Kiefel Pionier
Built: 1946–1953 · Series: Other models
More machines from model year 1946
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Kiefel Pionier – water-cooled single-cylinder diesel with 12 hp and a weight of 1,250 kg, a small post-war utility tractor (1946–1953).
Small single-cylinder diesel tractors such as the Pionier shaped the mechanisation of many smallholder farms in central Europe in the first post-war years, where draught animals had previously done most of the work. The Pionier was built between 1946 and 1953 and belongs to this class of simple, robust small tractors.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The single-cylinder diesel engine is water-cooled and delivers 12 hp at 1,500 rpm. At a weight of 1,250 kg, a wheelbase of 1,400 mm and a width of 1,540 mm, the Pionier, at 2,650 mm long and 1,450 mm tall, is very compactly built, with a top speed of 20 km/h.
Tractors of this class were built for small arable plots, grassland and transport around the farmyard, where a simple, easily maintained single-cylinder engine mattered more than high output. The small size and low weight also allowed work on small, irregularly shaped plots, as were common in the farm structures of the time.
When buying a used Pionier, the condition of the cooling system and cylinder gasket is critical, since single-cylinder engines of this era quickly suffer damage from overheating. The clutch and gearbox should be checked for wear, and the wheel bearings and steering linkage for play after decades of use. Spare parts for this early, sparsely surviving model are today mostly only obtainable through specialist collectors and vintage-vehicle parts dealers.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Kiefel Pionier
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 12 hpcorrect |
| Power | 12 hpcorrect |
| Rated speed | 1,500 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 1correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,650 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,540 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,450 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 1,400 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 300 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,250 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | four-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 2*(3V/1R)correct |
| Front tyres | 6.50x20correct |
| Rear tyres | 6.50x20correct |
| Top speed | 20 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | frame constructioncorrect |
|---|
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 7.1 kW/t (9 kW / 1.2 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 2% 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 Kiefel Pionier have?
The Kiefel Pionier delivers 12 hp.
How much does the Kiefel Pionier weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,250 kg.
What engine does the Kiefel Pionier have?
1 cylinders, Diesel.
How fast does the Kiefel Pionier go?
Top speed is 20 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Kiefel Pionier?
2,650 mm × 1,540 mm × 1,450 mm.
When was the Kiefel Pionier built?
Production years: 1946–1953.
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 18 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: 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.
