and you thought old cars were expensive These days.
A rare farm tractor has been auctioned for $420,000.
The 1917 Wilmer Little Oak has been part of the George and June Schaff Tractor and Truck Museum collection.
frankfurt, illinois, attractions It closed this year after three decades of operation.
The Little Oak is the last known example of its kind and represents a breakthrough in tractor design.
It was advertised for the first time as a “one-man tractor” with controls that allowed the driver to raise and lower the wheel without exiting the hull.
The 40 horsepower Little Oak is fully operational and was painstakingly restored to like-new condition by Schaaf.
“When I would restore them, I would take them out and use them right away. A lot of people restore them, and they don’t show them at all, they just leave them in a barn,” he said Fox News Digital From the collection of the museum.
Dozens of vintage tractors were sold at an October 1 auction, with four more going for over $250,000 including another 1917 model.
A rare farm tractor has been auctioned for $420,000.
It was advertised for the first time as a “one-man tractor” with controls that allowed the driver to raise and lower the wheel without exiting the hull.
The Little Oak is the last known example of its kind and represents a breakthrough in tractor design.
The 1917 Allis-Chalmers 10-18 tricycle is also rare and one of a handful that still exists in any condition, let alone fully restored, and sold for $262,500.
A 1913 Hart-Par 30-60 went for $278,250. Schaaf was the fourth owner and he completely restored it. third Found it on Montana Farms In 1986 where it had been lying unused for nearly 70 years but was able to be rebuilt, it received the old trusted nickname.
The 1924 Minneapolis 35–70 was the smallest of the big bid tractors and its body was restored with new sheet metal and wood, but it was sold for $283,500, the third largest.
The Big Four 30 was the largest tractor and was offered at a bid of $294,000.
The “prairie tractor” was designed to plow virgin land.
The name refers to its 30 horsepower four-cylinder engine.
Schaaf’s gas traction company Big Four 30 was the largest tractor of its day and was hauled in a suitably impressive $294,000 bid. It is a “prairie tractor” that was designed for plowing virgin lands and was advertised with the slogan “Thirty Horses Don’t Do the Big Four ’30” referencing its 30 horsepower four-cylinder engine.
Ten more tractors sold for over $100,000, but Schaff kept a special tractor for himself. This is one of the five remaining Case 40/72S and his favorite tractor he enjoys bringing to the show.