A century later, pick-ups are still being used to move goods around
You’ve heard of the Ford Model T, but how about the Model TT? Though less well-known, it had a big impact as the forerunner to the modern day van and pick-up.
One hundred years ago, Ford introduced its first purpose-built truck, the 1917 Ford Model TT. A century later, Ford pick-ups are among the most iconic vehicles in the world. The F-Series is the best-selling truck in the US for 40 consecutive years and bestselling vehicle for 35 straight years. In Canada, Ford F-Series has enjoyed 51 consecutive years as bestselling pick-up and now marks seven straight years as bestselling vehicle.
Nine years after the first Model T, customers asked for a vehicle that could haul heavier loads and provide greater utility for work and deliveries. The Model TT came with a heavierduty frame capable of carrying one tonne of payload. It was longer and stronger than the Model T car, with a cab that could seat one driver and one passenger. For a smoother ride, customers could choose modern air-filled rear tyres instead of solid rubber.
FUNCTIONALITY
Henry Ford envisioned a chassis that could accommodate thirdparty bodywork, cargo areas and other add-ons to deliver the increased functionality needed to get work done. It was a formula for success. By 1928, Ford had sold 1.3-million Model TTs before replacing the truck with the more capable Model AA with a 1.5-tonne chassis.
Henry Ford marketed his early trucks heavily in rural areas in the US, according to Bob Kreipke, Ford historian. “Model AA trucks had a certain class to them. Customers could use them on the farm, yet take them to church on Sunday.”
No doubt this is a strategy Mercedes is hoping will work for its new X-Class bakkie too.
“It is amazing that while in some ways today’s vans are a million miles from the Model TT in how they have come on, they fundamentally do the same job as they were designed to do 100 years ago — providing a flexible means of keeping businesses on the move,” says Hans Schep, GM, commercial vehicles, Ford of Europe.
The commercial vehicle sector is very different in the US to that in Europe and SA, though. Following the success of the TT and AA, Ford went on to make various other models in the US before a dynasty was born that still exists today in the form of the F-Series. The iconic nameplate was born in 1948 and 2018 will see the launch of the 13th generation of the model.
However, in the US bigger is seen as better and so the FSeries is a rare sight in the rest of the world. Ford tried to introduce the F250 in SA but it met with limited acceptance, mainly because of its size and the licences required to drive it, not to mention the difficulties in parking it at your local mall.
Instead markets such as SA and Europe are key for the smaller bakkie, the Ranger. It was also launched in the US in 1982 and has enjoyed some success there, although definitely not on the same level as the F-Series models.
Ford will unveil a brand new Ranger in 2019 which again will be available for the US and global markets such as SA.
RAPTOR
Last week we reported that for the first time, SA might also get a Raptor version. Currently the famous Raptor name is only used for F-Series models, with more power and much more attitude. However our sources have confirmed the company is developing a Raptor version of the new Ranger and with righthand drive production on the cards, it could well be heading to SA, although Ford Southern Africa is unable to confirm any plans for it.
Locally, Ford said it is unable to confirm if we will get the new Transit Custom, which will hit European markets in 2018.