Diamond T 980
Built: 1940-1945 · Series: Other models
More machines from model year 1940
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Diamond T 980 – heavy recovery and prime-mover truck from the US manufacturer based in Chicago, built 1940 to 1945, with a Hercules diesel engine rated at 150 kW and a four-speed gearbox with a three-speed auxiliary box
Diamond T was a US truck manufacturer based in Chicago. The Diamond T 980 was built between 1940 and 1945 as a heavy recovery and prime-mover truck for the US armed forces during the Second World War: a vehicle able to recover and tow disabled or stranded vehicles and guns using a boom and winch.
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The 980 is powered by a Hercules DFXE diesel engine rated at 150 kW. Power passes through a four-speed gearbox with an additional three-speed auxiliary box, giving twelve gear ratios for operation under heavy load. The vehicle is 7.11 m long, 2.58 m wide and 2.59 m high, with a 4.56 m wheelbase, and it weighs 12,088 kg — dimensions matching a heavy recovery vehicle with a boom and body.
The Diamond T 980 belongs to the class of heavy military recovery vehicles used during the Second World War to tow and recover tanks, guns and other trucks. Present-day civilian truck classes and emissions stages cannot be applied to a military vehicle of this build period.
On a used Diamond T 980, frame corrosion after more than eighty years matters, along with the condition of the boom and winch together with its cable and mounting, the function of the twelve-speed gearbox with its auxiliary box, the condition of the Hercules engine including its cooling system, and the wheel bearings and brake linkage. Spare parts for this rare vehicle can practically only be sourced through collectors specialising in historic military vehicles.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Diamond T 980
Technical data
Engine
| Engine | Hercules DFXEcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 201 hp (149.9 kW)correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 7,110 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,580 mmcorrect |
| Height | 2,592 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 4,556 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 12,088 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Gearbox | 4 speed × 3 speed auxiliarycorrect |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 12.4 kW/t (150 kW / 12.1 t)
Stronger than 49% of the military & special vehicles in the register — out of 103 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Diamond T 980 have?
The Diamond T 980 delivers 201 hp.
How much does the Diamond T 980 weigh?
The unladen weight is 12,088 kg.
What are the dimensions of the Diamond T 980?
7,110 mm × 2,580 mm × 2,592 mm.
When was the Diamond T 980 built?
Production years: 1940-1945.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 9 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Sources: Wikipedia (CC BY-SA 4.0) (retrieved August 2026) · Values adopted and presented in our own form; changes from the source are possible. · How we check the data
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