The Ford Model TT was a prototypical pickup truck, built from the same chassis as the regular Model T. The obvious difference is that the rear of the chassis had been lengthened and strengthened, allowing owners to attach a cargo container and haul it around. To accommodate the additional size and weight, a lower gear ratio was added to the Model T’s classic 4-stroke 20 HP engine, which would allow the vehicle to safely haul large loads under its own power. Since it was heavier, the Model TT could only do around 22 mph versus the roughly 35 mph most regular cars were doing at the time, but the sturdier body made it better at handling rough, uneven terrain.
Interestingly, the Model TT wasn’t originally sold as a complete vehicle. Rather, Ford would only sell a bundle kit of the standard Model T chassis and engine for $600, allowing owners to either build their own truck cabs from scratch or hire a mechanic to take care of it for them. This piecemeal sale format remained until 1920, when Ford started offering pre-built truck cabs for an extra fee, and again in 1924 when complete Model TTs entered regular sale.
