Will it START? RARE 60yr Old 6X6 Diamond Reo Recovery Truck!

In this video, I see if I can get this old Diamond Reo recovery winch truck to run again. A super rare 6x6 off-road truck in Australia, this is only the second 6x6 version I have ever seen like this. Fitted with a 6354 Turbocharged Perkins Diesel, Road Ranger Gearbox and Rockwell differentials, I give it a quick once over before I ask the magic question, Will it start? Enjoy.

[@oraziobarbagallo1609]

I love your "always think of the next person" way of working. I was taught that as an apprentice and it seems to be missing from a lot of work ethics these days.

[@bruceinaus]

Thank you, appreciate the support

[@brettmorter3058]

Ditto I always learned that way and as and hvac tech I often run into my old work or installed so all my work is done as if I or someone I know will have to work on it again

[@MrBarrySell]

The credits roll…The Cameraman, as himself!

[@nickk3839]

SEEMS to be missing!!!! It IS missing. We’ve become a very selfish society, although Bruce gives me some hope that we can turn it around

[@SilverJ56]

Rare, rare, rare in USA too!! Incredible, Bruce!!

[@bruceinaus]

Thanks very much, I thought it would be an interesting on to share with everyone, particularly in such good condition

[@johnnybgoode6466]

@@bruceinaus it needs to be saved...

[@horsepowerhorsepower3861]

Get outta the way Mack...

[@bbrut3332]

Well Bruce this has to be the easiest "will it run" you have done in a long time. We are all happy that you have recovered and are in good spirits. Your old viewer from East Texas.

[@larrybolhuis1049]

Wonderful old machine that appears to be overbuilt in almost every way! That old truck just whispers: "Go ahead and try to stop me."

[@MikaHusk]

Everything you can do, I have a reduction gear for!

[@thekenneth3486]

Now THAT is a seriously bad-ass truck!

[@darrylmackie9184]

First time I've heard of a Truck from the 60s referred to as Bad what Ever, sounds a bit Wankey..

[@SledTillDead]

@@darrylmackie9184 You're the only wanker here, Darryl

[@jjMcCartan9686]

​@@darrylmackie9184Not as wankey as your comment.

[@spicynoodles11]

What are you even trying to say​@@darrylmackie9184

[@raykaufman7156]

There's something magical about old diesels, and the way they will light right off after sitting for years...

[@madmitchsuzuki]

Bruce, if you can, please keep in touch with the owner of this truck, i bet there's many of us viewers who are keen as mustard to see this thing brought back and looking like new 😍

[@caesar1295]

Bruce I grew up in the 60’s & 70’s watching these Ole Diamond Reo semi’s hauling everything imaginable in the US and I sure enjoyed your video of this monster of a truck Sir thank you and keep them coming.

[@HamishBligh-Jones]

all these other guys are yappin on but bruce gets straight to the point and the recovery. best recovery channel yet

[@not-pc6937]

What a lovely old truck Bruce - awesome job mate 👍👍👍and to those watching give this man a big thumbs up he deserves it ❤

[@chrisbailey459]

Beast of a machine. Will make quite a statement when it’s all tidied up.

[@williampope3796]

Your camera man provided us with some great views of this classic truck. Kudos to him. Thanks Bruce.

[@MrBonger88]

What a beautiful truck . The patina, the old signage on the doors , the jacked up stance. I like it all

[@jasonsparks5129]

So great to see an old school gentleman such as yourself sharing your extensive automotive knowledge and always reminding folks to always think of the next person that’ll work on it. Good on ya mate!👍🏼✌🏼❤️

[@bruceinaus]

Thank you

[@johnmcdermott8523]

Built in Lansing, MI? I grew up in mid-Michigan, 30 miles from Diamond Reo plant, and saw many D-Reo dump trucks, semi tractors, tow trucks, but that 6x6 chassis is unlike anything I remember. REO also kept a big gasoline six into early 1960's after its competitors had all gone diesel.

[@bruceinaus]

This is only the second 6x6 one of these I’ve ever seen, the other was at a large machinery festival and it was a really good one like this aswell but other than that, very rare here in Australia

[@Eli1981-re5bh]

That skull dangling in the windshield makes this even more cool.

