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Versatile (company)

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Versatile Incorporated
Company typeSubsidiary
IndustryAgricultural machinery
Founded1966
FounderPeter Pakosh, Roy Robinson
Headquarters1260 Clarence Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
ProductsTractors
ParentRostselmash
Peter Pakosh, (third from right) and Roy Robinson (second from right), unveil a new Versatile D118 at a plant expansion ceremony in 1967.

Versatile is a Canadian agricultural machinery manufacturer. The company was founded in 1966 by Peter Pakosh and Roy Robinson in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. At one time it had 70% of the 4WD tractor market.

History

Versatile was the first company to mass-produce articulated four-wheel-drive tractors, starting in 1966 with the D100 and G100 four-wheel drives. Those ground-breaking tractors were primitive by modern standards, with a 6-cylinder diesel or 8-cylinder gas engine producing 100 horsepower. 1966 models sold for less than CA$10,000.

A Versatile 856 tractor in Carrollton, Ohio

Daniel Pakosh also developed the first bi-directional tractor in the world. The Versatile 150 launched in 1977.

The Versatile brand, known historically for four-wheel drive tractors, has expanded to include front-wheel assist tractors after acquiring the rights to a few of New Hollands tractors during the CNH merger, self-propelled sprayers, precision seeding & tillage equipment, and combines. In its earlier days (1970s to 1980s), the company made iconic tractors colored red, yellow, and black. The tractors were also known for their flat, boxy appearance, and hardly any curvature as seen on modern tractors. An example of this, the Versatile 856, is to the left.

Four-wheel drive demand increased significantly, with Versatile becoming one of the leaders in four-wheel-drive development and production. By the late 1970s, the Versatile lineup included tractors ranging from 220 to 330 horsepower. With the 1980s came an expanded line of four-wheel-drive tractors that stretched to 470 horsepower in the Versatile 1150. They entered the race to build the largest tractor in the world with "Big Roy", named after one of the founders, in 1977. Roy produced 600 HP on the draw bar.

In 1987, Ford-New Holland bought Versatile. Ford New Holland quickly started assimilating the Versatile range of tractors, the decals were replaced with the Ford name and Versatile name was reduced in size and placed below the model number. Additionally, the iconic Versatile colors were replaced with the blue and white of the Ford tractors. Throughout Versatile's time under Ford-New Holland, various changes and updates were made to the line. Two of the most notable changes were the transition from the flat square sheetmetal, to a more rounded and modernized design, and the addition of a powershift transmission.

In 1991, Fiat Geotech purchased Ford New Holland to create New Holland. Then in 1999, New Holland merged with Case Corporation to create CNH Global. As part of this merger, Versatile had to be sold, as the Case Corporation had the Steiger brand since 1986. Versatile was sold to Buhler Industries Incorporated, returning the iconic red to the tractors, but replacing yellow with white.

On November 1, 2007, Combine manufacturer Rostselmash Inc. acquired 80% of the common shares of Versatile and it was announced that the Versatile brand name will again be the sole name associated with the tractor division.

In 2016, Versatile expanded its tractor range by adding the DeltaTrack system of four tracks replacement of the wheels on their Articulated tractors. In 2017 Versatile returned to its iconic color scheme of red, yellow, and black.

In August 2022, Versatile announced plans for a hydrogen powered tractor, using a 15L Cummins engine.[1]

