This year celebrated the 25th anniversary of the launch of the Fiatagri F Series range of tractors, which were called the Winner range by the Italian tractor maker. This tractor range was launched to great acclaim at a huge event in Paris in June 1990, that it is reputed to have cost the Fiat Group the equivalent of well over €1m.

The Winner series of tractors included the F100, F110, F120 and F130 models with engine powers of 98hp, 110hp, 118hp and 130hp respectively. They were all powered by six-cylinder Fiat Iveco Series 8000 engines, with the larger models turbo-charged.

These were tractors that were designed to be versatile and modern. The cab and bodywork was designed by the renowned Italian design house of Pininfarina. The aim was to produce a machine with a rounded profile and no sharp edges. Fiatagri made a big point of the fact that galvanised sheet metal would be used, after significant rust issues with the previous models.

The engines were claimed to decrease fuel consumption, smokiness and noise while increasing performance. Fiat Iveco reduced the engine speed at which maximum tractor power would be achieved to 2,300rpm, while peak torque was reached at 1,300rpm.

The base gearbox on these tractors was a 16 forward and 16 reverse speed unit with the option of a creeper unit to double the number of gears. The higher-speed versions were rated at 40km/h and an Eco-Speed option was claimed to be an “absolute novelty” on the 40km/h versions, giving a fifth forward gear in every range.

The tractors were fitted with oil-immersed disc brakes operated by separate hydraulic circuits. Fiatagri offered a hydraulic system for trailers, which the company claimed enabled the Winner tractors to pull trailers up to four times their own weight, which was up to 18 tonnes, in total safety.

This was among the first of the Fiatagri tractors to offer electronic lift control in place of mechanical control of the tractor hydraulic lift. They were also available with an on-board computer, which was designed to provide “clear, complete information for better utilization of the machine across nine functions, from engine speed and PTO to the real speed and slip percentage”.

The Grand Moisson

The launch of the Fiatagri Winner was special in that it coincided with one of the biggest French agricultural events ever held. This was called the Grand Moisson or “Great Harvest” and the Fiat Group used the occasion to launch the F Series Winner tractors along with a number of new combine harvesters which were then branded as Laverda.

Paris’s most famous street, the well-known Champs-Elysee, was closed and converted it into a pattern of farmland on which growing crops of barley were carefully placed, interspersed with areas of roll-out grass.

The French young farmers club, our equivalent of Macra na Feirme, organised the event to harvest the crop with combines so as to make the French public aware of the values and challenges for farming as well as its importance in the French and European economy.

The tractor launch took place in the morning before the start of the Grand Moisson. As journalists, we listened to the lengthy Fiatagri presentations and in typical Fiat form, there was limited scope for questions. We were unable to get access to the F-Series Winner display tractor’s cab and it was the only tractor from the range on view for the full day.

The rumour then gathered, with some element of truth, that in fact the design and manufacture of the tractor was not complete, that it was to pushed into the Paris hotel for the launch event, without a working gearbox! Hence no cab access.

Lakeland sets date for Autojumble

The Longford based Lakeland Vintage Club is holding its annual autojumble at the Rustic Inn, Abbeyshrule, Co Longford on Sunday, 10 January, 2016.

The event begins at 11am and runs for the full day, according to the club secretary Edré Mills (087-6649069).

This is one of the first vintage events of the New Year and usually attracts a big attendance as a venue to pick up unusual pieces or parts for those restoring machines and tractors.

Upcoming vintage events

12/13 December Durrow Diecast Model and Toy Show Laois 086-886 0598

18 December Lakeland Vintage Club Christmas Party Longford 087-664 9069

28 December Murt & Minty Tractor Run Kilkenny 086-266 2105

1 January Antrim Vintage Club rally, Allen Park Antrim 0044-7892938061

10 January Lakeland Vintage Autojumble, Abbeyshrule Longford 087-664 9069

27 January Traction Engine Club of Ulster members night Anrim 0044-7739613193