The Case Terra-Trac is a crawler tractor, one of the machines Case built on tracks for earthmoving and heavy farm work. The film below shows a surviving example running at the Florida Flywheelers show.
Case Terra-Trac at a glance
| Machine in the film | a Case Terra-Trac at the Florida Flywheelers show, 2014 |
|---|---|
| Type | crawler (tracked) tractor |
| Use | earthmoving and heavy farm work |
| Company line | tracked tractors were part of the Case construction range |
| 1957 | Case took over the American Tractor Corporation |
| Military work | full-tracked tractors and scoop loaders for the US Army |
| Engine and output | not stated in the sources used here |
The model is not described in the sources; the page gives the tracked line and the film.
History of the Case Terra-Trac
Tracks on the farm
A crawler tractor runs on continuous tracks rather than wheels. That gives it grip on soft ground and spreads its weight, which is why tracked machines were used for ploughing heavy land as well as for earthmoving.
The Case tracked line
Case built full-tracked tractors for the US Army and sold crawler dozers as part of its construction equipment, which became the company’s main business in the 1950s. In 1957 it took over the American Tractor Corporation, adding to its range of tracked machines.
The survivor
The machine in the film was shown at the Florida Flywheelers in 2014, a working survivor of the type. The sources used here do not describe the Terra-Trac itself, so its power and years of production are not given.
Design and features
- Tracked layout: continuous tracks rather than wheels.
- Construction pedigree: part of the tracked side of Case’s business.
- Military link: Case supplied tracked tractors and scoop loaders to the US Army.
- Show survivor: the example in the film is kept running and demonstrated.
Case Terra-Trac versions
- Case Terra-Trac: the tractor shown in the film.
- Case crawler dozers: the other tracked machines in the range.
- Case 450 and 850: later Case crawlers on their own page.
The tracked tractors that came later are on the Case 450 page, and the wheeled construction machines on the Case 580 page. More are in the Case section.
Video: 2014 Florida Flywheelers Case Terratrac
Video by Tractor Bob on YouTube.
Sources
- Case Corporation, English Wikipedia: military tracked tractors, construction business
- Case Corporation, German Wikipedia: 1957 American Tractor Corporation
- Case Construction Equipment, English Wikipedia: crawler dozers in the product line
