a dealer in Holland and went to who knows where.

Can´t think of many more, but once you start counting you should be able to come up with a few dozen?

H.

[Alex van de Wetering]

I know four examples in Holland:

1. First picture shows the T975 Pontoon carrier of the The Marshall museum in Overloon (ex-Danish army?). Sadly it carries US registration.
   
2. An identical example was recently sold to a group of MV collectors in the South of Holland. Hanno posted a picture of that one on MLU over here: http://mapleleafup.net/forums/showthread.php?t=12370
   
3. The second picture shows the ex-Howard Wade T975 which is now owned by someone in Holland. (picture taken at Wings and Wheels show, Belgium)
   
4. I have only seen a picture of the fourth Dutch example on the internet....I will try to dig it up. If I remember correctly it was in storage but it might still have the original body fitted.

Than there used to be another one; I remember seeing a Brown Diamond T flatbed (?) with mickey mouse camo here in Holland in the 80's, but I never saw it again. I even heard it was sold to one of the museums in Canada(?).

[Alex van de Wetering]

Hanno.......you are just too fast.....or I am getting too slow. I was still gathering info for this thread!

Alex

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

Hanno.......you are just too fast.....or I am getting too slow. I was still gathering info for this thread!

Alex,

Think of it as an 1-2tje!

I have a pic of Alex Schmidt´s 975 somewhere, I´ll post it here when I find it.

Hanno

[Alex van de Wetering]

Here is the fourth example I mentioned:

source: http://www.geocities.com/militairvehicles/

Still fitted with the Machinery body! I'd love to see this truck in real life!

I have a pic of Alex Schmidt´s 975 somewhere, I´ll post it here when I find it.

Terrific, I didn't know about that one. That would make 5 in Holland so far.

Alex