Fiat 411R finds new home in West Cork

Michael Harte, a retired farmer from between Roscarbery and Lisavaird, West Cork, made an interesting purchase recently when he acquired a 1965 Fiat 411R tractor.

While there is no shortage of mainstream “classics”, tractors like this Fiat 411R are a rare find, especially when it is an original Irish example.

The Italian-built tractor develops 41hp. With six forward and two reverse speeds, the Fiat 411 was capable of holding its own during the 1960s.

When Michael bought it about six months ago for around €3,000, the Fiat 411R was pretty much in its original state. Somebody had clearly re-painted it before it came into Michael’s possession.

Michael’s interest in this particular Fiat model stems from the fact that a dealer, Tony Looney, Looney’s Garage, Clonakilty, was an agent for them back in the ’60s. He believes Looney’s would have sold close to 20 Fiat 411s into the area around that time.

Good examples like this are pretty hard to find. Michael said: “A lot of them rusted because they were Italian. I don’t know how this one is so good.”

He has seen one other Fiat 411R that was rusted very badly. The mudguards and the dash had rusted away with only the drivetrain left.

Michael’s Fiat 411R sports an original Tipperary registration, OHI 23, so it didn’t come from West Cork. Having first been registered in Tipperary, it somehow made its way to Kerry and that is where a delighted Michael came across it.

While mechanically and cosmetically it is good, Michael has fitted new tyres all round. He had a starter problem as well and a local garage sourced a new one for him in the shape of a modern geared/high-speed starter, commonly found on some trucks.

The Fiat’s electrical system is peculiar for a tractor as it’s a 24-volt system. The likely reason being that Fiat was already using this engine in its Fiat 615 light truck before adopting it for agricultural use.

Lack of braking power was another problem. Leaking oil seals on the rear axles’ half-shafts resulted in the dry brake’s band mechanism on each side becoming “lubricated” with oil from the tractor’s back-end.

New half-shaft seals and brake bands were sourced and fitted to cure the problem.

Michael’s Fiat runs beautifully smoothly and quietly develops 41hp @2,300rpm from the four-cylinder Fiat engine, according to literature.

The engine has a capacity of 2.27 litres from bore and stroke dimensions of 85mm x 100mm.

The engine is an indirect injection unit, injecting diesel into pre-combustion chambers (similar to MF35) so required “heating” to start when cold. Rather than a single fuel-type thermostart, Fiat used individual glow plugs in each combustion chamber. The transmission is a little unusual as well, incorporating both three-speed ranges and reverse speeds into one gearstick. The Fiat design incorporates two H-patterns; one a single gearstick, one towards the front of the tractor and the other towards the rear.

Both patterns lie on their sides to give three forward speeds and one reverse within each H to give a total of six forward and two reverse speeds.

The Hs are connected by a central gateway between them which allows all individual speeds to be selected by a single gearstick.

Today, the Fiat 411R looks really well in its Fiat orange and light grey livery; orange for the panels and wheels, light grey for the chassis.

There is a hint of Italian styling in the front nose section and stalk-mounted headlamps. The seat also features novel rubber suspension – obviously, Italian roads and Irish roads were similar at that time!

Michael is now looking forward to attending vintage events to enjoy what is a very good example of a rare Fiat 411R.

Fiat 411R - facts

Model Fiat 411R

Registration OHI 23

Year 1965

Horse power 41hp

Cylinders Four (indirect injection)

Capacity 2.27 litres

Bore & stroke 85mmx100mm

Electrical system 24-volt

Transmission six forward/two reverse (two ranges)

Tyres – Rear 360/70-R28

Tyres – Front 6.00-16

Clocked hours 3656

Purchase price €3,000