[@eaglybeagly]

Housemovevers.Theyre sort of one of a kind.

[@Cleo-tk6lx]

​@@eaglybeaglyoriginal owner hanging from the mirror, keeping a 360 degree eyeball on past, present and future 💀

[@andrewpriest9047]

What a wonderful thing. A 6.354 turbo, my favourite engine of all time in a 6x6 beast of a truck. Would make a very cool recovery truck. I want it so much not sure my neighbours would be as enthusiastic though.

[@bruceinaus]

It has traditionally been used not only to move houses but to recover other trucks/trailers when they get bogged on a move. These Perkins are also a favourite of mine aswell

[@sadaya69]

Glad you're back Bruce and I'm even more glad you took some time off. Thanks!

[@bruceinaus]

Thank you, starting to get back into it again

[@tommyhijmensen6257]

I❤this man,a true and gifted mechanic and a living legend from down under. Thanks Bruce for teaching us how to wrench propperly. Keep em comming. Greetings from Holland ❤️🇦🇺🔧🫡

[@bruceinaus]

Thanks Tommy, greetings back at you from Queensland, Australia

[@MohammadSadeqBozorgnejad-mv7rr]

Your efforts to wake up this girl again are commendable.

[@colinwhite5355]

All round the world - I’m in NE England - this very capable and decent man adds small drops of pleasure to an increasingly acrid world.

[@SilverJ56]

This truck and your tracked recovery vehicle !! Unbeatable in the bush!!

[@bruceinaus]

It is certainly unique like the moon buggy that’s for sure

[@karensavarese5684]

Those years Diamonds used International truck cabs, and that's what's on there. Thinking about the other guy, yeah , something I have tried to do forever. Too bad more humans don't tho. Super cool old truck. Love, DUBS.

[@johnnybgoode6466]

great old truck, it deserves to be saved .... well done Bruce !!

[@johnwesner3935]

Hey Bruce, here in the States the REO was reasonably common in the HD truck market. Much like the Oshkosh and FWD they were built for extreme use. Since I retired I've been rebuilding old jeeps and trucks with the intent of using them. No "Trailer Queens"!😊 Thanks for treating these engineering masterpieces with the respect they deserve!

[@picknikbasket]

That was too easy, Bruce. I must admit hoping it wouldn't start so we could see you perform another miracle in a longer video! We never get sick of seeing ya, mate!

[@markbout257]

Was an easy start this one. Couldn't have been sitting too long, the tires still hold air the brakes arn't seized and the clutch still works. Nice video👍

[@dangdang3970]

What a excellent old banger, great to hear that the owner is going to resto it be awsome to see this rig at a heritage show

[@kylesmith6515]

I live in Ohio and we have 2 of these, we use them on the farm to haul grain they are indestructible my grandpa bought them new and now I’m 3rd generation and they are still going strong!

[@bruceinaus]

These are extremely well built and it’s easy to see how they could be trucks used by multiple generations

[@user-hb5vp8jd9v]

Yay. He is back!

[@bruceinaus]

Not a long one but still hopefully interesting nonetheless

[@user-hb5vp8jd9v]

@@bruceinaus You and the unknown cameraman are generous sorts for sure. It will be good when you have enough content for playlists, then we can let them run while doing other things around the house etc. It should help your channel if more of us ran the videos while letting the ads run.

[@bruceinaus]

@@user-hb5vp8jd9vthank you, I’ll take that on board

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

Bruce’s cowlick reminds me of the Dennis The Menace cartoons in the newspaper in the 60s and 70s

[@ryanhodges7101]

Bruce, I know I’m not alone when I say that I really enjoy your videos. I’m from the USA and I love old machinery. Pre-electronic equipment and engines have more soul. It’s extremely interesting to learn about all the different stuff in your part of the world. Take care!

[@LAP1050]

It fired right up like it was used yesterday… What a beautiful BEAST. Thanks Bruce Lou from Miami 🇺🇸

[@edm4847]

We have been waiting for Bruce!!! I stopped everything to watch Bruce once again. This was a soft ball for ole Bruce. Glad you’re back!!!

