Ok so I got another project I don't need but is too cool to pass up. It's a 36 Diamond T model 80 S. The is for standard but I got the deluxe dash, windshield frame and trim so I'm putting that on it. My question is this... I've looked all over the net spent hours can't find any info on the bed of this truck? The bed is why I bough it 36's are my favorite but most didn't have beds I found this and jumped on it. Got any info on 36's or the bed fill me in! Thanks Dave Hitch FBBF
So does your cab have wood framing? Doors especially? If its a wood frame with a steel skin, its a 36, if its all steel construction it a 37. I've seen pics of that bed on Diamond T web sites. My buddy has a 37 301, but it was a factory flatbed, he is currently extending his cab and building his own express bed.
Very nice truck! Got any pics of the dash and interior? I'm guessing that's not a stock bed? Looks larger than typical? Maybe firetruck or some service vehicle?
I agree, looks like a fire truck bed. Keep in though, Diamond T sort of "marched to the beat of a different drummer". Might be factory. Karnak says maybe much internet searching in your future.
The bed proportions look right for the wheelbase, but I agree it seems more like part of some fire gear. Esp with the climb rail on the back.
Thanks man! No wood in the doors but they are green in paint color not red like the rest of the truck? I think they have been changed to 37 doors? Dave Hitch FBBF
Im thinking its a bed made for Diamond T it fits the running boards like a glove! Im thinking no on the fire truck. Not ruling it out yet quite yet tho. That's exactly what I thought at first but the bed floor doesn't have any holes in it where equipment would have been mounted? Also the thats not a hand rail its angle iron that trimed the outer skin to the the inner bed panels. Basically its a wood frame on the bed nailed to the wood and that covered the gap. Ill get some pics up? Thanks Guys Dave Hitch FBBF
Well I found pics like this http://collector-cars.blogspot.com/2008/07/1938-diamond-t-truck-for-sale-in.html but no info on it. it says its a 38? Post up some info I went through 30 pages of google can only find two beds like it? This one http://www.hotrodhotline.com/featur...ages/db_images/db_Ira_Hazins_38_Diamond_T.jpg has the bed I've always seen its more conventional in style-Has a stake pockets and a bed rail that lips over the side and is narrower than the cab while mine is the width as the cab almost like a fleetside found in the 50s? This one http://www.dupontregistry.com/autos/search/DRauSearchDetails.aspx?itemid=704866 says its an "express body" ?? this was found on page 22 of google images. the search continues. Dave Hitch FBBF
Buffalo Fire Apparatus build a lot of trucks on Diamond T chassis. It looks similar to some of their stuff. Could have been a hose truck, or a squad truck with a bench down the middle or along the sides for transporting extra crew to a scene.
Here's a pic of my buddy's old Diamond T, with a bed similar (if not the same) as yours. Even though the truck is late 40's, the bed is late 30's. I know this because he & I salvaged the bed from a just yard some years ago & it was attached to a late 30's Diamond T truck. When we got the bed, there were very cool alloy (brass or nickel?) rails on top of the bed, which were most definitely fire apparatus oriented. If I remember correctly, there were other fire apparatus do-dads on the truck, as well. We did salvage the rails, but he did not use them on the truck's restoration. There were very sculptural & beautiful, as is the bed. We nearly killed ourselves getting that damn bed out of the junk yard & grafted to the truck. But, I think is was well worth the trouble. Your new T is very nice & will be a fun project no matter which way you go. Good luck with it!
I think those fancy beds are called express trucks I have a good photo of my friends restored one but I can't get it to load?
Somehow I knew you would know! I think it was used 36 to 38 only? I dunno? So I'm guessing the bed that is more like a stepside is a standard bed then? Here's the other thing I got two not just two beds like this but two 1936 model 80 trucks! Ill post some pics of the second truck when I pick it up next week. It's basically a parts truck but it has the deluxe dash, windshield and a spare bed. Dave Hitch FBBF
Finally, a subject that i can weigh in on. My dad and grandfather restored a 1936 Diamond T model 80 with deluxe cab and "EXPRESS" box.... That's what I always heard it refered to as. What I remember about these is they made a ton of them, however due to the metal structure over the wooden frame, not a lot of them remain. Also in order to make yours a deluxe cab you will also need to add the bullet lights to the top of the front fenders. I can provide you with information and photos once the weather improves a little, as it is put away for winter, and we don't have any digital pictures. Yours is in much better condition than ours was when we started... Trent
As far as I know, the Express (or Deluxe) Utililty box was availble untill that style cab was dropped in '49. They could be had with a standard pickup box, the utility box, or as a cab and chassis (like mine was) and be fitted with a flatbed, wrecker, or the custom body of the buyers choice. I styled the box on mine after the utility box, but it's narrower, not as deep, but kept the forward canted tailgate. Mine's a standard cab, but I've found the stainless w/s frames, garnish moldings for the in terior, and made dash panels like the Deluxe cabs used. I'm lacking the Packard style banjo wheel to complete. The fender lights are '37-'38 Buicks, and are on ebay all the time very reasonably. My truck had a 9' flatbed on it, which I didn't like. Brian
Hi Dave, I know this thread is about a year old, but I just posted a set of Diamond T gauges from a 1947-1948 on ebay. The link and some pics are in the eBay portion of the classifieds here. Really nice truck by the way! I have a '47 Diamond T. - Jon
Here's a couple pictures of a 1933 Diamond T I just lettered awhile back.The restorer is a good customer of mine and specializes in restoring early large trucks.He may have some information on where to obtain parts.PM me and I'll give you his contact info.
Love the thread. Don't let it die. Does anybody have a couple of good close shots of the drip rail above the doors and around the back of the cab for a '36-40 Diamond T? I have a '38 I am restoring and don't know exactly what the profile looks like. Thanks, Paul
I have the drip rails removed from our '36 - trying to get them cleaned up before reassembly - I will try to take a pic of them to post so you can get a clear idea their shape/profile.....
I took a couple pics of the drip rail profile. These are off our '36 DT 221D This is above the door: and this is the back/corners: The back is flat on that piece, it's an optical illusion with the light/shadows that it's looks like it's got a dimple on the back These pieces measure 3/4'' wide.
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