MAN 2L1
Built: 1957–1958 · Series: L
More machines from model year 1957
MAN 2L and 4L (1950s) – the small Ackerdiesels from Nuremberg: 2L for rear-wheel, 4L for four-wheel drive, the digit as upgrade, two-cylinder diesels of 1.7 to 1.85 litres and 24 to 25 hp, 18 kW, 1.3 to 1.7 t
MAN built tractors in Nuremberg from 1921 to 1962 – Ackerdiesel, as the group called them – and the L range was the smallest model of the post-war programme: a two-cylinder of about 25 hp for the small and medium farms that could not afford the big MAN four-cylinders. The type logic: 2L marks the rear-wheel-drive version, 4L the four-wheel-drive version – MAN's speciality, for with the Ackerdiesel AS 325 of 1937 the group was among the first makers of four-wheel-drive tractors and offered four-wheel drive in the smallest class too – the digit at the end (2L1 to 2L5, 4L1 and 4L2) the upgrade from 1953 to the end of the 1950s. The engine is MAN's own two-cylinder diesel of 1.66 to 1.85 litres at 1,800 rpm with the MAN spherical-chamber process, water-cooled and, like all MAN engines, known for fuel economy and smooth running.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The register lists 7 versions with 17.6 to 18.3 kW from two-cylinders of 1,664 to 1,850 cm³, unladen weights from 1,300 to 1,665 kg, lengths from 2,820 to 3,145 mm, widths from 1,445 to 1,535 mm and heights from 1,550 to 1,730 mm.
MAN gave up tractor building in 1962 in favour of the truck business after about 40,000 Ackerdiesels had been built; the 4L four-wheel-drive models are today the most sought-after MAN collectors' pieces.
On used tractors, originality, engine condition (MAN parts are rare, the scene reproduces them), four-wheel drive and front axle on 4L models, clutch, gearbox and sheet metal count; parts run through MAN Ackerdiesel specialists and clubs.
Sources: SpecCodex register, model data: MAN 2L und 4L, MAN Ackerdiesel (Wikipedia)
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 24 hp (17.6 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 1,800 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 2correct |
| Displacement | 1,842 cm³correct |
| Cooling | water-cooledcorrect |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 2,986 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,470 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,560 mmcorrect |
| Wheelbase | 2,036 mmcorrect |
| Ground clearance | 495 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 1,380 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 6/1-Getriebecorrect |
| Forward gears | 6correct |
| Reverse gears | 1correct |
| Front tyres | 5.00-16 ASFcorrect |
| Rear tyres | 8-32 AScorrect |
| Top speed | 20 km/hcorrect |
Working data
| Fuel tank capacity | 26 lcorrect |
|---|
Origin and approval
| Construction | frameless unit constructioncorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | 1,200correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 12.8 kW/t (18 kW / 1.4 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 10% 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 MAN 2L1 have?
The MAN 2L1 delivers 24 hp.
How much does the MAN 2L1 weigh?
The unladen weight is 1,380 kg.
What engine does the MAN 2L1 have?
2 cylinders, 1,842 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the MAN 2L1 go?
Top speed is 20 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the MAN 2L1?
2,986 mm × 1,470 mm × 1,560 mm.
When was the MAN 2L1 built?
Production years: 1957–1958.
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 24 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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