Jalandhar: A rusted tractor lying abandoned near Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk in Jalandhar has taken the internet by storm after it was sold for ₹1.25 crore. The machine turned out to be a rare vintage Lanz Bulldog tractor — a prized symbol of early German agricultural engineering.
The Lanz Bulldog is regarded as one of the oldest mass-produced tractors in the world. It was first manufactured in 1921 by Heinrich Lanz AG in Mannheim, Germany, and is considered an iconic piece of mechanised farming history.
From scrap to collector’s item
The tractor, reportedly lying in a dilapidated condition for years near a rundown building in the city, had rusted significantly. Local councillor Puneet Vadera said the machine had been lying there for decades and had largely gone unnoticed until recently.
According to Vadera, the original owner had moved to the United States around 40 years ago. A Mumbai-based firm initially contacted a neighbour with an offer of ₹2 lakh, which reportedly increased to ₹28 lakh within a day as interest grew.
On February 17, a video call was arranged with the US-based owners to showcase the tractor’s condition. Eventually, the owners agreed to sell the vintage machine for ₹1.25 crore.
Viral buzz
Though the tractor has now been transported from the site, residents continue to visit the location where it once stood. Videos shared by Vadera about the tractor’s discovery and sale have gone viral on social media, sparking widespread curiosity about vintage machinery and hidden treasures lying unnoticed.
The episode highlights the growing global demand for rare, historically significant agricultural equipment among collectors and restoration enthusiasts.
