D-21

Allis-Chalmers broke a lot of new ground for the company when the D-21 was introduced in 1963. The tractor showed off modern styling elements, and was the first Allis-Chalmers tractor producing more than 100-horsepower.  The 103 hp D-21 moved Allis-Chalmers into the big tractor market and helped erase the company's image as a small tractor maker.  The D-21 was the last of seven farm tractors from Allis-Chalmers which began with the D-14 in 1957.  With new styling the D-21  brought many features that would spread across the entire AC tractor line.   The D-21  included a new power train with an independent PTO designed into it, and the platform wore full fenders.  AC marketed the operator platform as being as big as a "ball room" and added new comforts such as  hydrostatic steering with a tilt steering wheel and an  instrument panel that was greatly improved comfort and convince.  The rear mounted fuel tank held 52 gallons of fuel that allowed for 10 hours of field work on average.  The D-21 could be set up for row crop work or with rear duals for heavy draft work.  A new line of equipment was released to match the D-21 including a 6 and 8 row AC corn planters, cultivators and a new 9000 series 7 bottom semi-mount plow.  In 1965 the D-21 found itself outmatched by the new AC One-Ninety XT in performance even though the XT was rated at 93 hp.  In order to stay at the top of the AC tractor line the D-21 needed more muscle.  AC engineers beefed the D-21 up with a turbocharger that pushed the D-21 up to 128 hp.   In September 1987 at the request of the newly formed Deutz-Allis Corporation Ertl released a 1/16 scale D-21.  During the 1960's Ertl offered series I, II and III D-17 models. The regular edition  1987 D-21 model was styled after a series II Turbo charged D-21 with a white grille and no fender decals.  The collectors edition came with metal wheel inserts, fender decals, silver front grille, black steering wheel and chrome mylar decals. In June 1988 Ertl released the D-21 as a 1/43 model in its Vintage Vehicle series which later became Farm Classics. The 1/43 scale was dropped by Ertl in 1998.  Ertl re-released a 1/16 scale D-21 in May 2002 with dual rear wheels. This die-cast model wears a plated grille, and shows off a superbly cast diesel engine. The platform includes a functional steering wheel, and the replica rolls on single front and large dual rear wheels.

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