Jalandhar, Feb 23: A century-old piece of German engineering that sat abandoned for decades in a Jalandhar market has been sold to a United States-based buyer for Rs 1.25 crore. The 1921 Lanz Bulldog HL 12, once regarded as mere scrap at Shaheed Bhagat Singh Chowk, became an international internet sensation before its high-value acquisition.
The tractor is a primary example of early mechanization produced by Heinrich Lanz AG in Mannheim, Germany. Known for its “hot-bulb” engine, the Bulldog series is a prized collectible among vintage agricultural enthusiasts worldwide due to its ability to run on various crude fuels.
Councillor Puneet Vadhera, a neighbor of the property where the machine stood, declared that the tractor had been a fixture of the neighborhood for over forty years. He asserted that the owners of the house and the machine moved to the U.S. decades ago, leaving the rusted but sturdy vehicle behind.
“We have all grown up watching it lay there for ages,” Vadhera stated. He maintained that the sudden interest began roughly two months ago after a social media influencer posted a video of the machine. “There was a barrage of calls even to us. We have heard the tractor originally belonged to the British but was won over by Punjab farmers,” he affirmed.
The sale was finalized on February 17 following a video call between representatives on-site and the buyers. On the morning of February 18, the tractor was lifted by crane and transported to a Mumbai port for its journey to California.
While the exact identity of the purchaser remains undisclosed, the region is home to major agricultural heritage collections. Experts noted that the Lanz Bulldog is considered a “blue chip” collectible, representing the world’s first successful crude-oil-burning tractor design.
