What’s the Big Deal with the Allis Chalmers G?
The Allis-Chalmers G is a real head-turner. Even people who aren’t “tractor people” notice these interesting machines. More than any other tractor in the AC line, the G has a huge fan club. One farmer near my home has 40 of them!
The G features a really innovative design that allows the farmer to see what he’s doing, since putting the engine in the rear of the tractor keeps the crops front-and-center. Here in Michigan, lots of small produce farmers continue to use these tractors – there’s nothing quite like them on the market!
So why does the Allis Chalmers G inspire such devotion? Here are some reasons:
- Ease of visibility. Like I mentioned before, the rear-mounted engine makes crop cultivation a lot easier. No need to turn around to watch the cultivator behind the tractor.
- Plenty of attachments. Allis-Chalmers designed a full line of implements to match. Cultivators are probably the most common, but also available was a planter, disc, plow, sickle bar mower, belly mower, loader, manure spreader, and a front-mounted hay rake. While some of these were less popular (you’ll want to be sure of the wind direction before using the manure spreader or the hay rake!), they make very interesting collector items.
- Affordability. In the last year of production (1955), these tractors cost just $970. While impeccably restored models go for a lot more today, you can still find tractors in their “work clothes” for a reasonable price.
- Traction. The rear-mounted engine gives lots of traction to the rear wheels. This is especially helpful when working with crops that like rich soil.
- Easy to service. The Continental engine is a breeze for any mechanically-inclined person to work on.
How about you – do you love the Allis-Chalmers G? Share your story in the comments below.
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My girlfriend’s family has one that belonged to her grandpa. He passed about 5 years ago and we always talked about restoring it, but nothing was ever solidified so it’s still sitting in it’s work clothes. We have the plow, cultivator, and sickle mower for it. Hopefully someday I’ll be able to get it looking new again.
Those tractors in their “work clothes” are becoming hard to find. I have a G that I inherited from my dad. He bought it new in 1953, the same year I was born. It looks just like it should for being 64 years old, just like me. Give me your email address and I’ll send you a pic or two.
Ralph you can email your photo to info@antiquetractorblog.com 🙂
Thanks!
Would you like to sell the sickle bar mower for the g model?
We have one for sale
Rickyshady11@gmail.com
I’m looking for a G
I just bought my first Allis G. Runs well, just needs paint. I have the cultivators and a plow. My neighbor bought it for vegetable farming but decided not to use it. It sat in the field for a year before I couldn’t stand the deterioration.
My wife fell in love with one at a show in Denton. So I set out to buy one for her. As luck would have it, found one a year later with some original equipment. It was always kept under cover and had been painted DOT yellow. We now have it disassembled to restore, and even bought a second one for parts.
What is the diameter (measured outside to outside of the flanges) of the generator pulley wheel? My brother is restoring a G and we are not sure if the correct pulley wheel is on the generator.
3” The ABC2315 is 5/8 belt width, it will work. http://www.steinertractor.com/ABC2315
Dan
I have 1949 “G”serial #G22393, Have restored it.It has a cultivator mounted on it
I would like to buy a sickle bar mower.Contact me at,816-633-7296,cel,816-565-0101
E-mail=oldbluedog.cdr@gmail.com
Are you still interested in a G sickle mower
I would like to buy a rotary mower with all the parts for install for a G phone 480 694 8940—Tim
I would like to purchase a cultivator and plow for G Ray 720-629-1820.
I am sorry we do not sell implements. You may want to try your local dealer. Good luck.
LOOKING FOR A GRADER BLADE TO FIT ON MY ALLIS G. MUST MOUNT BETWEEN FRONT AND REAR WHEELS. [ BELLY MOUNT ]. TEL: 715-592-4468, WISCONSIN.
My grandfather bought a used G use back in the 70’s. My grandfather went and drove it back to his house. Took him over three hours to drive it back. I remember my grandfather giving me and the cousins rides when we were kids. He loves that tractor as much as we did. When he passed away, it was left to my father and me, we hope to go through it and make it mechanically sound again. I love that tractor all the way from the sunbaked paint to the cracked rubber on the steering wheel.
