AMC RULES 37,130 #1 Posted June 30, 2019 (edited) Meet my new, #40 tractor in my collection...my first off branded tractor...an early production College Park (COPAR) Panzer. Not their first year of production, a '54 Model A, but pretty gosh darn close to it. I've read that less than 300 first year, documented model A's were ever produced, and only a handful of legitimate survivors out there being known to still exist. To my mind, it reads that the model A's were the early prototypes that led to the T-100's going into full production in '55...the T being Tricycle front steering. I won't bore you with all the crazy Panzer nerding I've already started to do here...I'll just say that it's a really cool old tractor, powered by a 9HP Briggs that really gets down the road you start moving the belt around on the flywheel. Has rear wheel turning brakes (which make it pivot on a dime) on a narrowed Chrysler 8-3/4" rear end. Really had a blast on the first day with it here yesterday. Was a true barn find, that seems to have been very well loved by it's PO who recently passed. May he RIP. I'll leave you with a couple quick first day Panzer ride videos we did here around the house yesterday. Edited July 25, 2019 by AMC RULES 12 10 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RandyLittrell 3,877 #2 Posted June 30, 2019 What size are those rear tires? I like the looks of those! Randy Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #3 Posted June 30, 2019 They be 8-16 Firestones Randy. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHNJ701 4,165 #4 Posted June 30, 2019 great find, your serial # is stamped on the tube frame up front right side. the panzers are alot of fun and easy to drive. both my boys learned to drive them at very early age, I have 3, a t60,t70,t75. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,460 #5 Posted June 30, 2019 Really coooooooool Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevasaurus 22,725 #6 Posted June 30, 2019 That is one heck of a find Craig, and it will turn heads at any show. Excellent!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #7 Posted June 30, 2019 Seems these COPAR tractors rarely ever come up for sale, definitely was in the right place at the right time when I scored this old girl. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Sparky-(Admin) 21,315 #8 Posted June 30, 2019 Nice!! Awful lot of moving parts by yer feet and under your butt ! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #9 Posted June 30, 2019 Kinda what is making it so much fun Mike...add to that, I've been starting it with the flywheel engaged and having to climb aboard on the fly too. No bare feet though. Will need get a new motion control lever fabbed up at some point...hopefully before the thing cripples me for life. LOL! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHX?? 48,815 #10 Posted July 1, 2019 Nice ...picked a fine one for your first other brand 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,843 #11 Posted July 16, 2019 Mrs. Pullstart took a fond liking to the Panzers at Portage, I imagine some day there may be one here. That is, if we’re lucky! Nice score, Craig! 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #12 Posted July 22, 2019 Got my motion control lever rebuilt today... works like brand new. Nice to not have to mount up on the fly now. 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 62,843 #13 Posted July 22, 2019 For us Panzer green horns, how about a video show it’s motion of engagement? I found it odd at e Portage show to learn that you must shut it off to change gears on that drive belt setup. It sure would have been cool to have gear changing levers like a bicycle! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHNJ701 4,165 #14 Posted July 22, 2019 1 hour ago, pullstart said: For us Panzer green horns, how about a video show it’s motion of engagement? I found it odd at e Portage show to learn that you must shut it off to change gears on that drive belt setup. It sure would have been cool to have gear changing levers like a bicycle! the panzer has no gears, it uses step a pulley on the engine and drive shaft, for reverse there is a rubber puc on the engine pulley which rubs against the shiny part in the photo above, thus turning the drive shaft in reverse 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #15 Posted July 23, 2019 Love this shot from up under the hood...been thinking about painting the tins, whadda you think? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 67,460 #16 Posted July 24, 2019 12 minutes ago, AMC RULES said: Love this shot from up under the hood...been thinking about painting the tins, whadda you think? Not much paint left there to save patina so I'd be all for a repaint. Just take some nice careful measurement of that decal for Terry. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHNJ701 4,165 #17 Posted July 24, 2019 (edited) no harm painting it, that briggs decal is easily available. where you able to find the serial number on the tractor Edited July 24, 2019 by jabelman Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #18 Posted July 24, 2019 Is no serial # on the frame rail. Was researching online and saw where it may be able to narrow down an accurate year of production using the engine specs... Briggs model 23A, Type -702033, Serial-332009. All of the Briggs charts I saw seem to have holes in the documented info from this time period too, so who knows? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #19 Posted July 24, 2019 The Panzer site on fb talks about the differences between these early tricycle models(ie, T-100 or T-102)... simply being a matter of how they were optioned from the factory. Still trying to get a definitive answer as to what those options actually were though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
stevebo-(Moderator) 8,330 #20 Posted July 24, 2019 Been off grid for the past 11 days and just saw this. Great looking machine Craig!! Good luck with it. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #21 Posted July 24, 2019 It's a fun little tractor Steve, I'm calling my filler piece. Just curing the itch, until I gets mine...if you know what I mean. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 2,049 #22 Posted July 24, 2019 9 hours ago, AMC RULES said: The Panzer site on fb talks about the differences between these early tricycle models(ie, T-100 or T-102)... simply being a matter of how they were optioned from the factory. Still trying to get a definitive answer as to what those options actually were though. Probably stuff like 4x4, power windows and locks, AC, CD player over tape deck, etc. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,130 #23 Posted July 25, 2019 (edited) Was just looking at the fb reply I got back from the Panzer page over there... Am being informed that the T-100 denotes a series of tractors(as in T-1XX), not a specific model of production. So, I stand corrected...there is no T-100 model as I understand it. These factory tricycle models start with a T-102 as being the base model and a T-110 would be the deluxe, with 7x16 tires and a rear lift as standard equipment. A T-115 was a later production run of base model tractors, with the T-120 being the deluxe version then. Both, the 115, and 120 had a rubber isolated engine plate. The original, first year of production 3 wheeled tractor is known as the Model A, which the T-102 is based off of. It was only produced at the College Park, MD plant, and had unique features like a cast iron flywheel, and engine pulleys and a stamped serial # on the right front frame rail. The entire production run of these three wheelers only spanned a total of 5 years. My engine specs put Briggs Model 23A as being built in January of 1957... so now, it's officially been determined to actually be a '57 model T-102 Copar Panzer. Edited July 25, 2019 by AMC RULES 3 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
WHNJ701 4,165 #24 Posted July 25, 2019 does your drive shaft plate say college park or laurel md? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