[@scroungasworkshop4663]

Well done Bruce, that would be awesome to see it restored. It would make a fantastic recovery vehicle. Cheers mate, Stuart.

[@markmackenzie2533]

Thank you Bruce for this wonderful video. Brings back lots of memories to me, as there were many Diamond REO's on the road in Australia. My father would've been so pleased to see this video. He always talked about them. The standard of "always think of the next person" was something impressed upon me in my time in Scouts and again during my apprenticeship. I served me very well in life and often I was the the one who came back to service it, and it made life so much easier. No snakes or wasps this time, Bruce's pest control is out of business. Greetings from Wyong N.S.W.

[@kymmarshall1116]

What a beauty Bruce. Keep on doing what you’re doing for as long as you can, you obviously enjoy it.

[@truthboomertruthbomber5125]

I knocked down 3 wasp nests today. Seeing Bruce carefully opening the doors and hood reminded me 😂

[@QuantumLeap83]

This would be VERY valuable in the US. Ransom Eli Olds (REO) was also the man that founded the Oldsmobile marque, but he sold that off to GM quite early. The REO Speedwagon model is credited with being the United States first "pickup truck".

[@bruceinaus]

Thanks very much for sharing that information, myself and I’m sure lots of the other viewers appreciate it

[@billdennis2993]

Thx for letting us see you efforts in bringing a classic HD truck back to life.BITD I worked at Cat dlr in so Cal

[@Haven2U]

Diamond Reo had a great reputation in the states. Made in Michigan, a state just above Indiana, where I live, they were numerous haulers around this area. My buddy's dad drove one all his life.

[@philmallinson9684]

Perkins 354 - takes me back to the 60s watching my dad work on them

[@epsilonvonvehron5820]

“Always think of the next person”, Bruce the gentleman bush mechanic. ❤

[@peteraldino3423]

It’s a beautiful thing … RH drive Diamond Reo … the definition of truck, endure through the ages. Thanks for sharing, Be well !

[@mediocreman2]

Man, that truck is a beaut. And you can see how well-made it is with those fenders being that strong.

[@darrylmackie9184]

Not a MAN! probably from The White Factory.

[@petersmith2544]

What a great old truck . Good to hear he's going to restore it .

[@gordonagent7037]

Geez old mate, good to see you again, thought you might have been crook. Bruce what an awesome truck, looking at her side on she’s got good lines and looks bloody tough…..just awesome power, be great to see her all cleaned up and shining fresh.

[@archangel729]

Would love to see a restoration video on this truck bring it back to new looking and put it back to work😊

[@dominicvanbrunschot9610]

you are a dead set Legend Bruce. Love you passion for these old machines. All the best to you and the cameraman

[@ryanbunce1978]

Greetings from the truck’s original home - Lansing, Michigan, US! Made long before I lived here though. Or was even born. Great vid. Thanks Bruce.

[@36oldsaussiecoupe]

Brilliant find Bruce sweet as a nut, I worked for a road making mob when I left school in the early 70’s they had a few old stude 6x6 and a diamond Even a old knocker commer as a water truck. This bought memories back Ripper mate

[@richardmiels3402]

This is a beaut and rare in Australia. Wouldn't have come with the Perkins originally (Cummins maybe) but as soon as you said Perkins I knew it would be a goer! Too easy for you Bruce; as always excellent viewing.

[@bthomasx]

Unbelievably that gem started right up. Cool truck

[@trevorcourt1403]

What a great looking truck

[@2-STROKEFUN]

That’s a pretty nice old truck. Very neat to see a vehicle from my home state that far away and still working.

[@ChargerMagnum440]

Fabulous truck in great original working condition, thanks for showing us Bruce!

[@michaelfoort2592]

Started right up....can't believe your luck. What a beast.

[@paulswift700]

Nice one Bruce. Nice to see these old girls running again. Paul

[@robleary3353]

What a lovely bit of old kit!. Nice one!. Love these vids, always an education.🙂

[@rsmith8646]

What an old sweetheart!! She fired right up 😊😊

[@LindsayWilson-vj1wc]

A good day's work there Bruce. The resale value of that old beast just doubled.

