Eric Minoff
Vice President, Head of Department - US
LOT 116
1938 Minneapolis-Moline UDLX Comfortractor Serial. 310506
Sold for US$100,800 inc. premiumLot to be sold without reserve
Lot 116
1938 Minneapolis-Moline UDLX Comfortractor
The Audrain Auction|3 October 2025, 16:00 EDT|Newport, Rhode Island, International Tennis Hall of Fame
1938 Minneapolis-Moline UDLX Comfortractor
Serial. 310506
Serial. 310506
283ci Inline OHV Gasoline 4-Cylinder Engine
Single Schebler Updraft Carburetor
46bhp
5-Speed Synchronized Manual Transmission
Solid Front and Rear Axle
Rear-Wheel Mechanical Drum Brakes
*A rare and top of the line tractor
*Cost as much as a new Cadillac—$2,155—in 1938
*One of only about 150 built
*Beautifully restored
THE MINNEAPOLIS-MOLINE UDLX
The 1938 Minneapolis-Moline UDLX Comfortractor was a groundbreaking innovation in agricultural machinery, blending the utility of a tractor with the comfort and style of an automobile. Nicknamed the "Comfortractor," it was designed to appeal to farmers who wanted a machine that could work the fields and drive into town. Featuring a fully enclosed cab with automotive-style amenities—such as a heater, radio, upholstered seats, and even a cigarette lighter—the UDLX was decades ahead of its time.
Powered by a 283-cubic inch, 4-cylinder engine, the UDLX delivered reliable performance both on the farm and on the road, capable of reaching speeds up to 40mph. Its streamlined Art Deco design, chrome accents, and bold yellow paint made it visually striking and highly collectible today. Despite its innovation, the UDLX was commercially unsuccessful due to its high price—$2,155 in 1938, nearly equivalent to a new Cadillac Series 60S Sedan—and the economic realities of the Great Depression, with only around 150 units produced in three years of production. Today, it stands as a rare and iconic symbol of agricultural ingenuity.
THE TRACTOR OFFERED
Of the roughly 150 UDLX Comfortractors built, an astonishing 80 survive but only bout 25 are restored or in roadworthy condition. This lucky tractor, appropriately finished in Prairie Gold, was the recipient of a meticulous restoration that brought it to a level more appropriate for a Concours field than a farm field. Fitted with many hard-to-find details including a correct radio and heater, it is reported that the pistons, ring, connecting rods, spotlight, and tires were all replaced in 2022.
The early history of the tractor is not documented. A picture of s/n 310506 in the early 1980s shows it in unrestored but largely complete condition sitting in a field in Richey, Montana while in the ownership of Marvin Gross. Next heading to the collection Bruce Aldo, it was still unrestored when it was acquired by Robert Lyons of Portland, Indiana in 1994. Mr. Lyons undertook the restoration of the tractor, bringing it to the fine shape it is in today and retaining it in his collection for nearly a quarter of a century. The current owner acquired the tractor in June of 2023.
As a piece of 1930s design, quirky agricultural history, or a comfortable and stylish way to tend to a field, there are few machines as unique and special as a UDLX Comfortractor.
Footnotes
Sold on a Bill of Sale
Additional information
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