Porsche, as we all know, has made its mark in the automobile industry as one of the most luxurious sports cars. However, few might be knowing that Porsche has a considerable appearance in agriculture sector as well. Prof. Dr. Ferdinand Porsche produced three prototype tractors in 1934, all equipped with petrol engines. The Porsche diesel engine with its unique air-cooled feature was not quite ready for production. Through various tests this led to a fully developed air-cooled diesel engine with a power range from 14 hp to 55 hp. By the early 1950’s Porsche had designed 4 basic models: 1 cyl; 2 cyl; 3 cyl; and 4 cyl – all having individual and interchangeable cylinders and heads. Porsche also had a 4-wheel drive tractor on the drawing board as early as 1946. 1956 saw the start of production of the new line of red Porsche-Diesel tractors, including four models: Junior, Standard, Super and Master (14 hp, 25 hp, 38 hp, 50 hp respectively), when Mannesmann AG decided to make tractors and bought the license for the Porsche diesel engine design and the Allgaier tractor design. They rebuilt and expanded the old Zeppelin factory just west of Friedrichshafen to a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility with the most modern machine tool and assembly complex then available. Porsche-Diesel tractors were produced in here until the end of 1963. Between 1956 and 1963 over 125,000 Porsche-Diesel tractors were produced.

Porsche Junior

Powered by an air-cooled, 822cc, single-cylinder diesel engine, producing 14bhp and running at 2250rpm, the Junior is a versatile machine capable of far harder work than its small size might suggest. This is the smallest of the four basic Porsche tractor models (its the same size as the Junior 108-S) and develops 14 BHP at 2250 RPM.

Porsche 312

These vehicle is the only running example of the 300 or so tractors Porsche has ever built. Soft in looks and cute in shape, the tractor is meant for something very soft and graceful and this machine actually does something very different which suits its image. Dubbed the Coffee Train P312, Porsche tractor is actually made to work in coffee plantations in Brazil.

From a distance, the tractor also looks like an interface between a submarine and a missile but nevertheless it does all the functions of a tractor. The tractor was specifically designed in such a way that it suits well to the plantation needs. The team ensured that the tractor does not have any hard lines on its body so that coffee saplings may not get disturbed.

In the same way, the tractor doesn’t run on diesel but petrol because plantation workers did not want their machines to be run on diesel and spoil the aroma of their coffee beans. This beauty is powered by and engine good enough for 24.2bhp, with good shape and contours that make it an awesome machine fit for working in coffee plantations.

Porsche Standard (25 hp)

Developed to compete with the Ferguson tractor, the AP17 develops 17 BHP from its two-cylinder, air-cooled, 1374 cc diesel engine.

Porsche Master (50 hp)

With a top speed of just more than 20mph, this 50hp 1963 AP144 Porsche Master is a masterpiece and a stunning example of the 150,000 or so tractors built by Porsche between 1948 and 1963. There is a long metal hand throttle, a tiny accelerator pedal to the right, as well as a long parking-brake lever, two foot brakes (linked together), a giant clutch pedal and two gear levers giving four reverse and eight forward gears. The rev counter goes to a modest 2,000rpm.

Porsche R22

This is a true Allgaeir tractor, having been built before the relationship with Porsche. The AP16 develops 22 BHP at 1500 RPM from its single-cylinder diesel engine.