Bad news for all new vehicle buyers of the Model T: Because of the worse fuel quality compression and thus performance must be throttled. There were already only around 15 kW (20 DIN hp), which had to move earlier even less weight. By the way, there has always been a difference in the driving performances between open, lighter and closed, heavier vehicles.
That the brakes on the front wheels are missing, 1908 is completely normal, 1927 however no more. Curiously, the foot brake acting on a braking band of the drive shaft of the transmission. The handbrake on the other hand operates the rear drums. Therefore, it is probably advisable, e.g. to use in ice and snow those, otherwise the differential can bother the effect of the foot brake. Or you can take immediately both.
Probably because nothing remains untouched in the world, certainly not in the automotive sector, there are probably ways to retrofit front brakes. Noteworthy are the implications, such as changing the front axle geometry. 08/13