Jalandhar, Feb 23: An antique German tractor that remained stationary at a Jalandhar intersection for nearly half a century has been sold to an American collector for Rs 1.25 crore. The Lanz Bulldog HL 12, manufactured in 1921, was moved from its long-term resting place at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk this week to begin its transit to the United States.
The machine’s departure has drawn significant attention to the historical value of early 20th-century agricultural tools. The Heinrich Lanz company first presented this specific model in June 1921, featuring a unique engine design that earned it the “Bulldog” moniker due to the appearance of its cylinder head.
Local Councillor Puneet Vadhera affirmed that the tractor’s provenance remains a subject of local mystery, though it is believed to have changed hands from British owners to Punjabi farmers in the early 1900s. He stated that the ancestors who originally owned the machine are no longer alive.
“A Mumbai-based firm had called another neighbor of mine, starting with an offer of Rs 2 lakh, offering Rs 28 lakh by the next night,” Vadhera declared. He maintained that the ultimate sale price of Rs 1.25 crore was reached after global interest spiked online.
The tractor was reportedly purchased by a buyer in California, a state known for hosting prominent agricultural museums. Witnesses observed the machine being loaded onto a truck on February 18 for delivery to a port in Mumbai.
The Lanz Bulldog is celebrated for its extreme durability and versatile fuel requirements, capable of operating on vegetable or waste oils. This specific unit still features the original “Heinrich Lanz Mannheim” identification plates. Vadhera asserted that while the machine has left the city, the site where it stood for decades remains a point of interest for residents and visitors alike.