[@henryrokstad1125]

Bruce that is a real truck I would love to see that look brand new

[@robertsolomielke5134]

TY Aussie Bruce. Rare indeed! Here in coastal BC our woods are littered with abandoned logging and mining equipment, an trucks of all the types ever built, but never saw this one.

[@dieseldavetrains8988]

Started as Diamond "T" trucks, then Diamond Reo and lastly Diamond Reo White and then reverted to just White. A true classic in very good condition, will make a great restoration project Bruce. Started so easily too, by the general look of it, it hasn't been sitting there that long. Excellent result Bruce with minimal fiddling and hard work.

[@bruceinaus]

Thanks Dave, it certainly started very well

[@garyhopkinssr8561]

You are lucky to find such a rare diamond reo. That truck is what dreams are made of. I truly do wish I owned it. If I did, I would be happier than a pig in mud.....and that's pretty darn happy...I am very happy for you.✌

[@johngligo4049]

Wow that is one beautiful old Diamond Reo truck! Loved hearing the old gal fire up and seeing her move around!

[@muzzaresarf5038]

By heavens she’s a big rig, purring like a kitten 🐈‍⬛ pitty you didn’t get it out on the blacktop🤩🇦🇺

[@ThxtBxyNatx]

Reminds me of our American autocars, what a monster that thing is

[@BloodRaven1969]

Brings back memories of growing up in Pennsylvania U.S.A. near a pulp wood/paper mill operation. I saw a lot of these, Diamond T, and Autocar 6x6 day cabs & log hauler trailers. Did my heart good to see this one fire up, move, and then hear the owner has restoration intentions.

[@kingearl2596]

You saved an old high quality Truck; with some mild restoration it will run another 60 years.

[@zonie70]

Ah Bruce. That brings many memories. I have never seen one with Perkins in it. Have seen them with Cummins , Detroit and a couple with a Buda diesel. Too bad the near side guard is bashed it that way. It deserves a rebuild. Good to see you back mate. Take care , Scott 🌵

[@thomasd9237]

I would have loved to get my hands on that. Great find 👍👍

[@Frank-bh3cm]

Considering the good condition and rarity of this truck, wouldn't that make for an awesome restoration project? Content galore, many potential american subscribers too. Bruce, pease buy it and park it in your driveway 👍

[@c2c0rider]

What an awesome unit. Great to have you back Bruce!

[@australiantruckspotting8883]

These Diamond Reos are beasts ! Great episode Bruce

[@markbehr88]

Great looking truck.

[@kenholz9742]

Excellent video and truck, i grew up in Lansing and my Mother's cousin was the grneral manager of Diamond Reo and i knew many people who were associated with Reo. They built a great product, each truch was completely speced out by the customer, deivetrain, cab, frame, an order sheet was about 15 pages, ultimately this was a big part of the demise.

[@jcbro86]

This has been probably my favorite piece of equipment you ever started in a long time. Great looking old truck. Thanks for sharing with us.

[@andygreen685]

all credit to its previous owners. Properly cared for and maintained. And right hand drive too! perfect!

[@DOCTORDROTT]

That is a bloody nice truck.

[@jimdieseldawg3435]

Hi Bruce. Love your next-guy attitude to preserving old iron. Amazing that the original owner specified extreme-duty everything else but opted for a 6.354; admittedly bulletproof and frugal with the fuel but probably no more than 120bhp. I would have expected a Hercules six or Cummins NH. It’s all in the gearing I guess 🙂 Thank you for helping to save another gem 👍

[@dennis38y]

Nice video again Bruce, that’s a lovely looking truck ! Built to last and it shows. Thanks for sharing with us. 👍

[@kelvintorrence5994]

my favorite truck growing up, those and brockways,fords,gmcs,chevys dodges fords great videos mr bruce

[@CA-fn1wg]

That thing is beeeping awesome i guy that owned a trucking company across town from where i worked had a thing and the the money for a old truck semi collection early peterbilts kenworths macks internationals auto car the crowns where the Diamand Rios he had 3 restored tractors and a 1 ton pickup with duals and four or five more waiting in a warehouse for rebuilds i want to say the diamand rios where his fathers trucks. Man what he would of payed to get a Australian conversion 6x6 what a gem. Well in the usa

[@The_Irish_Volunteer]

One beautiful truck. Can't wait to see it finished.

