A real 'Tooorak Tractor' is one of the standout lots of the upcoming Shannons Spring Classic Auction in Melbourne on Monday September 4.
But it's not a luxury four-wheel drive, for which the term was originally coined; it's one of the most exclusive Porsche models in Australia and has even greater off-road performance.
The fully restored and working 1959 Porsche Diesel Junior Tractor is one of only a handful of Porsche-made tractors in the country, but those here are now eagerly sought after by collectors.
Not many Australians, even some enthusiasts, know that Porsche produced such vehicles - Volksschlepper, or People's Tractors, as Dr. Ferry Porsche called them.
His famous grandfather, Professor Ferdinand Porsche, built a tractor as early as 1914, but production of tractors bearing the Porsche name had to wait more than 40 years, until they were built by Porsche-Diesel-Motorenbau GmbH, in Friedrichshafen, Southern Germany.
The range of diesel-powered Porsche tractors in the late 1950s consisted of four models: the single cylinder Junior (single cylinder, one plough), Standard (two cylinder, two plough), Super (three cylinder, three plough) and Master (four cylinder, four plough). They were very popular in Europe, particularly Germany.
Few found their way here for serious farming duties, but the 1959 model single cylinder Porsche Junior being auction by Shannons arrived in Western Australia in 1996 as part of the private collection of motorcycles and other vehicles of a German enthusiast.
The tractor, build number 21224309, was subsequently swapped for a Messerschmitt bubble car and its new owner undertook a concours-standard restoration to its original factory-red livery that earned it both category and 'People's Choice' awards at Perth shows in 1998 and 1999.
Two years later it was sold to a Melbourne Porsche enthusiast to add to his collection and has since shared luxury Toorak garage accommodation with a number of other special Porsches sports cars, only being brought out since for displays and special occasions.
However now the Porsche Junior tractor has to find a new home to make way for other Porsches being added to its current owner's collection.
For somewhere between $34,000-$44,000, by Shannons estimate, the successful purchaser will acquire one of the most exclusive and eye-catching Porsches in Australia.
Being diesel, it sips fuel in very socially acceptable measures, but it's greatest asset, that no other Porsche model can boast, is that its driver is virtually immune from speeding tickets.
With its single cylinder engine running at peak revs and even with a tail wind, this Porsche is done and spent at just 19km/h!
Media information, contact:
Michael Browning (03) 9879 9111 / 0418 324 328
For further auction information, contact:
Christophe Boribon, National Auctions Manager on 0413 567 308 or Greg Hardy (03) 8543 2287/0438 268 854
Or to view all auction lots click here
