One of the perks of this job is learning the back story of so many interesting vehicles. Take for example this 1917 Ford Model TT farm truck for sale on Craigslist in Great Bend, Kansas. In the ad, the seller tells us that this truck was last used in the seventies. This is the motor vehicle equivalent of stumbling across one of those lost Amazonian tribes you read about on occasion. Furthermore, it has lived on the same farm for an amazing 107 years. Woodrow Wilson was President the year it entered service. While it is sad to contemplate, this truck will leave the farm after all these years if a buyer can be found for the $5,000 asking price. Would you be willing to put it to work again for that low sum? Thanks to T.J. for yet another amazing historical find!
It is hard to wrap our minds around what this country was like in 1917. The year started with U.S. Army troops under General “Black Jack” Pershing still in Mexico searching for Pancho Villa. On March 1, the United States government publicly released the Zimmerman Telegram in which Germany offered to return to Mexico the states of Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas if Mexico would join the war on their side. On April 4, the United States formally declared war on Germany, thus involving us in what we now know as the Great War then or as World War I later. Race riots in East St. Louis and Houston and a draft rebellion in Oklahoma make it a very hot summer domestically. As fall and winter arrived, so did direct hostilities between the U.S. Navy and Germany’s U-boats. To end the year, American railroads were taken over by the United States Railroad Administration ostensibly to transfer soldiers and materiel more efficiently during the war.
It was in that year that a Kansas farmer purchased this Ford TT truck. It was the first year that Ford produced the TT. Rated for one ton of payload, these Model T-based trucks came with a longer wheelbase, a beefier frame, and a heavy-duty rear axle that was geared lower to account for the extra weight they would be hauling around. Initial versions of the TT were sold as cab and chassis units only. The buyer was tasked with either making their own body or with having one built at one of the many firms capable of such work.
The farmer who purchased this TT is claimed to have done exactly that. This truck was shipped from Detroit to Chicago to have a cab and bed constructed before reaching its Kansas destination. It was lucky that the order was placed in 1917. Once war was declared, truck production went exclusively to the U.S. Army. Some sources say that just three TTs were built in 1917, with 41,105 examples produced in 1918, and that all of them went to the Army. It would be interesting to see what documentation the seller has to verify the claim that this truck was ordered directly from Ford and is not an Army surplus truck. Perhaps there are some clues in the pictures that will allow some of our eagle-eyed readers to render an educated opinion on this truck’s heritage.
Regardless of where it went when it rolled off the assembly line, this TT stayed on the farm for the vast majority of its life. Chances are that the farm grew winter wheat, with 7.3 million acres of it being planted in Kansas in the year 1917. The seller claims that it was last used on the farm in the seventies and backed into the shed under its own power. This is a testament not only to the durability of these trucks but also to the frugality of the farmer. To add to the story, the seller claims to be willing to get the truck running again if it doesn’t sell for the asking price. This may be easier than it sounds because the engine still turns over and parts are not that hard to find for these trucks.
With an asking price of just $5,000 and a verifiable history, this truck would make a cheap but interesting addition to any collection. While it is sad that this loyal old Ford cannot stay on this farm any longer, it would be fun to get it running and use it for suitable tasks once again. Trucks like this were never fast or flashy. Their durability and longevity speak volumes of a world far back in our rearview mirror. Hopefully, this one ends up with a good home soon.
Do you believe the farm story, or was this a war surplus truck? If it were yours what would you do with it? Please share your thoughts and opinions in the comments.
I think this got sold! Great history, hope someone puts her back on the road. This would have been one of the first trucks Ford ever made – a real find!
It would be nice to see it drivable for a car or truck show but to drive it on the road would be like riding a goose down the freeway.
Just shows, family pride has gone the way of common sense. A shame as something as important to a family history as this, nobody cares. I don’t think this was a military truck, and if a 1917, incredibly rare, but again, nobody cares. This truck cost grampa almost $600, and the cab and back another couple hundred, a hefty investment at the time. This truck revolutionized their farm, plus helped others in the area not so lucky, and should be out front, proudly on display. Stupid ungrateful brats,,,
This is a great very well researched article Jeff. Just reading that it was on thos very farm when Woodrow Wilson was president really made me stop and think. All that history. Over 100 years on the same farm. And what Howard said, 600 dollars doesnt sound like much today but back then it was a considerable amount of money. Not to mention the work it did running on that same farm its pictured on, for decades, and maybe even helping out the neighbors in times of need too. It does seem that the newer generation just doesn’t care about their past. Sadly, who knows if the property is being sold after all this time. And maybe the TT is losing its home. Seeing that picture of it just sitting quietly in that barn, its original owner is long gone. Its sad. I sure hope it gets rescued. And preserved.
