Today is a rather sad milestone in Allis-Chalmers History. On this day back in 1985 the last Allis-Chalmers tractors rolled out of the West Allis Works. The agricultural division had been sold off to Klockner-Humboldt-Deutz (KHD) of West Germany in May of that same year. The tractor plant was not included in the deal. Essentially KHD had bought production of the 6000, 8000 and 4w305 tractors until the end of the year, a publicity stunt for loyal AC customers.
Allis-Chalmers had been hurting in the 1980s. Other divisions were sold off, shut down or consolidated. The agricultural line was what was holding them up, but then it too came crashing down hard. The sprawling West Allis Works that once employed thousands of workers was down a couple hundred. An Allis-Chalmers model 6070, serial number 1972, was the last tractor to roll off the assembly line at 10:26 a.m. that morning. Workers snapped pictures, shook hands and said good-byes. Seventy-one years of making tractors quietly came to end that December.
(Milwaukee Journal Dec. 7, 1985. Page 22)
Today the legacy of Allis-Chalmers lives on in books, magazines, memorabilia, shows, and tractors collected and restored by enthusiasts. The parent company AGCO (ALLIS-GLEANER COMPANY) is the controlling company of the Allis-Chalmers brand, although they have forsaken it just as Deutz had done. AGCO discontinued its line of AGCO tractors, painted orange, just a few years back.
** For further information pick up these great books!**
– Allis-Chalmers Farm Machinery 1914-1985 by Norm Swinford
– The Allis-Chalmers Story by C.H. Wendel
Austin M. Frederick 
Glad i got mine before they closed! Best tractor ever!!
I Was there to ship the last tractor after the plant closed
Did you work for AC or just a hired hauling service?
Did you now an engineer named Mark, Who also worked for AC farm div. That had a 427435 Corvette Stingray? Chum Duffy
Yes, I talk to him sometimes. He worked at the proving grounds!
working every day restoring the orange i believe that only now are the others just starting to catch up to ac allis chalmers was so ahead of the others i owen many ac and will keep alive
it would be so amazing that if someday somebody would start allis chalmers back up making tractors like the new john deeres but painted orange…..i think about this all the time
I’m an orphan twice: first my beloved Allis Chalmers then Pontiac. Not a day goes by that I don’t fantasize that Allis and Pontiac are still around. If they were I would buy one (of each) tomorrow.
My Dad purchased the Allis-Chalmers 6070 tractor, and while doing an oil change found inscription saying it was the last tractor off the assembly line. This tractor is used every day and is joined by about 16 other Allis-Chalmers tractors, and Gleaner equipment.
Very cool! Is that part of the collection in Northern Wisconsin?
This was my father’s tractor. Can anyone tell me the model and the year? It had a front end loader, which I know was rare from factory. I’ll see if I can post a picture of it.
The Allis Chalmers 1970 model 180 my dad bought new, Has been a great Tractor.