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1898 Tatra 2½ ton truck was the Bohemian company's first truck. Tatra was founded in 1850 as a manufacturer of carriages and wagons and is known for introducing innovative vehicles, including the 1887 Präsident, the Tatraplan, and the design that evolved into the Volkswagen Beetle. Two Benz type engines are in this vehicle, connected with a claw clutch. It made it possible to use one engine without load and two engines with a heavy load. The vehicle required more water to run than gasoline. A roof mounted tank supplied water to the radiator. Rain water was collected on the roof to help replenish the supply!

Source: Technical Museum Tatra (Czech & English)

The original Buick trucks made between 1907 and 1912 were painted green and had a varnished dash. These early trucks were originally sold to plumbers as David Buick started his career as a plumber. The driver, Ward Wilter, bought the car in 1945. Jerry Schultz, the current owner, has loaned the truck to the National Transportation Museum after an extended stay at the Auburn-Cord-Duesenberg Museum.

Courtesy of the owner, Jerry Schultz

This 1908 Buick, seen on display at the Imperial Palace Automotive Museum in Las Vegas, Nevada, has had a 'creative' restoration with updated accessories and a varnished wood stake-side bed.

1908 Lindsley wagon was built of wood in Chicago. It was reputed to "do the work of five delivery wagons of the horse kind". Advertising claimed it was "made to climb any hill with a load of 2500 lbs" - That's a truck!.

Source: Popular Mechanics, 1908

In 1909 Mack introduces the Junior model, a light-weight 1½ ton truck with much of it's body built of wood. The Mack Senior truck was right-hand chain drive. The Junior was left-hand chain drive.

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