I live in west-central Minnesota and am looking for an Allis Chalmers Model G tractor to restore.
Just met a great G tractor guy Roger Van Camp in Fort Wayne Indiana. Telephone 260-747-3455. You might contact him.
I have a Model G (G10591). My tractor is almost restored now. My front tires were gone. I ordered two new 4.00×12″ tires. When they came in I took one off the ring and the ring was bad rusted inside. I have been working on the rust, but was thinking about getting new rings for the ‘ G ‘. I noticed that the ring had (Firestone made in USA Date 11-48).inside. I think that is the reason for so much rust. I may sell the ‘ G ‘ to someone that will take good care of it. I just turned 69 this month and slowing down a bit now. Anyone interested in buying a mostly restored, good paint, and runs fine model ‘ G ‘. I am pretty sure it’s one of the first ones built. With the Tractor No. G10591. If someone knows about the year and Model number, let me know please. My phone number is (706) 585-0465. If no answer leave message.
Looking for a G if you still have it please give me a call 901-828-0467
Allis-Chalmers did not make a manure spreader, loader, or hay rake for the G… The loader was aftermarket, made by Midwest. The manure spreader and hay rake were just prototypes, and were not produced.
We had one of these on a small farm in Michigan in mid 1950’s. It was how I learned to drive and much more. It was a great tractor for a small farm doing mostly produce. It’s a great memory of a good time and great experiences. I could easily get lost plowing and preparing the soil with this. I think I was likely using it age 12 or 13. Thanks for the great article.
Looking for a G please call 901-828-0467
I would like to see some pictures or video of the farmer’s collection of 40 Gs. I bet that is an awesome sight!
Looking for a G to restore in the SC, NC, GA area. Please email ewilli007@charter.net
Looking for cultivator parts for a G
901-828-0467
Want to purchase front and rear cultivators for Allis Chalmers g
Just looking at a G, is a trip back in time for me! Dad, bought one when I was about 11 or 12. I learned to plow, drag, cultivate with it. It wasn’t long and it became a for wheeler too. Drive it to town.. only a mile and a half away… Dad, even used it to hunt grouse… did shoot off it… but, sed it to drive down a old road…one farmers used to get ot a field. Not sure what happened to the tractor…
Things were different in the 50’s!
We have a 1948 Allis Chalmers G for sale. It was our dad’s. It has been stored in a barn and we have a seeder and jr. seeder.
Where are you located? noahrogers38321@gmail.com
Christine
I am interested in your G. Where are you located. Please email me at JJH11549@aol.com or call me at 708-921-2821
I am looking for a G with cultivators and side dress boxes if possible. Located in Tn. My email is brownchuck89@gmail.com.
My dad bought 2 Model G’s back in the 1980’s. At that time, they both ran. I just know he wanted to restore them, because I found manuals and a parts list stored away in his garage. He passed away back in 2005. At that time they had been sitting in the woods and covered for at least 5 years. It’s now 2020, 25 years later, and I’ve got both of them now. It’s going to be quite a job to get them running again, but it should be interesting. They both have the spark plugs missing so there’s no telling what’s happened to the cylinders and engine block. There must be half a dozen different attachment, so I’m hoping to identify them.
Got a short video of the 2 tractors. Hope you enjoy watching:
https://www.facebook.com/GearhartMachine/videos/2850553795270905
My Uncle bought a G brand new in 1948. He also purchased the Cultivator, Plow and Sickle Mower. I even still have all the manuals. He used to farm 15 acres of beans and wheat for many years until my father got a bigger tractor. It was still used for cultivating. I remember many many hours riding up on the front watching weeds meet their doom under the cultivator blades. When my uncle died, my dad got the tractor and now that father is dead, it is mine. We have put so many hours on it we rebuilt the engine 4 times. Though the last time I used my hot rod skills a little and did some porting around the valves. It never used to have the power to go up the hill but just in 2nd gear if that. Now it purrs right up the hill in 3rd and can plow in second gear. It still runs just fine and even though we no longer farm, I still use it in the garden each year to plow and cultivate. Repainted it a few years back and started taking it to tractor shows with the plow. People are amazed to see a small tractor like that plowing. One row at a time. Will probably own it for ever.