Freds Diamond T Story AKA FMTRK

Here is my story: In 1960, I went to work for the Diamond T dealer in Los Angeles at the Ventura,California. operations. at that time the owner and founder of the company was Ned Tilt, brother to C. A. Tilt. Mr. Tilt was very successful with the product and became a wealthy man…
when Diamond T was gone he became the Peterbilt Dealer, which in the west was a very lucrative franchise. The name of the company was Motor Truck Distributors Co. I started as a young guy as the maintenance guy (janitor) cleaning up after everyone in a very small facility, later I advanced to the parts dept. where I became familiar with
diamond t truck parts, since we were trying to supply our customers with parts, later that business disappeared. After a few years the elderly Mr. Tilt sold his business to Automotive Equipment Co. out of Oregon (Quartemanche Family), who subsequently sold out to Mack Trucks Inc. I had moved on to management, Sales, and in 1973 I purchased the company from Mack Trucks, in Ventura only and operated the business for twenty years, later sold to Engs Peterbilt out of Los Angeles. As the branch manager for Mack Trucks, I was allowed to purchase
the old parts pick-up truck for five hundred dollars, which was the 1949 Diamond T , model 201 with a Anthony Body. I Still have the truck today and you might say its been a one owner truck Ned Tilt retired to Montecito, Ca., which is located next to Santa Barbara, Ca. He was a avid golfer and in the early ninety’s he invited me to play a
round of golf with him at the valley club…..He asked if I still had the diamond
t pick-up, which he surprised me by asking this question, I replied yes and he said to me “Don’t ever sell it”. I still have the truck.

Ned passed away a few years later, I have fond memories of him, He was a kind a gentle person and knew how to treat employees
That’s my story, I am
now retired.