Mwm Motorpferd
Built: 1924–1931 · Series: Other models
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MWM Motorpferd: the Motorpferd was a two-cylinder diesel tractor built from 1924 to 1931 with a 4,414 cm³ engine, 16 hp (11.77 kW) and a top speed of 12 km/h
The Motorenwerke Mannheim, known as MWM, built the Motorpferd in the 1920s as one of the early motorised draught machines, its name deliberately recalling the draught animal it was meant to replace in field work. The Motorpferd, built from 1924 to 1931, belongs to this early phase of motorising farm work.
Read on 3 more paragraphs
The two-cylinder diesel engine displaces 4,414 cm³ and produces 16 hp, or 11.77 kW, at 700 to 800 rpm, giving the Motorpferd a top speed of 12 km/h. On a 1,650 mm wheelbase it weighs 2,500 kg, measuring 3,400 mm in length and 1,630 mm in width; height is 1,810 mm at the exhaust and 2,050 mm at the canopy.
A top speed of 12 km/h roughly matches the walking pace of a team of draught horses, making clear what the Motorpferd was built for: a direct, motorised replacement for horse-drawn pulling power in field work, not a fast means of transport. Running at a low 700 to 800 rpm, the two-cylinder engine turned notably more smoothly and evenly than the single-cylinder designs common at the time.
A machine of this age is today almost exclusively a collector's piece of technical-historical interest. What matters is the completeness and original condition of the chassis, the condition of the two-cylinder drivetrain, and rust on load-bearing parts. There is no ongoing spare-parts supply left for this pre-war machine.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Motorpferd
Technical data
Engine
| Fuel | dieselcorrect |
|---|---|
| Power | 16 hp (11.77 kW)correct |
| Rated speed | 700 / 800 rpmcorrect |
| Cylinders | 2correct |
| Displacement | 4,414 cm³correct |
Dimensions and weights
| Length | 3,400 mmcorrect |
|---|---|
| Width | 1,630 mmcorrect |
| Height | 1,810 mm (to exhaust)correct |
| Wheelbase | 1,650 mmcorrect |
| Unladen weight | 2,500 kgcorrect |
Drivetrain and chassis
| Drive | rear-wheel drivecorrect |
|---|---|
| Gearbox | 2/1-Zahnradgetriebecorrect |
| Front tyres | Vollgummi ∅ 730 mmcorrect |
| Rear tyres | Vollgummi ∅ 1.000 mmcorrect |
| Top speed | 12 km/hcorrect |
Origin and approval
| Construction | frame constructioncorrect |
|---|---|
| Units built | 359correct |
Where this model stands
Power-to-weight ratio: 4.7 kW/t (12 kW / 2.5 t)
Power class: Compact (< 40 hp)
Stronger than 4% 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 Mwm Motorpferd have?
The Mwm Motorpferd delivers 16 hp.
How much does the Mwm Motorpferd weigh?
The unladen weight is 2,500 kg.
What engine does the Mwm Motorpferd have?
2 cylinders, 4,414 cm³ displacement, Diesel.
How fast does the Mwm Motorpferd go?
Top speed is 12 km/h.
What are the dimensions of the Mwm Motorpferd?
3,400 mm × 1,630 mm × 1,810 mm.
When was the Mwm Motorpferd built?
Production years: 1924–1931.
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 19 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.