Rare survivor. As I’ve mentioned before, there is a restaurant In Naples, Florida that has one just like this example they use for a salad bar. Painted up nicely with the bed holding the food. Hope this one gets good treatment also.
Call me a sentimentalist, but God forbid this tough old workhorse should meet such an ignominious end as a painted-up restaurant salad bar! Better it should be repaired and refurbished as needed, and permitted to happily haul loads on a farm or ranch once again, as it was built to do.
The Craigslist ad has been deleted so it must have sold, my feet are too big to drive that 3 pedal system anyway.
See what happens when we get old. That truck should never leave that farm. How would you feel! Like giving up the family pet for money! $5,000 (if they get that)buys nothing today, well maybe a brake job at the dealership. Hate to comment like this not being my truck but that’s how I feel.
TME (too much emotion) in some of these comments. Get over it, guys! It’s an old truck and it was sold. If you want to whine do it in front of a mirror, not here-
No whining bro. Just making a comment. Oh ! hope you’re not in front of a mirror again.
Oh, you’re one of those! Why are you even in this conversation?
Long gone already. Awesome Ford.
Perhaps the farmer has passed and has no family to leave the farm to, or the family left has no interest in the farm and is selling everything. Who knows. But it is a shame that it is leaving the farm after all of these years.
It’s all about GREED!!!! Money that will burn a hole in their pocket.
While the pictures of the rear end are not very good, it looks to be a 1 ton truck. The Model T cars had a ring and pinion rear end, and the drive shaft entered the differential at mid point . The 1 ton trucks had a worm gear drive in the rear, and the drive shaft entered at the top of the differential.
Sell the family farm and put in shopping centers a couple hotels Ect I remember the hippie days song took a trip and never left the farm sitting on our sack of seeds. Or could it be someone from China bought the farm
smokin’ that wildwood flower got to be a habit but we never seen no harm, always thought it was kinda handy, take a trip and
never leave the farm!
Few farms pass from one generation to the next anymore, land values are too high. If you have to pay inheritance tax or buy out a sibling it just ain’t gonna happen.
Wow, again with the “speculation” on what the situation is.
The truck is what’s featured and it’s been sold.
Yes, it’s a great piece of history and spent its time on this property. A museum wasn’t built around it, and maybe the heirs (or whoever owns the farm) isn’t a car person. Selling it isn’t a sin, and being judgmental about how it’s been handled just takes away from the enjoyment this site offers.
Happy New Year to all…
Can Barn Finds possibly add a thumbs down option in each post? It would take some work to do I am sure, but it is needed sometimes………
Though I have bought a car already this week on Barn Finds, the only thing stopping me here is the deleted add. Awesome truck.
That used to be available but was taken away. Maybe wokism— no negative votes.
Figures, thanks MikeH. Now that you mention it I guess I do remember that.
With the verse from a lammented Flivver poem; “And its’ rings are made from bailing wire…” this bad guy was probably well used during the dudt bowl years in the 30s with zero air intake filtration. 20 MPH top end on a good day but what a piece of Americana; AS IS!
What is the open circular tube mounted/attached to the steering column? Steering lock or…?
Cool write up Jeff, it really put things into historical perspective. I can’t help but love old farms and a lot of the old stuff on them, and this reminded me of riding the fields of corn on my grandpa’s early 1900s John Deer tractor in NE Nebraska and listening to the chug chug of the motor as we rode along with me either in his lap or standing next to him.
Once taken out of the context of the farm, it is a lot less desirable. I love the photos of it in the barn. If it weren’t so far away, ( and now sold) I might have bought it as is and stashed it pretty much just like this is my 80 year old barn. Its barn patina is priceless IMHO, and would bring a smile to my face every time I saw the front of it peeking out of the dark.
I have a 20’s Dodge Brothers, strictly yard art for me. When I bought it out of a similar setting on a Sonoma California farm, I was told it was a 29. With its solid wheels and type of fender stamping I have to think its a 24 or 25.
Anyhow, when I pulled out of there, the dust and dirt flew off that thing for miles. Looked like it was on fire-good times! I imagine this buyer will have a similar experience if towing open.
Be kind everybody has a vote so lets be friends as these old clunkers are our history not latest iphone or tablet teach your kids a little history and what a dollar really meant to folks back then. As these are one of the old saying history will repeat it self is taking back seat or should i say rumble seat. all in all this baby should be in ford dealership showroom imho
Or Ford museum. Nice post Jim