Models

4 Wheel Drives (Articulated)

Model Gross HP Rating Year(s) Manufactured Engine Make and Displacement
D100 100 HP 1966 Ford 5.9L - 6 Cylinder
G100 100 HP 1966 Chrysler 5.2L - 8 Cylinder Gasoline
118 118 HP 1967-1971 Cummins 5.8L - 6 Cylinder
125 125 HP 1967-1968 Ford 6.4L - 8 Cylinder Gasoline
145 145 HP 1967-1971 Cummins 7.7L - 8 Cylinder
700 210 HP 1972-1977 Cummins 9.1L - 8 Cylinder
750 220 HP 1976-1977 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
756 190 HP 1986 Cummins 8.3L - 6 Cylinder
900 300 HP 1972-1977 Cummins 14.8L - 8 Cylinder
300 155 HP 1973 Cummins 6.2L - 6 Cylinder
800 235 HP 1973-1977 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
825 250 HP 1977 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
846 230 HP 1988-1993 Cummins 10.0L 6-cyl diesel
850 250 HP 1973-1977 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
500 192 HP 1977-1979 Cummins 8.3L - 8 Cylinder
950 350 HP 1977-1982 Cummins 14.8L - 8 Cylinder
1080 (BIg Roy) 600 HP 1977 Cummins 18.8L - 6 Cylinder
835 230 HP 1978-1984 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
855 250 HP 1978-1983 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
875 280 HP 1978-1984 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
555 210 HP 1979-1984 Cummins 9.1L - 8 Cylinder
895 310 HP 1980-1984 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
1150 470 HP 1981-1985 Cummins 18.8L - 6 Cylinder
1156 470 HP 1986-1991 Cummins 18.8L - 6 Cylinder
945 335 HP 1983-1984 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
946 325 HP 1987-1993 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
955 350 HP 1983-1984 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
975 360 HP 1983-1984 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
836 210 HP 1985-1986 Cummins 10.0L 6-cyl diesel
856 240 HP 1985 Cummins 10.0L 6-cyl diesel
876 280 HP 1985-1993 Cummins 10.0L 6-cyl diesel
936 310 HP 1985-1988 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
956 335 HP 1985 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder
976 360 HP 1985-1993 Cummins 14.0L - 6 Cylinder

Bi-Directional Tractors

Model Gross HP Rating Year(s) Manufactured Engine Make and Displacement
160 84 HP 1982-1983 Waukesha 3.6L - 4 Cylinder
150 71 HP 1977-1981 Perkins 3.9L - 4 Cylinder
256 101 HP 1984-1985 Cummins 3.9L - 4 Cylinder
276 117 HP 1985-1990 Cummins 3.9L - 4 Cylinder
9030 116 HP 1990-1997 Ford 4.4L - 4 Cylinder

MFWD Tractors

Model Gross HP Rating Year(s) Manufactured Engine Make and Displacement
2145 195 HP 2000-2008 Ford 7.5L - 6 Cylinder
2160 225 HP 2000-2008 Ford 7.5L - 6 Cylinder
2180 260 HP 2000-2008 Ford 7.5L - 6 Cylinder
2210 275 HP 2000-2008 Ford 7.5L - 6 Cylinder
190 190 HP 2010-2014 Cummins 6.7L - 6 Cylinder
220 220 HP 2010-2014 Cummins 6.7L - 6 Cylinder
250 250 HP 2009-2014 Cummins 8.3L - 6 Cylinder
280 280 HP 2009-2014 Cummins 8.3L - 6 Cylinder
305 305 HP 2012-2014 Cummins 8.3L - 6 Cylinder
260 260 HP 2014-2017 Cummins 8.9L - 6 Cylinder
290 290 HP 2014-2017 Cummins 8.9L - 6 Cylinder
310 310 HP 2014-2017 Cummins 8.9L - 6 Cylinder
265 265 HP 2018-Present Cummins 8.9L - 6 Cylinder
295 295 HP 2018-Present Cummins 8.9L - 6 Cylinder
315 315 HP 2018-Present Cummins 8.9L - 6 Cylinder
175 Nemesis 175 HP 2020-Present Cummins 6.7L - 6 Cylinder
195 Nemesis 195 HP 2020-Present Cummins 6.7L - 6 Cylinder
210 Nemesis 210 HP 2020-Present Cummins 6.7L - 6 Cylinder

References

  1. ^ "Cummins and Versatile partner to bring 15L hydrogen engines to ag market". Green Car Congress. Retrieved 2022-09-02.
  • Versatile Tractors (A Farmer Boy's Dream), by Jarrod Pakosh, published by Japonica Press, ISBN 1-55046-416-7
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