Holder A21 S
Built: 1961–1966 · Series: A
More machines from model year 1961
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Holder A series – the articulated tractors from Metzingen for vineyard and orchard: A 8 to A 50, the number as hp class, Cultitrac as the smallest tractor, S as upgrade, B, F and D for petrol, bought-in engine and diesel
The A series made Holder of Metzingen the inventor of the articulated narrow-track tractor: at the end of the 1950s the company presented with the A 12 Cultitrac a tractor that steers with four equal wheels, four-wheel drive and a pivot in the middle – narrow enough for the vineyard row, agile enough for the orchard, and with the articulation principle that keeps all wheels in the same track. The type logic: A marks the range, the number the hp class – A 8 about 8 hp, A 12 12 hp, A 20 20 hp, A 45 about 45 hp, A 50 50 hp – Cultitrac the smallest models, S an upgrade, and on the A 8 the letters B, F and D distinguish the petrol engine, the bought-in engine and the diesel. The engines are a single-cylinder two-stroke in the smallest, one- to three-cylinder diesels in the other models of 0.4 to 2.4 litres at rated speeds of 1,800 to 3,000 rpm.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 8 versions with 5.9 to 37 kW from engines of 372 to 2,356 cm³, unladen weights from 635 to 1,560 kg, lengths from 1,950 to 3,200 mm, widths from 700 to 1,190 mm and heights from 1,010 to 2,015 mm.
The Holder articulated tractor became the standard of German steep-slope viticulture on the Moselle, Rhine and Neckar and shaped a whole class that Fendt, Antonio Carraro and Holder itself serve today; the A series ran into the 1980s.
On used tractors, play in the articulation joint and steering cylinders, the condition of engine, clutch and gearbox, PTO and hydraulics for sprayer and mulcher and parts supply, which runs through Holder and vintage specialists, are what count.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Holder A, Max Holder GmbH (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 20 hp (15 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 3,000 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 2correct |
| Displacement | 1,005 cm³correct |
| Cooling | air-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,550 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 835 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,050 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,300 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 235 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,050 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | four-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 8/4correct |
| Front tyres | 7.00x18correct |
| Rear tyres | 7.00x18correct |
| Top speed | 18 km/hcorrect |
Working data
| Fuel tank capacity | 20 lcorrect |
|---|
Origin and approval
| Construction | unit construction (no separate frame)correct |
|---|
Other data
| Linkage category | Cat Icorrect |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 14.3 kW/t (15 kW / 1.1 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 7% of the tractors in the register — out of 15,663 models with a stated power figure.
Calculated from the documented figures above — not a rating.
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Holder A21 S have?
The Holder A21 S delivers 20 hp.
How much does the Holder A21 S weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,050 kg.
What engine does the Holder A21 S have?
2 cylinders, 1,005 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Holder A21 S go?
Top speed is 18 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Holder A21 S?
2,550 mm × 835 mm × 1,050 mm.
When was the Holder A21 S built?
Production years: 1961–1966.
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.
- Check the weights in the papers against the figures here — attachments change them.
- Check front and rear tyre sizes: mismatched pairs strain the drivetrain.
- 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 22 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; 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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