Model T Fords were designed without a fuel pump, meaning drivers often had to drive up steep hills completely in reverse just to keep the engine running.

A closer look

Model T Fords were designed without a fuel pump, meaning drivers often had to drive up steep hills completely in reverse just to keep the engine running. Because the fuel relied entirely on gravity to feed from the tank to the engine, pointing the car upwards would literally starve it of gasoline and cause it to stall. Imagine the absolute terror of navigating a precarious mountain dirt road backwards in a rattling tin can with no seatbelts, no airbags, and brakes that were essentially just wooden blocks. It was a golden age of motoring where surviving a trip to the grocery store required the tactical driving skills of a Hollywood stuntman. Modern drivers have panic attacks if their Bluetooth disconnects during a podcast, but early motorists were out there casually reversing up the Rocky Mountains just to go visit their in-laws!