Bored of modern supercars, luxury 4x4s and sporty coupés? We've got something far more exclusive for you – meet the 10bhp Allis-Chalmers Model G. And it's more powerful (sort of) than a Ferrari Enzo...
If you seek the perfect showboating vehicle, look no further. To most city dwellers, this is simply an agricultural tractor. Yet, to those wearied by supercars and Range Rovers, this could be your ticket to exclusivity.
The reasons for taking on an Allis-Chalmers Model G? Without any knowledge of cultivation and farming, you’ve got a fully-fledged all-American hero. Manufactured solely in the Gadsden factory of Alabama, some 30,000 units were built between 1948 and 1955. That makes it rarer than a Mazda Miata MX-5 and ultimately home-grown, unlike the artificially-patriotic Ford Probe.
It also shares a trait with a Porsche 911, in that the Model G receives power from a rear-mounted engine. However, unlike a Porsche, the small implement carrier tractor churns out a meagre 10bhp. Top speed? Well, that’s around 7mph. Which is still quicker than walking.
Furthermore, in the same fashion as Porsche's 911, the Model G receives power from a rear-mounted engine. However, unlike a Porsche, the small implement carrier tractor churns out a meagre 10bhp. Top speed? Well, that’s around 7mph. Which is still quicker than walking.
So, speed isn't its strongest suit, but the 1.0-liter 4-cylinder powerplant can muster torque-based pulling power in the order of of 1,143 lbs ft – or roughly 1550 NM. That’s more than twice the mechanical grunt of a Ferrari Enzo. Boasting a kerb weight of 582kg, it’s also far lighter than a $837,000 McLaren Senna, too.
Let’s not get carried away, however, as this is still a piece of agricultural machinery. The figures may stack up in its favour when playing a very skewed game of Top Trumps, but in the real-world things are a tad different.
Undertaking a 60km-round commute would take no less than five hours at full, tinnitus-inducing pelt. Then there’s the running costs... Fuel economy will rarely breach the dizzying heights of double figures – bargain on somewhere around the 9mpg mark. Roughly the same as a Pagani Zonda.
This misses the vehicle’s point, however. It’s not designed for speed, economy or comfort. It’s a hard-nosed workhorse tailored for ploughing fields and cultivating the land. With belly-mounted implements even Freddy Kruger would be proud of, the Allis-Chalmers Model G is like Meccano for grown-ups; with an array of add-ons and gear available to craft something truly unique.
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More to the point, it’s a collector’s item. With an ever-growing enthusiast scene for agrarian equipment, the ‘G’ series cultivator claims status as a legend in the farming community. Yet, the question is, where can you get a good one?
While most examples were worked into the ground, there’s a solid specimen currently up for grabs during the GAA auction. It’s been meticulously restored to original condition, having received a complete mechanical and cosmetic overhaul.
So, when asked about your latest auction purchase, remember to list off the impressive figures. Basically, you’ve bought a restored vehicle that’s lighter than a McLaren, torquier than a Ferrari, and more customisable than any Porsche.
As a further bonus, certain Model Gs were converted to electric power back in the day. Making it far more innovative than a Tesla. As a final point, it's worth remembering that both Porsche and Lamborghini started out making tractors such as these.
Ge a closer look at the supercar-rivalling Allis-Chalmers Model G here.
