A bidding war over a little red tractor came to a close on Monday (23 January), after prospective owners battled to place the winning bid on the rare Porsche-Diesel Junior.

Going under the hammer for £23,750, the vintage machine carries with it a rich history, serving as the work horse on the same family farm since it was bought new from Worcestershire-based firm FC Hanbury in 1960.

Remaining with the same family in Bedfordshire for nearly all of its life, the tractor was passed from grandfather to grandson in 1987, and has recently undergone a full restoration with its current owner, retaining many of the original parts including the steering wheel, controls and fuel gauge.

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Topping out at 18mph, the Junior was considered mechanically advanced for its time, sporting a two-stroke, single-cylinder turbo, air-cooled diesel engine that has been rebuilt using original and replacement Porsche parts, with the exterior finished in the original Guards Red paint.

The Junior recently completed its maiden voyage since its restoration, where it took home the prize for best-in-show at a tractor rally.

History

Collectors of classic tractors will know that Porsche made agricultural machinery long before it dabbled with sports cars, and the brand played a role in the early pioneering of diesel engines.

Originally produced in Austria, the first Porsche-Diesel was made in 1937, though production was somewhat stunted by the start of the Second World War.