Approximate Chronology 
of Production Diesel-Powered Farm Tractors

I compiled most of this list by reviewing the book Farm Tractors 1926-1956, from Intertec, which was in turn compiled from advertisements in Implement & Tractor (I&T) publications.  The book says that the advertising dates weren't always the same as the introduction dates, and so any given date may be off by a few years.  See any mistakes?  Please e-mail me at dean.vinson@gmail.com.
  1932:  Cat Diesel 68-79 crawler (first production diesel tractor, wheeled or crawler)

1933:  McCormick-Deering TD-40 crawler (first IH diesel)

(All further diesel crawlers omitted, since there were zillions of them and I was primarily looking for wheeled tractors).

1934:  McCormick-Deering WD-40 (used same engine as TD-40 crawler)

1940:  International WD-6 (same engine as TD-6 crawler)
1940:  Oliver 80 (diesel engine became available as an option)

1941:  Farmall MD (same engine as WD-6 and TD-6)
1941:  International WD-9 (same engine as TD-9 crawler)

1942:  Farmall MDV (same engine as other 6-series tractors)
1942:  International ODS-6 (same engine as other 6-series tractors)

1946:  Massey-Harris 44D

1949:  John Deere R (first JD diesel)
1949:  Sheppard Diesel SD2 and SD3

1951:  Sheppard Diesel SDG2, SDG3, SDO2, SDO3

1952:  Farmall Super MD
1952:  International Super WD-6
1952:  Massey-Harris 55D
1952:  Oliver 66D, 77D, 88D

1953:  International Super WD-9

1954:  Case 500D
1954:  Cockshutt Diesel 50
1954:  Farmall Super MTA Diesel
1954:  International Super WD-6TA
1954:  John Deere 70D Rowcrop
1954:  Minneapolis-Moline G Diesel
1954:  Oliver 99D
1954:  Sheppard Diesel SD4

1955:  Farmall 400D
1955:  Fordson Major Diesel
1955:  John Deere 70 Standard Diesel and 80D
1955:  Minneapolis-Moline GB Diesel
1955:  Oliver Super 55, 66, 77, 88, and 99 Diesels

1956:  Allis-Chalmers WD-45 Diesel
1956:  John Deere 720D

 

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