International Harvester HT-340 Prototype, built by Solar Aircraft incorporating a turbine engine geared down to run a hyd pump to run the motors on each rear wheel.

In late 1959, Solar Aircraft Company lost several key military contracts for their turbine engines and so decided to court an investor. The one that best suited their fancy was IHC—and the relationship was mutual. The IHC leadership team was smitten with the idea of buying Solar Aircraft Company and developing turbine engines for their trucks, tractors, and construction equipment.

The engine ran at 57,000 rpm and produced 85 horsepower, and the engine and gear reduction weighed only 90 pounds.

The tractor was first shown to the public in July 1961 at the University of Nebraska’s Tenth Annual Tractor Day.

http://www.agrinews.co.il/2013/06/03/%D7%A8%D7%92%D7%A2-%D7%A9%D7%9C-%D7%94%D7%99%D7%A1%D7%98%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%99%D7%94-%D7%98%D7%A8%D7%A7%D7%98%D7%95%D7%A8-%D7%A1%D7%99%D7%9C%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%99/

In July 1962, the original HT-340 prototype was retrofitted with new features and a new red and white paint scheme. The red model was called the HT-341, and it was used mainly for demonstrations around the country.

The experimental tractor was donated to the Smithsonian in 1967 and still occasionally travels to shows around the country.

https://www.mecum.com/lots/GN1119-394597/international-turbine-tractor/
https://www.redpowermagazine.com/forums/topic/75644-the-ht-340-341-concept-tractor/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/foundin_a_attic/26281880398


Solar Aircraft was a vital defense company during WWII working around the clock to manufacture more than 300,000 exhaust manifolds for U.S. airplanes. The company was later renamed Solar Turbines and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Caterpillar, Inc