Many antique tractors were a product of necessity

Collecting old tractors can lead in many different directions, said Dan Nealeigh of Greenville, Ohio. He said, I primarily deal with J.I. Case equipment, but sometime I get led astray.

Back in the 1930-40’s farmers were discovering a tractor could replace a team of horses or mules. Not every farm could justify the cost of a tractor. So farmers being the creative creatures they are built their own tractors.

Nearly every farm has a discarded car or truck sitting along a fencerow or behind a shed somewhere on the property. It didn’t take long for the mechanically inclined to build their own version of a tractor. Many old car or truck would have its body removed, frame shortened. Often a truck axle, or a second transmission was added for power and you had the earliest utility vehicle/tractor. Thus enter the mechanized world, you could pull a wagon, the usually horse drawn implements or even run a buzz saw. All that horsepower and it used no grain or hay.

Some got pretty sophisticated while others were simply utilitarian. More often than not they were simply cut down, bolted together and used. While others took pride in their design and chose to make their creation look similar to the factory manufactured tractor. These power units had names as diversified as themselves. They were often called doodlebugs or jeeps along with many other regional favorites.

Dan’s grandfather built one from a 1929 Dodge Brothers truck. After using it for many years he replaced it with a “real” tractor. He gave it to Dan and his brother to play on. He disabled the engine so the boys wouldn’t be tempted to start it. What he didn’t count on was the determination of two young boys with a nearby wrecking yard. After a couple of weeks parents and grandparents alike got a big shock when the brothers drove the old Dodge out of the barn. The brothers used it around the farm for a couple of years until the transmission quit and it went to the scrap yard for good.

A few years ago while attending an auction emotions from the past must have overtaken his thinking when Dan purchased one of these homemade so called Doodlebugs. After some time of scrounging for parts this “tractor” pictured here evolved.

The seat is from a school bus, it has VAC Case rear fenders, boat trailer front fenders, lawn cart box, fog lights, paint and all the odds and ends required to make it all fit together. Since it is made from a model A Ford truck and tractor, it is aptly named “tructor”

The “tructor” attracts considerable attention at tractor shows and parades, but it has a useful side as well. It is used around the Nealeigh farm for light hauling plus the grandchildren love to ride in it. It was also the oldest participant at their local United Way Tractor Cruise.