To Be OFFERED AT AUCTION WITHOUT RESERVE at RM Sothebys' The Taj Ma
Garaj Collection event, 28 September 2019.
Estimate:
$20,000 - $30,000
- An unusual but charming entry into the Porsche fraternity
- Delivered new in Germany
- Older restoration in good, operating condition
- Rennsport Reunion eligible
At the same time that he was laying out what would become the
immortal Volkswagen in the 1930s, Dr. Ferdinand Porsche began
design work on an inexpensive air-cooled farm tractor that would
run on the low-octane gasoline of the day. It was dubbed the
"Volkschlepper." According to the American Porsche-Diesel Tractor
Registry, three different prototypes were constructed, with
government encouragement. Drawing on his experience with the
air-cooled flat-four Beetle engine, Dr. Porsche laid out a simple,
tough, air-cooled diesel-powered tractor with a hydraulically
coupled transmission that was almost modular in concept. It could
be built with one-, two-, three-, and four-cylinder engines. War
interrupted plans to put the new tractor into production.
After the war, only companies that had built tractors prior to and
during the war were allowed to resume production, and Porsche was
not among them. The company arranged to license its unique design
to Germany's Allgaier GmbH and an Austrian firm, Hofherr Schrantz.
In 1956, industrialist Mannesmann AG bought Porsche's diesel-engine
manufacturing license and Allgaier's chassis design, which
incorporated multiple power take-offs and attachments. A new
division called Porsche-Diesel Motorenbau GmbH in Friedrichshafen
went into production in a new, modern factory, producing over
125,000 tractors of various displacements until sales ended in
1963.
Offered here is a 1957 "Standard" two-cylinder model. Power is
transmitted to the transmission via a "turbo-hydraulic coupling,"
which negates the need for manual shifting to each gear. There are
power take-offs at the front, rear, and mid-ships for attachment to
a wide range of available farm implements. A plaque on the side of
the hood suggests this tractor was originally sold by Roman
Schweiger, an old, family-owned farm-equipment dealer in Weilheim,
Germany. While its early history is unknown, it was eventually
imported to the United States and acquired by Helmut Reiss of
Laguna Beach, California. At some point it was repainted in its
correct red with Primrose wheels. Repair invoices supplied with
this delightful tractor indicate that Mr. Reiss addressed a number
of mechanical and electrical issues before offering it for sale. It
joined the Taj Ma Garaj in March 2002.
Still bearing its European license plates, it is equipped with
lights, a horn, an upholstered passenger seat, and what appear to
be fairly new tires. We can note that the most recent Porsche Club
of America Rennsport Reunion at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca in
California welcomed over 15 Porsche tractors in a special class and
invited them to race over an abbreviated course, many of them with
professional race drivers aboard. The event delighted thousands of
appreciative spectators. There will surely be similar opportunities
in the future; this would be an inexpensive entry to the next
one.To view this car and others currently consigned to this
auction, please visit the RM website at
rmsothebys.com/en/auctions/tg19.
