Beautiful resto-mod with 350 Chevy power, automatic, A/C, and a killer stereo. Ultimate vintage pickup, very rare, professionally built, ready to enjoy.
Only a handful of 201 pickups were built (fewer than 200) in 1942, so you’re not likely to see another one, and this one was rescued from what was surely the fate of many of its siblings. The two-tone paint is very close to what it wore originally, and the darker blue you see on the fenders and top of the cab was apparently the truck’s original color. Rennick thought it needed to be dressed up a bit, so it received a lighter color for some contrast, as well as the silver insert along the door, which is a Diamond T trademark. They didn’t alter any of the trucks’ dramatic original styling, which was cutting-edge in 1942, and kept the tall barrel-shaped grille, the faired-in headlights, and gracefully rounded fenders. Original details like the hood ornament and side vents on the hood were re-chromed and reinstalled, and even things like the factory bumpers and running boards remain intact. The only notable mods include shaved door handles, late-model commercial mirrors, and a modestly re-sculpted bed in back where the license plate is affixed. There is no tailgate and according to the owner who discovered it in that farmer’s field, it never had one. There is, however, a cool vintage trunk that was installed in the bed and painted to match, making a weather-proof place to store your gear. Finish quality is very good, with a high gloss finish to the paint, beautiful chrome, and just the right stance.
The goal inside was to make it comfortable without erasing the basic utility of a pickup truck, so there’s a custom-fitted blue leather bench seat that’s tucked tight to the rear bulkhead of the cab to maximize legroom. Dark blue carpets provide a bit of contrast and there’s a beautifully fitted headliner overhead with custom speaker holes for the stereo in the B-pillars. Because of the shaved exterior door handles, there are no interior handles, either, but the doors pop open easily by pushing the lock button—clever! A tilt column, ice cold A/C from Vintage Air, and a kickin’ AM/FM/CD stereo make it as comfortable as your daily driver. Note that the paint job wraps around the door jams and onto the dashboard and there are custom brass Diamond T logo pedals for the brake and accelerator, as well as a custom T knob on the Gennie shifter. Even the original crank-open windshields are operational. Get in, turn the key, and enjoy, that was the idea and it was superbly executed.
Although we have to take our hats off to the original Hercules flathead six that powered this Diamond T, it wasn’t going to be adequate for a vehicle intended to travel long distances in comfort. So it was yanked in favor of a bulletproof GM 350 cubic inch V8 that fits so neatly in the Diamond T engine bay that you’d almost think it was born there. It’s not radical, but it is reliable and competent, offering a 4-barrel Edelbrock carburetor on an aluminum intake, a few splashes of chrome and billet aluminum for show, and as much OEM componentry as possible to make it easy to maintain. It starts easily, idles well, and cruises down the highway at 75 MPH with ease, A/C blowing cold. Isn’t that the whole point?
Part of its competence comes from the late-70s Firebird subframe that was grafted onto the T’s original truck chassis, adding power steering and front disc brakes. The transformation was seamless with appropriate reinforcements as needed. The Diamond T’s perimeter frame with X-bracing was so beefy that it didn’t need any help, although custom cross-members were installed to support the TH350 3-speed automatic transmission and late-model leaf springs for the GM 10-bolt rear end. Ride quality is excellent—this is no bare-bones pickup any more—and from behind the wheel it feels quite modern and agile. There’s also a brand new dual exhaust system that offers a nice rumble without being annoying and the twin megaphone tips out back are just plain awesome. The chassis isn’t detailed, but this was never built to be a trailer queen and it has proven to be bulletproof reliable, as it has never been on a trailer. To keep with the old-school look, a set of custom-sized steel wheels were ordered and painted to match the truck, then fitted with hubcaps, trim rings, and staggered Goodyear wide whitewall radials, so it certainly retains its vintage vibe.
We can pretty much guarantee that you will never see another Diamond T pickup like this, and the combination of quality build, wonderful old-school details, and creature comforts make it a slam-dunk. Sure, you could spend less and get a garden-variety Chevy or Ford, but if you’re going to do the hot rod thing, why follow the crowd? Call today!
For more details and photos, please visit www.HarwoodMotors.com
