History

Versatile was the first company to mass-produce articulated four-wheel drive tractors, starting in 1966 with the D100 and G100 four-wheel drives.

Those ground-breaking tractors were primitive by modern standards, with a 6-cylinder diesel or 8-cylinder gas engine producing 100 horsepower. 1966 models sold for less than CA$10,000.

Four-wheel drive demand increased significantly, with Versatile becoming one of the leaders in four-wheel drive development and production. By the late 1970’s the Versatile lineup included tractors ranging from 220 to 330 horsepower. With the 1980’s came an expanded line of four-wheel drive tractors that stretched to 470 horsepower in the Versatile 1150.

In 1987, Versatile was acquired by Ford New Holland and by 1989 the four-wheel drive tractors assembled at the Winnipeg factory were painted in the Ford colors, blue, black and white, and carried the Ford Versatile name. Production of blue four-wheel drive tractors under the New Holland name continued until 2000.

Buhler Industries, a Canadian-owned farm equipment manufacturer, purchased the Winnipeg four-wheel drive plant from New Holland and in 2001 the Versatile name returned. Buhler Versatile continued to build the 2000 Series four-wheel drive (240 to 425 horsepower) and launched the High Horsepower Tractor Series in 2004. With 435, 485 and 535 horsepower it was the highest-horsepower four-wheel drive available in North America.

Buhler celebrated 40 Years of Versatile tractor production in 2006 and commemorated 50,000 Versatile-Built four-wheel drives in late 2007. At the same time, Combine Factory Rostselmash Ltd., a Russian combine manufacturer, purchased 80% of the common shares Buhler Industries with plans of increasing the global presence of Buhler Versatile four-wheel drive tractors. The Versatile name continues, known worldwide for reliability, durability and ease of service and maintenance.