1922 Ford Model T Depot Hack
Donated to the Museum in 2019 by Robert & Elaine Chito, Lincoln RI
Predecessor to the station wagon and taxi
Retains its original wood body
Often owned by hotels and resorts for guest transport
This Depot Hack was originally used in the Boston train yard, it was used daily as a work vehicle. As automobile enthusiasts know, the Ford Model T is a founding father of affordable and reliable automobiles today. More than 15 million of these cars were produced over nearly a 20-year period, and at one point, almost half of all cars registered for road use were Model T’s. While Ford made numerous changes and improvements over the two decades the T was produced, the vehicle always remained a simple passenger vehicle. However, that didn’t prevent independent companies from modifying existing Model T’s, and converting them to specific-use vehicles, and this Model T Depot Hack is one of those custom vehicles. This Depot Hack was generously donated to the museum by members Robert & Elaine Chito, and still retains its original wooden bodywork!
In the 20s, wooden-bodied cars like this Depot Hack were viewed as utilitarian vehicles. At this point, a wooden body was not seen as stylish but instead used as a work vehicle. It wasn’t until the late 1930s when woodies transitioned from reliable work vehicles to aesthetically pleasing luxury vehicles that were built to make a statement.
In this period of the automobile, cars were still not utilized for long trips, travelers still relied on train networks to get from city to city. Once arrived in a city, taxis were both expensive and scarce, leaving a long walk as the only reliable option; enter the Depot Hack. Many refer to the Depot Hack as the predecessor to the station wagon. Hacks were often owned and operated by high-end hotels or resorts to transport guests to and from train stations. The model’s name derives from the word “hackney”, an older term for a hired horse-drawn vehicle. Hacks were created by independent coachbuilders, using wood because it was easy to source, quick to build and there was little concern regarding their wear and tear.
Throughout the production life of the Model T, the vehicles were customized for seemingly endless uses – a Ford dealer in New Hampshire even went as far as converting them into snowmobiles, with skis mounted on the front axles, and four rear wheels connected to snow tracks. While these were a rarity, the Depot Hack was so popular that Ford added a Model A station wagon with wood bodywork to their catalog in the late 1920s.
Specifications:
Engine: 2.9 Liter Inline Four-Cylinder
Horsepower: 20 @ 1600 RPM
Torque: 83 ft/lbs. @ 900 RPM
Transmission: Two-Speed Planetary Gearbox
Top Speed: 42 MPH
Weight: 1600 lbs.