Restoration

The Labatt Streamliner is on the road again. Thanks to the efforts of Joe and Bob Scott of London, Ont., a 1947 model of the once famous tractor-trailer has been restored to its original splendor.

The Streamliner was a proud symbol of the Labatt organization back in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s. But, as trucks with larger hauling capacities came into existence, the Streamliners slowly disappeared.

In 1977, Joe Scott, the same man who had sold White trucks to Labatt for years, was contracted to restore a Streamliner tractor-trailer.

After 32 years of service, Joe Scott had just retired as president of White Truck Sales Limited in London, Ont., and suddenly needed something interesting and challenging to do.

Enlisting the help of his brother Bob, who was also a long-time White employee, and with the approval of Labatt, Joe set out to find a 1947 Streamliner – the most striking of the four models made.

The brothers found six of the old trailers in different parts of Southern Ontario.  One of the trailers, which had been used as a field office for a construction company, was sound enough to be restored. It was decided the others would be used for parts.

But the tractor continued to evade them, and with no solid leads available, the Scotts began to look outside the province.

A letter of inquiry was sent to every salesman, every manager, and every branch of the White Motor Company across North America, without success.

With the help of the Labatt Public Relations Department, Joe posted a $500 reward for any information leading to the discovery of the tractor.

After a search that took Scott from Nevada to British Columbia, three discarded trailers were found. A similar search for a Streamliner tractor was unsuccessful.

The Scotts then began the arduous task of completely restoring the trailer and building a corresponding tractor for the Labatt Brewing Company. Parts have been searched for and found all over North America. Others have been totally remade.