[@cari-joanjameson2989]

Dimond reo was a great truck. My grandfather ran a 1969 10 wheeler into the early 2000's in NH USA. He sold it to a guy in Texas. Last we knew as of about 10 years ago it was still in use.

[@AlbertSA3]

Backyard Alaskan on KZbin just did a similar video the other day on a 6x6 Oshkosh that also set power poles. But it previously was military owned by the US Navy. Unfortunately someone took the wenches. Still a cool video and an awesome truck that started right up after sitting many years. Check it out if you're into this sort of thing. Back to the video now. What a cool rig!!

[@johnmclean6498]

If they were "wenches", I'd take them too!

[@bruceinaus]

Thanks for that Albert, I will have a look at him a bit later

[@AlbertSA3]

@@bruceinaus I'm in Buffalo New York and always dreamed about having a truck like that for the winters here. That and just to have a lot of fun with 😉 Nice old truck you got there! Glad KZbin suggested. You gained a subscriber and gave it a like for Al Gore-ithm.

[@bruceinaus]

@@AlbertSA3 thanks very much for that and for the sub, means a lot to me

[@adriaanboogaard8571]

I think that's the most impressive vehicle I've seen you work on. I love it.

[@user-dp8re7gn2r]

A man has a diamond Rio, in Vaughan, NM it was a 6x6 like this one, only the steering wheel was on left. He ran a recovery business in1961, he pulled me out of the snow.

[@johnmarkrountree6196]

when someone mention they have bought a truck THIS is what I have in mind.

[@brockmitchell3989]

I am excited to get to watch another new video by you, Bruce!! I love your videos. They are very informative and a pleasure to watch. Thank you.

[@petermalanchuk8210]

Hi, Bruce In AUS, that Perkins model 6354 Turbocharged in-line 6 cylinder diesel engine, is a very good commercial duty engine, with replaceable cylinder liners. I think you've a nice restorable find there. All the best to you.

[@bb21again.67]

What a gorgeous machine, I've only seen 3 or 4 Diamond Rio's myself.😊

[@glenncourtney4876]

What a beast! Awesome truck. When I first saw it I was thinking oilfields winch truck.

[@BillySmith-h8t]

What a nice find. I owned 4 Diamond T's 3 Whites and 1 Reo made from 56 to 65 with concrete mixers. From the build tag everything but the engine appears to be as it left the factory. Originally it had the Reo gold comet oh200 gasoline engine. The Perkins was an option, dealer brought one for me to test drive but the gas engine outworked it. Radiator shell has me puzzled a bit the c101 had a grid type grill. The 6 bar grill was on the p series Diamond T. Maybe it was used while they were transitioning to Diamond Reo. The brakes are Rockwell Stopmaster wedge brakes parts are unobtainium. Good luck with the beast.

[@lionelfelix6631]

Another amazing video. So much fun! Thank you Bruce!

[@liamdeerz]

Bruce is the grandfather i never had, thanks for the great content ol cobba

[@dcw1540]

Nice to see Bruce thanks for sharing 😊

[@craigpadley3535]

Glad it's being restored! A grand truck. I was once lucky enough to take an old diamond T out.

[@vsvnrg3263]

35 years ago i did some work with a metal recycler south of perth. he drove us down in his favourite truck a diamond-t. not a diamond reo. he was saying how he couldnt get a windshield for it because his truck was made in 1966, the first year with the curved windshield. otherwise he could have got flat stuff cut to size. i noticed this truck's compliance plate had 66 on it if that indicates the age. that kill switch on the driver's step is something that military trucks have. edit: according to wikipedia, diamond t became diamond reo in 1967 so this truck is 67 or later.