1967 Diamond REO Truck Conquers African Rally

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,

If you like old American trucks here is a video about the prototype model for the first Diamond REO that navigated the course that trail blazed the route for the rally back in 1967.

1967 Documentary That Tells The Tale Of A Diamond Reo Dump Truck That Conquered The African Safari Rally!
https://www.youtube.com/watch't=1503&v=km8YFNim4oQ

Enjoy - I did my high school "work experience" working on Diamond REOs. Decades later I saw an eBay advertisement for a 1934-35 REO Speed Wagon ... the rest they say is history :p

Kind Regards
Lionel

Kind Re

[stealth]

Lionel,

I've got a 1941 Diamond T 6x6 waiting its turn for restoration in the shed.

There is something about those trucks.

Jack

[Lionelgee]

Lionel,

I've got a 1941 Diamond T 6x6 waiting its turn for restoration in the shed.

There is something about those trucks.

Jack


Hello Jack,

I know where you are coming from.

Immense pride in the build quality + over engineered at a time when things were built to last. Good looking designs and overall functionality. What is there not to like about them. :)

Do you know about the REO Club of America where they also have truck specialists?

Kind Regards
Lionel

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Lionelgee]

Hello Jack,

I did a bit of a dig on Wikipedia and it looks like REO and Diamond T started manufacturing around the same time.

The REO Motor Car Company was a Lansing, Michigan (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lansing,_Michigan) based company that produced automobiles (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile) and trucks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck) from 1905 to 1975. At one point the company also manufactured buses on its truck platforms.

The companies were amalgamated by White to form Diamond REO in 1967 as the film suggests.

REO = In 1954, the company was still under-performing, and sold vehicle manufacturing operations (the primary asset of the company) to the Bohn Aluminum and Brass Corporation (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bohn_Aluminum_and_Brass_Corporation) of Detroit. Three years later, in 1957, it became a subsidiary of the White Motor Company (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Motor_Company). White then merged REO with Diamond T Trucks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_T) in 1967 to form Diamond-Reo Trucks, Inc. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_Reo_Trucks) In 1975, this company filed for bankruptcy in the Western District of Michigan and most of its assets were liquidated. Volvo later took over White and thus currently owns the rights to the REO brand name (Accessed October 3rd 2015 from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/REO_Motor_Car_Company).

The Diamond T was an American (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States) automobile (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automobile) manufactured in Chicago (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago) from 1905 until 1911 by the Diamond T Motor Car Company. It was a powerful touring car (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Touring_car) (models up to 70 hp were available). The company later became known for its trucks (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Truck). By 1967, as a subsidiary of White Motor Company (Accessed October 3rd 2015 from, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diamond_T).

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Chops]

Some interesting reading there Lionel, thanks.

Going through the pics on their website, its funny to see how alike their club events are to ours over here. The only real difference is how many fire extinquishers they have on hand :o

Some gorgeous old cars there, and some beaut looking trucks, I'd love one. Its a shame to see how the company went down, with at one point, 3 presidents in as many months, old Ransom must have been heart broken to watch its demise and have step in again. Interesting to see he started the Oldsmobile Co first, might have to chase that up and see why he was ousted.

[Lotz-A-Landies]

Australia used the Diamond Reo as prime movers in Vietnam and back in Oz.

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/10/963.jpg

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2015/10/964.jpg

[JDNSW]

One of the vehicles I learnt to drive on was a mid twenties Reo, an interesting mixture of antiquated and advanced features.

One of the vehicles we had in the Simpson was a Zeligson 6x6 - a remanufactured ex-army Diamond T. Not exactly trouble-free, mainly because Zeligson uprated it from six to fourteen tons, and mounted a two thousand gallon water tank with the top also a flat tray with stake sides so you could add more weight.

John

[Lionelgee]

Some interesting reading there Lionel, thanks.

Going through the pics on their website, its funny to see how alike their club events are to ours over here. The only real difference is how many fire extinquishers they have on hand :o

Some gorgeous old cars there, and some beaut looking trucks, I'd love one. Its a shame to see how the company went down, with at one point, 3 presidents in as many months, old Ransom must have been heart broken to watch its demise and have step in again. Interesting to see he started the Oldsmobile Co first, might have to chase that up and see why he was ousted.

Hmmm Marcus,

It seems that you still might have the chance to get your very own Diamond REO, it is just one year younger than the truck in the video, How full is your piggy bank at the moment? :p

I have no association with the seller .... Rare Diamond RIO Original Vietnam AUS Army Tank Carrier Truck Vintage Military | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/201438649162?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2661&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)

Kind Regards
Lionel

[Chops]

Hmmm Marcus,

It seems that you still might have the chance to get your very own Diamond REO, it is just one year younger than the truck in the video, How full is your piggy bank at the moment? :p

I have no association with the seller .... Rare Diamond RIO Original Vietnam AUS Army Tank Carrier Truck Vintage Military | eBay (http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/201438649162?_trksid=p2055119.m1438.l2661&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT)

Kind Regards
Lionel

Ummm, in a word, no. :(
Not only will the bank balance not comply, but me thinks the wife would get somewhat agitated about it too :o

Maybe when we get back from flitting around the countryside in a few years time and settle down somewhere, I may be able to wrangle something. In the meantime, I can but only dream :angel: