IMT 579
Series: 500 er-Serie
IMT 500 series – the Yugoslav standard tractor from Belgrade under Massey Ferguson licence: 528 to 589, De Luxe and DV, IMR engines, 21 to 57 kW
IMT – Industrija Mašina i Traktora – was Yugoslavia's tractor maker: founded in 1947 in Belgrade, the plant built Massey Ferguson tractors under licence from 1955 and developed its own ranges from them, built into the 2010s and still shaping the fleet in Serbia, Bosnia, Croatia and North Macedonia today; exports went to the Eastern Bloc, India and Africa. The 500 series is the mid-range: the 533 and 539 correspond to the MF 35 and 135, the 558 to 569 to the MF 100 range, the 577 to 589 to the larger four-cylinders. The number rises with output, De Luxe marks the version with cab and better equipment, DV stands for dvostruka vuča, four-wheel drive, DV-E for its upgrade. The engines come from the Belgrade sister works IMR (Industrija Motora Rakovica), which built Perkins engines under licence – two-, three- and four-cylinders.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 17 versions with 20.6 to 57.4 kW (39 to 78 hp), 1,667 to 4,067 cm³ with two to four cylinders, torque from 144 to 282 Nm, unladen weights from 1,440 to 3,815 kg, lengths from 2,972 to 4,235 mm, widths from 1,625 to 2,040 mm and heights from 1,372 to 2,615 mm – all diesel.
The Massey Ferguson kinship is the key to understanding: gearbox, hydraulics and many parts are interchangeable with the MF originals, which keeps the IMT repairable to this day.
Used IMT tractors are ubiquitous and cheap in the Western Balkans; when buying, engine condition, gearbox, the Ferguson-system hydraulics and the front axle on DV models count; parts come from Serbia and through MF remanufacturers.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: IMT 500er-Serie, IMT (Industrija Mašina i Traktora) (Wikipedia)
Technical data
Engine
| Engine make | IMRcorrect |
|---|---|
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
| Power | 70 hp (51.5 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 2,000 rpmcorrect |
| Torque | 282 Nmcorrect |
| Speed at max. torque | 1,295 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 4correct |
| Displacement | 4,067 cm³correct |
| Bore | 100.96 mmcorrect |
| Stroke | 127 mmcorrect |
| Compression ratio | 16.1correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 4,235 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 2,040 mmcorrect |
| Height | 2,470 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 2,225 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 434 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 3,725 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | four-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 6 V/2 Rcorrect |
| Front tyres | 9.5-24 AScorrect |
| Rear tyres | 15-30 AScorrect |
| Top speed | 30 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Plant | Yugoslaviacorrect |
|---|---|
| Construction | unit construction (no separate frame)correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 13.8 kW/t (52 kW / 3.7 t)
Power class: Universal (40–100 hp)
Stronger than 48% 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 IMT 579 have?
The IMT 579 delivers 70 hp.
How much does the IMT 579 weigh?
The unladen weight is 3,725 kg.
What engine does the IMT 579 have?
4 cylinders, 4,067 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the IMT 579 go?
Top speed is 30 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the IMT 579?
4,235 mm × 2,040 mm × 2,470 mm.
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.
We do not sell machines. We ask the dealers who carry this model and come back with price and lead time.
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This page carries 28 individual figures for this model. They come from 3 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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Other models in this series
Sources: Wikibooks Traktorenlexikon (CC BY-SA 4.0) (retrieved August 2026) · Tractor & Construction Plant Wiki (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.
