The bulletproof Allis

My vote for me is the Original series I D17. Our family had purchased a wide front new in 57 and a slightly used 58 row crop model in 60. Both of them were the MAIN horses for 200 acres. We also had a 42 WC helping out too, but the 17's did most of the work, chopped silage, filled silo with long hopper AC belt driven blower, baled, plowed, disc, hauled ear corn loads, hauled beans to elevator, ground feed. Both were ballasted and had duals at one time, had snap coupler implements for both. One engine overhaul on each 17, never had and trans,power director, or hydraulic problem on either tractor. They were the true big horses on the farm until dad bought a new 200 when they came out. They wide front still gets used today for some stuff, and the row crop is our pulling tractor now. I think the D17 should be number one from the years of 57-67. Number two should be the 180, number three should be the 7045, thats how I would ranked them according to age and when the tractor was available and compared to competitors.

WC then WD. Was at an Allis featured show about 10 or more years ago in Racine MN and a former AC man was giving a presentation on some of his history with Allis. He worked in the tractor engineering department back in the late 60's and 70's out in the field. He claimed the most bullet proof tractor they had put out was the 220 and 210. He grew up on Deere and still farmed with Deere but that was his take on it.

Edited by Lonn - 13 Jan 2010 at 4:14pm

WC for me! Look at the horsepower that pullers consistently put through essentially stock WC powertrains on a model that originated in 1933! Also the 4x4 overhead valve, 1300 rpm 201 cid engine eventually evolved into the indestructible 226 cubic incher, that was used all the way up to the 175 at 2000 rpms and about 60 hp!! However...on a work/dollar or work/horse-power basis it would have to be the WD45. Kip

my vote is the c i haven't had any issues with engine or trans at all.

D 21 fantastic tractor never broke still going today Chris when you read this i am still waiting to buy it back

Eric, did you run through hills with 4 wagons?  Sounds dangerous to me.  I pulled 3 wagons of round bales once and just about got pushed off the road going down hill so don't push it anymore.

all ac's are the best but if i had to pick the 220