Description

The Diamond T Motor Car Company manufactured automobiles until 1911 when the first truck led to exclusive truck production and soon gained legendary status as style leaders.

While "The Handsomest Truck in America" became a long-standing slogan, Diamond T also emphasized its engineering leadership. Builders of more than 1500 Class B "Liberty" trucks in World War I, Diamond T produced nearly 50,000 thousand prime movers, half-tracks, army wreckers, tank tractors, and tank movers in World War II. The late 1940s were years of peak production, but as the 1950s progressed, Diamond T found independent status problematic.

The White Motor Company purchased Diamond T in 1958; moving production from Chicago to Reo's manufacturing facilities in Lansing, Michigan, in 1960, creating the Lansing Division to produce Diamond T and Reo trucks. Both Diamond T and Reo ceased to be separate trucks starting in 1967 when White's new Diamond Reo Division began producing Diamond Reo trucks.

About the Author

An avid reader and researcher, Robert Gabrick became interested in trucks and all things mechanical at an early age. Since then Mr. Gabrick went on to become a history teacher, researcher, and writer. He has been awarded 26 separate fellowships and grants for his historical research and papers. About his current truck research, Mr. Gabrick said, "The subject is really about history...it is important to preserve the history of these topics." His latest books have earned him the well deserved nickname "The Caption King" for his well-researched, informative captions.