Holder E 3
Built: 1956 to approx. 1969 · Series: E-Reihe
More machines from model year 1956
Holder E series – the single-axle tractors from Metzingen: E 3 to E 14, the number as hp class, B, F and D for petrol, bought-in engine and diesel, single-cylinder two-strokes and small diesels of 75 to 600 cm³
Holder of Metzingen at the foot of the Swabian Alb has been at home in crop protection since 1888 and from the 1930s built single-axle tractors for vineyards, vegetable growing and smallholdings – the E series is that programme: E stands for the single-axle tractor (Einachser), the number orders the size by hp class in ascending order, from the E 3 with three hp to the E 14; the letters on the E 8 mark the engine, B for petrol, F for the bought-in engine (Fremdmotor) and D for the diesel, and E9D is the diesel version of the E 9. The engines are single-cylinders: two-stroke petrol engines running on 1:25 mixture in the small types, small diesels in the larger ones, with displacements of 75 to 600 cm³ and rated speeds up to 4,500 rpm – the two-strokes rev high, the diesels run slowly. The single-axle tractor carries a rotary tiller, plough, cutter bar, sprayer or trailer and is guided by handlebars; until the 1960s it was the vintner's and gardener's tractor before the articulated four-wheel tractors of the Holder A series replaced it.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 9 versions with 1.9 to 9 kW from single-cylinders of 75 to 600 cm³; widths of the small types are 415 mm, heights between 730 and 1,030 mm.
Holder single-axle tractors are collectors' pieces today and in steep-slope viticulture partly still in use because they fit into rows no four-wheel tractor can enter.
On used machines, compression and ignition of the two-strokes, clutch and gearbox, the condition of handlebars and implements and parts supply, which for the engines runs through vintage specialists, are what count.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: Holder E-Reihe, Max Holder GmbH (manufacturer)
Technical data
Engine
| Power | 2.5 hp (1.9 kW)correct |
|---|---|
| Rated speed | 4,500 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 1correct |
| Displacement | 76 cm³correct |
| Cooling | air-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Width | 1,500 mmcorrect |
|---|
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | Hackecorrect |
|---|---|
| Top speed | 2 km/hcorrect |
Frequently asked questions
How much power does the Holder E 3 have?
The Holder E 3 delivers 1.9 kW.
What engine does the Holder E 3 have?
1 cylinders, 76 cm³ displacement.
When was the Holder E 3 built?
Production years: 1956–196?.
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.
- 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.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
Request a quote →
We ask the suppliers and come back with price and lead time.
Request spare parts →
This page carries 9 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.
Missing a figure you were looking for? Report it →
Know this machine better? Have a photo, a manual, or know that a figure is wrong? Add it to the register →
Other models in this series
Sources: Wikibooks Traktorenlexikon (CC BY-SA 4.0) (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
