Diamond T: The Two-Engine Truck with a Pig Nose

In the world of trucking, there are always interesting stories to be told. One such story is about the Diamond T, a unique two-engine truck that made waves in the 1960s. At the helm of this mechanical marvel was Frank Gripp Jr., a truck driver who worked for his father’s grain transportation company in Illinois. The truck in question was a Diamond T 730C, an old model powered by a 7.37-liter International Harvester Red Diamond RD450 gasoline engine. While this engine was reliable, it lacked the power needed to haul heavy loads of grain. In an effort to improve the truck’s performance, the Gripps decided to install a second engine.

The chosen engine was a 4.9-liter V8 from a Buick Skylark, a popular car at the time. The installation of the second engine was a unique endeavor, with the two engines connected by a long drive shaft, ensuring their rotational speeds were synced. The modified Diamond T now boasted over 400 horsepower, twice the power of the original engine.

Despite its unconventional appearance, the two-engine Diamond T proved to be a success. The truck could easily overtake other vehicles on the highway and carried out its transportation duties with ease. The only challenge the Gripps faced was the slipping clutch, which was quickly resolved by installing stronger clutch springs.

After years of service, the Diamond T was retired in 1975 due to corrosion. However, it found a new lease on life when a collector purchased it in the 1980s. The truck underwent a restoration process and now resides in a museum near Washington, D.C. As for the second modified Diamond T, little information is available about its fate.

This unique truck, nicknamed „The Pig Nose Truck” due to its protruding front grille, serves as a testament to the ingenuity and resourcefulness of truckers and their dedication to finding innovative solutions to transportation challenges.

Sources:
– Krystian Pyszczek, „Diamond T with a Buick V8,” 40ton.net.