Move over Project Peterbilt... It's now Project Diamond Reo! The next restoration saga on Biglorryblog...

Cam continues: "In August 07 I found this Diamond Reo advertised for sale. It was at Bechley`s in Kilcoy,and they had been using it as a yard truck. Consequently it had more hits than Elvis and was a bit untidy. The cab didn`t have much rust,and I pulled one of the airbox covers off and the rings looked OK, so I bought it!"

"The truck has a 6V53 Detroit Diesel in it, which is one of the things that attracted me to it in the first place. My Father and Grandfather used to use 6V53`s in coaches they ran, and I`ve always liked the sound of them.Someone has taken the 5-speed main and 4-speed auxilliary gearboxes out of it and put in a 15-speed overdrive Roadrangert. Bechley`s replaced the weak 340,00lb rockwell diffs and put 380,00lb Eatons under it, I don`t know how much time they took on the job though... The only way of dating the truck is the tag on the front axle which I`m pretty sure is orignal - it says 1967. You can see in the pics how hard it was worked. It had a drip tray wired under the motor to stop oil dripping on the ground, and if you look closely at the de-luxe interior you will note the monogrammed driver's seat,albeit Mack (should keep Gary happy).The clutch was that burnt out that the truck would hardly move in 1st deep reduction. Tornado kindly picked it up for me and brought it back to Brisbane."

However, since arriving up in Cam's place Queensland it's had a bit of TLC applied to it as you can see from this shot as Cam explains: "Project Diamond Reo is already under way! Mechanical and fabrication are my business - and unfortunately,even though I can cut and weld and grind I`m at the mercy of bloody panel beaters and painters! And naturally, all these projects have to be fitted around my own business. However, I`ve got heaps of pics of the Reo at various stages that we can spread out for yonks.This is a bit of a selection, but I reckon I`ve got enough to put a few up every week at different stages." And without going into too much detail Cam tells me he's got his own master plan to get the panel beaters and painters cracking on with the job!

Well we look foward to following it through with Cam who meanwhile says: "I know it is probably the blink of an eye for the 'Brochure King',but I'd like you to set him the challenge of seeing if he has a the one for my Reo. I`ve got one for the White 2300 which is the equivilant, and I've got plenty of magazine ads,but not a specific brochure. I might turn it into a White anyway,seeing as someone has decided that they needed the badges more than me,and I`ve got heaps of White badges. I reckon I can round up enough side line stuff as well to keep a 'Project Reo' going - until my panel beater finally gets his arse in gear! See ya, Cam." Well what do you reckon Richard. Can you help Cam? If so here's his e-mail address: cam@seqtt.com.au though naturally we'd like a copy for BLB too!!!!