Cockshutt Golden Arrow Special Edition

While working on the next edition of the Iron Memories Book I recieved a story about a very rare tractor; Cockshutt Golden Arrow. It is a beautiful tractor and I wanted to share the model's history with my readers. Courtesy of; Tom Johnson from Minnesota During the summer of 1957, Cockshutt’s marketing department devised a plan to premier their newly engineered, depth and draft control innovation to U. S. farmers. The new “Automatic Traction Transfer System” would maintain 3- point hitch implements at a pre-set level of depth. The weight of the implement and draft was automatically transferred to the rear wheels. This system, coupled with a new deep tillage transmission, would debut on the model 540 and 550 tractors scheduled to premiere in 1958. To attract the attention of the U.S. farmers at the fall farm shows, county and state fairs a very limited number of tractors, known as the Golden Arrow, were produced. These tractors were assigned only a name and no model number. Essentially, from the transmission back they utilized the yet unreleased model 550 transmission, rear end, and the innovative new draft hydraulics. The tube frame, G0198 gas engine, and sheet metal were the same as the model 35 Deluxe, and were only in production for about one month. There were subtle differences such as seat bracket locations, battery and shift lever, which also distinguished the Golden Arrow from the model 35. Wearing the deluxe colors of yellow/cream with a red frame and detailing, it was destined to be the last round nose model, and this paint colors, and only second and last to carry a model name. The arrow, of course, correlates to the famous Cockshutt logo. The actual total number built is not know for sure, to date serial numbers up to 135 have been observed. One must believe that at least that many were produced. It was the companies intention these promotional models be returned to the plant once the 550 production was under way to have the nose replaced with the square nose, sheet metal and tube frame. No follow-up to ensure this occurred was apparently in place. Many were not returned and today remain the serious collectors elusive dream. See the story of Tom's Golden Arrow in the next edition of the Iron Memories book.