Porsche Tractor History
The Porsche marque began with one founder and proprietor.
In 1931, Ferdinand Porsche started his own automotive and engineering firm. Soon after, he was able to secure contracts to design various vehicles for the then-German war effort. This would include the Volkswagen Beetle and Kubelwagen, as well as a slate of tractor designs with fuel and diesel powerplants.
Just as the war ended, Porsche's engineering firm was unable to realize its own tractor production. At that time, only vendors with experience in producing farm equipment were allowed to continue their work. This left the Porsche firm with no choice but to license its tractor designs to other German and Austrian companies - one of which being Allgaier.
Soon after, a large German syndicate purchased the rights to Porsche diesel engines and Allgaier tractor designs. This decision led to the building of a manufacturing plant in 1954 that would go on and produce the Porsche-Diesel Motorenbau GmbH brand. From 1956 to 1963, production would see 125,000 tractor models brought to the European farming market. Even though Porsche only designed the exterior and mechanical parts, and production was by outside manufacterers, they are still Porsche Tractors through and through. Only 1,000 made it to American shores, making it a highly sought after collector's item.