[rotorwrench]

The model T didn't have a water pump like the later new model A. The circulation was by convection and thermosyphon. Back in the day, folks just carried extra water to fill them back up after they boiled enough water away. The model T was not an ideal vehicle for hot climate operations. Ford started producing the model TT trucks in 1917 just before WWI. Anything made before that was more experimental in nature or by field expedience in Europe after the war started.

Patton's first mechanized cavalry unit used Dodge Brothers cars during search for Pancho Villa in 1916 Mexico. The US Army used Class B Liberty trucks during WWI and many ended up surplus after the war since not all that many made it to France. Model Ts were used a lot for ambulance duty during the war. A lot of vehicles used in Africa during the interwar period were from Europe. I had a great Uncle that had a game capture company in Kenya before WWII and he used Fords that were put together in South Africa. He didn't go into the Sahara. Most folks that ventured there were either natives on camel or they were explorers looking for lost civilizations or legendary treasures. The oil exploration of the Palaeozoic Basin didn't begin until the early 1950s. By that time, the Italians and Germans had already criss-crossed the regions followed by the Britsh and Americans during the battles of the North African campaign of WWII.

Early history had explorations by Alexander the Great and the Egyptians & Carthaginians all likely roamed there for one reason or another. Mostly for mineral resources I'm sure.