While I was planning the trip to the 'International Meeting' with Ian Foster, who I was sharing a 914 with for the trip, I made sure that we went to see 'Gerhard Lackner Porsche Diesel Tractor Museum' on the way.
Just so happen the 'Porsche Tractor Collection' was only a hour or so drive away from the meeting venue in Veldem am Wörthersee, located at 'Hitzendorf' near Graz in southeast Austria.
I pre booked our visit and informed Gerhard we would be turning up in a 914.
I’m no Porsche Tractor expert, but after visiting the 'Peter Bradley Collection' in 2011 and seeing ten Porsche tractors in one place, I was eager to see another collection and learn more about the various models.
On arrival, Gerhard warmly welcome us and his son translated to bridge the language barrier. We were informed that we were the first visitors to arrive in a Porsche 914.
As we walked into the museum the first tractors to see were five masters, the large four cylinder.
Through the next door into the main display area, we were shown the Allgaier Tractors and a petrol coffee bean plantation tractor.
Next was a line up of the 2 cylinders models.
At the far end, a room went off which contained the 3 cylinder models.
Next, was another room which contained the single cylinder models.
In the collection there were narrow bodied vineyard Junior, Standard and Super.
A very rare genuine four wheel drive A111 and a replica he built out of spare parts.
When the Porsche Diesel was first marketed in Austria they were painted brown with blue wheels.
The passenger rear wheel arch seats are different on the Austrian market later 'Junior' tractors from the German market, as the seat faced forwards and had a footrest at the front of the wheel arch; this arrangement was not allowed in Germany and most countries.
Inside the museum there were more than forty tractors and a couple of forklift trucks fitted with Porsche Diesel engines; but this was not all of them!
Outside there were five more, but the difference with these ones were they were used daily on the farm.
We were shown the spare parts store rooms.
And his other Porsche cars he owned and the fastest Porsche tractor in his collection; an Allgaier he modified by fitting a beetle engine and jokingly call it a prototype.
The Porsche Tractor Museum was the highlight of my trip to Austria, if you are ever in the area, do pay them a visit, you will not be disappointed.
Where else can you see almost fifty Porsche Tractors in one place!
Kevin 914 Clarke
Thanks for sharing 
