When Was the First Ford Truck Made?
by Rob Wagner
The Ford Motor Company built its first factory assembled pickup truck in 1925. But an impatient public was way ahead of Henry Ford by cutting up the rear of Model Ts and making their own pickups. Since the first Model T rolled off the assembly line in 1908, buyers often installed their own wooden beds. By 1925, thousands of these modified trucks dotted urban and rural highways.
Model T
The Model T, which debuted in 1908, was a natural for truck conversion with its high road clearance,30-inch pneumatic tires, a 99-inch wheelbase and 177-cubic-inch engine.
The Runabout
The two-seater Runabout was a common candidate for conversion. A large rectangular hole was cut into the sheet metal over the rear end and fitted with a 4-foot-long bed.
Urban/Rural Uses
The Model T's versatility and short wheelbase allowed it to nimbly navigate crowded city streets. It was equally adept at handling unpaved roads in rural areas.
Model TT
In 1917, Ford introduced its $600 one-ton Model TT truck chassis. It weighed 1,450 lbs. and had total sales of 41,105 units.
Custom Trucks
The truck chassis was sold as a "build to suit" for buyers who contracted coach makers to design a truck body.
First Official Truck
Ford's first factory-produced truck was introduced in 1925, selling for $281. It featured a cargo bed, heavy-duty rear springs, and a movable tailgate.
Writer Bio
Rob Wagner is a journalist with over 35 years experience reporting and editing for newspapers and magazines. His experience ranges from legal affairs reporting to covering the Middle East. He served stints as a newspaper and magazine editor in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates. Wagner attended California State University, Los Angeles, and has a degree in journalism.
