Diamond T 975 Cab and Chassis

[Alex van de Wetering]

David,

The Long wheelbase "975" and "975A" were exclusively built for the Canadian army, while the wreckers,the short wheelbase "969", were supplied to the US army as well as Canada. Bart Vanderveen published an article on Canadian Diamonds in Wheels and Tracks magazine.
According to the wheels and tracks article, most Canadian 975's and 969's were supplied to Canadian contract CDLV 587 (403 wreckers, 1118 Long wheels base cab chassis). 975's were delivered as cab chassis; bodies were built and fitted in Canada. The 969 was supplied as a complete unit.
The article also states that the above contract doesn't cover all trucks, as there is evidence that more 975's were delivered. Additional trucks might have been in contract CD 201.

On delivery Canadian Diamonds were only fitted with one headlamp and not fitted with headlight brushguards. According to the article, some Diamonds were fitted with a second headlamp and brush guards in the field....while the which was removed on some vehicles.
I don't know if the above is for all Canadian Diamonds, or only the 975's.

I think it's safe the say you shouldn't find USMC markings on a 975, unless the cab was replaced sometime during it's life. Sadly the article doesn't give much details on the Canadian 969's, so I am not sure if there was any difference between Canadian and American 969's on delivery and if ex-US wreckers were supplied to Canada at some stage. Even though period photos of Canadian 969's show detail differences with American 969's, I presume some of these mods were done in the field(?)

Alex