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Advertised On The Marketplace After Years Stopped In Harmony, New Jersey, The Rare Truck Diamond REO C116 Of 1972 Catches Attention Due To The Low Price, The Rarity Of The Off-Road Model, And The Curiosity About The Condition Of The Detroit Diesel 8V71 Engine
A Rare Truck Diamond REO Manufactured In 1972 Unexpectedly Resurfaced In The Market After Spending Almost Two Decades Abandoned On A Rural Property In The United States. The Vehicle, A C116 Possibly Used In Heavy Off-Road Operations, Appeared Advertised For Only US$ 2,500, A Value Much Lower Than The Initial Price Of US$ 10,000.
The Discovery Happened In Harmony, In The State Of New Jersey, When An Enthusiast Decided To Personally Investigate The Condition Of The Truck Forgotten Since Approximately 2006. The Big Question Arose When The Hood Was Opened: Would The Legendary Detroit Diesel 8V71 Engine Still Be Able To Function After So Much Time Stopped?
The Unexpected Reappearance Of A Rare Diamond REO
The Advertisement For The Rare Truck Caught Attention Because Diamond REO Models From The Early 1970s Practically Disappeared From The Roads After The Manufacturer Went Bankrupt In 1974.
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The Found Vehicle Belongs To The C116 Series And Exhibits Typical Characteristics Of Trucks Designed For Extremely Heavy Work.
Visually, The Truck Reveals Clear Signs Of Abandonment. There Is Rust On The Fenders, Tires Partially Flat, And Removed Electrical Components, Including Battery Cables.
Even So, The Main Structure Remains Surprisingly Solid, With Reinforced Chassis And Double Frame Still Intact.
Another Detail That Catches Attention Is The Robust Configuration Of The Vehicle. The Truck Has A Rockwell Axle, Heavy Suspension With Springs, And A 13-Speed Road Ranger Manual Transmission.
This Set Indicates That The Vehicle Was Probably Designed For Off-Road Applications, Possibly Mining Or Quarries.
Heavy Structure And Typical Engineering Of 1970s Trucks
The Rare Truck Impresses Mainly Due To The Typical Mechanical Architecture Of American Heavy Engineering From The 1970s.
The Reinforced Chassis And The Front Bumper In Structural Profile Show That The Vehicle Was Designed To Face Extreme Working Conditions.
The Mechanical System Also Includes Power Steering, Brakes On The Front And Rear Axles, And A Transmission Configuration Aimed At High Torque.
The Extremely Short Gear Ratio Indicates That The Truck Prioritizes Power In Climbs Or Transporting Heavy Loads, And Not Speed.
Another Curious Point Is The Cabin. Although It Shows Signs Of Wear, It Still Maintains Original Elements Like Grover Horns Manufactured In Los Angeles And Classic Signaling Lights From The Time.
The Interior, However, Reveals Clear Signs Of Abandonment, Including Rodent Nests.
The Legendary Detroit Diesel 8V71 Under The Hood
The True Technical Curiosity Of The Rare Truck Appears When The Hood Is Opened.
Under It Is A Detroit Diesel V8 Engine From The Series 71, Probably The 8V71 Model.
This Engine Was One Of The Most Famous Industrial Propulsors Of The 20th Century.
Detroit Diesel Engines Of This Series Were Known For Their Extreme Durability And Their Ability To Keep Running Even In Severe Conditions, Something That Helped Solidify Their Reputation In Heavy Trucks And Industrial Equipment.
In The Case Of The Truck Found In New Jersey, The Engine Shows Mixed Signs.
The Oil Was Still Present In The System And Relatively Clean, But Various Mechanical Components Were Stuck After Years Of Disuse.
Some Parts Of The Injection System Also Showed Resistance To Movement.
The Attempt To Revive The Engine After 20 Years
Even With The Long Period Of Abandonment, There Was An Attempt To Check If The Engine Could Still Function.
The First Step Was To Evaluate Fluids, Fuel System, And Injection Components.
Detroit Diesel Engines Use A Very Specific Mechanical Injection System, Which Depends On The Free Movement Of The Gear Racks Responsible For Fuel Control.
After Careful Cleaning And Lubrication Of These Parts, The System Started Moving Again.
Another Challenge Was The Absence Of Battery Cables.
As The Original Cables Had Been Removed, It Was Necessary To Improvise Temporary Electrical Connections To Try To Start The Engine.
After Adjustments To The Fuel System And The Diesel Supply Line, The Engine Finally Responded.
The Old Detroit Diesel Managed To Turn And Produce Smoke From The Exhaust, A Sign That There Was Still Life In The Mechanical Set.
Inevitable Problems After Decades Stopped
Although The Engine Showed Signs Of Functioning, The Rare Truck Still Has A Long List Of Mechanical Problems.
Dry Fuel Hoses, Leaks, And Hydraulic System Failures Are Just A Few Of Them.
During The Attempt To Move The Truck, A Hydraulic Steering Hose Burst, Interrupting The Test.
Furthermore, The Clutch Appeared To Be Stuck After Years Without Use, Preventing The Vehicle From Being Driven Normally.
These Problems Are Common In Vehicles That Remain Stopped For Decades.
Rubber Components, Seals, And Hoses Are Usually The First To Fail, Even When The Engine Is Still In Good Structural Condition.
A Rare Vehicle That May Be Worth More Than It Seems
Another Interesting Aspect Is The Possible Rarity Of The Model.
Subsequent Research Indicated That This Diamond REO May Have Been An Off-Road Version, Used In Heavy Industrial Operations.
This Detail Is Suggested By The Model Designation Itself And By The Rear Axle Configuration, Which Has An Extremely Low Ratio.
In Mechanical Terms, This Means That The Drive Shaft Needs To Spin Multiple Times To Move The Wheels, A Common Characteristic In Mining Trucks.
If Confirmed, The Vehicle May Be Even Rarer Than It Appears, Which Explains Why Some Enthusiasts Believe That The Price Asked By The Owner Is Still Below The Historical Potential Of The Truck.
Is It Worth Saving This Historical Truck?
The Rare Truck Diamond REO Of 1972 Raises An Interesting Discussion Among Collectors And Mechanics: Is Restoring Such An Old Vehicle Worth The Investment?
On One Hand, The Asking Price Is Relatively Low For A Classic Truck Of This Size.
On The Other Hand, The Cost Of Complete Restoration May Be Significant, Especially Considering Hydraulic Systems, Transmission, And Structural Components.
Even So, The Fact That The Detroit Diesel Engine Still Shows Signs Of Life After Almost Twenty Years Stopped Already Makes The Truck A Fascinating Piece Of Heavy Engineering History.
Now The Inevitable Question Arises: Would You Pay US$ 2,500 To Try To Restore A Rare Truck Like This Or Do You Believe That Projects Like This End Up Costing Much More Than They Seem At First?
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