Caterpillar Challenger MT735
Built: 2001 · Series: Challenger
More machines from model year 2001
Not the right version? The data comes from vehicle registers holding many near-identical versions side by side. Photograph the data plate — we read make and type from it. Open the scanner e-mail address required
Caterpillar Challenger – tracked tractors from Peoria: the range from 1987 to the 2002 handover to AGCO, outputs from 138 to 236 kW and engines from the 3126 and C-9 families
Caterpillar developed the Challenger range at its Peoria, Illinois plant as the first series-produced farm tractor with rubber-track running gear. Production began in 1987 and was handed over to AGCO in 2002, which has continued the Challenger brand for large tractors ever since. The register groups both the classic tracked models and later versions of the range under this slug.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 7 versions with 138 to 236 kW rated output at 1,000 to 2,100 rpm. The six-cylinder engines come from the Caterpillar range with the type designations 3126 and C-9 and produce between 7,200 and 10,466 cm³ displacement. Operating weights range from 9,977 to 15,000 kg, lengths from 5,360 to 6,000 mm.
With its track running gear, the Challenger occupied its own market niche between classic wheeled tractors and bulldozers: the large footprint lowers ground pressure and allows fieldwork even on wet soils where wheeled tractors would sink in. Competition came chiefly from John Deere with its own tracked-tractor range.
When buying used, the wear condition of the track belt, rollers and drive wheels ranks among the most expensive checks, along with the tightness of the tensioning gear. On engines from the 3126 and C-9 families, it is worth checking the injection pump, turbocharger and cooling system; spare parts run through either the Caterpillar or the AGCO network depending on the build year.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Caterpillar Challenger
Technical data
Engine
| Engine make | Caterpillarcorrect |
|---|---|
| Engine model | C-9correct |
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
| Power | 185 hp (138 kW)correct |
| Cylinders | 6correct |
| Displacement | 538 cu incorrect |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Turning circle | 0correct |
|---|
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | tracked undercarriagecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | powershift transmission with power shuttlecorrect |
Origin and approval
| Plant | USAcorrect |
|---|
Other data
| Successor | Challenger MT735correct |
|---|
More machines with this engine (Caterpillar C-9, 10)
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Caterpillar Challenger MT735 have?
The Caterpillar Challenger MT735 delivers 185 hp.
What engine does the Caterpillar Challenger MT735 have?
6 cylinders, Diesel.
When was the Caterpillar Challenger MT735 built?
Production years: 2001.
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 15 individual figures for this model. They come from 1 recorded source; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Sources: Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
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