Some of the best machines you can buy aren't made any more. This is the section for classic rotavators and two-wheel tractors — what they are, why people still want them, and how to buy one used without inheriting someone else's problem.
Older machines were often built to be repaired rather than replaced. Heavy cast gearboxes, simple engines and a culture of maintenance mean a 40-year-old machine can still earn its keep. For many growers the appeal is also practical: heritage machines hold their value, and a good one bought sensibly costs less than a new mid-range tiller.
The trade-off is condition and parts. Buy on the machine in front of you, not the badge: a tired example of a famous model is worse value than a well-kept lesser one. Use the checklist in the FAQ below, and read the brand pages for parts notes before you travel to see anything.
Howard is the UK's heritage anchor — the Gem, 350, 700 and Bantam. Start with the Howard brand guide.
35 classic and discontinued machines, oldest first.
Iconic British two-wheel motor scythe (1933-73), Villiers 2-stroke, 2-4 ft finger-bar for mowing - NOT a tiller (tineType is nominal; it cuts with a reciprocating bar). Engine/cutting width verified; weight approximate. Used-only.
From £150–£600
American heritage walk-behind tractor (two-wheel Model L, 1936-66): all-gear drive, Gravely-built engine rated 6.6-7.6 hp, ~30 in (76 cm) rotary attachments. A cult restorer machine. Specs from collector sources; used prices vary widely.
From £500–£1,800
A post-war German heritage single-axle machine (Einachser). Gutbrod — Standard Fahrzeugfabrik of Ludwigsburg/Plochingen — added motor hoes to its range in 1949, and the Terra was sold as a Motorhacke and Balkenmäher carrier running a Gutbrod two-stroke (the T110 about 4 PS, the T150 about 7 PS). Working width depends on the implement fitted, so it is not a fixed-width rotavator. Gutbrod has been MTD-owned since 1996. Engine variants from heritage/parts sources; weight is class-typical and width implement-dependent, so specs are flagged.
From £200–£900
A Swiss Einachser icon. Rapid's single-axle Type "S" Spezial (1950-78) was one of the first truly multi-functional walking tractors — mowing, tillage and, with a PTO-driven trailer, transport — and it mechanised a great deal of Alpine agriculture. Most ran a MAG four-stroke (around 9-14 PS depending on variant), with later Briggs & Stratton Vanguard options. It's a mower/carrier rather than a fixed-width rotavator (tineType is nominal). Rapid Technic still builds modern two-wheel tractors. Engine and years from Rapid's history and listings; power varies by variant and weight is class-typical, so specs are flagged.
From £400–£2,000
A Swiss heritage single-axle tractor (Einachser) from Bucher-Guyer of Niederweningen. The K3 (mid-1950s) ran a MAG four-stroke and worked as a bar-mower and implement carrier rather than a rotary tiller (tineType is nominal). Bucher built around 5,000 walking tractors from 1953-73 and has a strong Alpine collector following. Engine type and year from heritage sources; weight is class-typical and working width is implement-dependent, so specs are flagged.
From £400–£1,500
The UK's most-searched heritage rotavator. Anchor of the /heritage/ section.
From £600–£1,800
Wolseley Webb-built heritage front-tine tiller: 5 hp Briggs & Stratton, adjustable handles, the workhorse of UK allotments for decades. Engine verified via heritage sources; width/weight approximate. Used-only, parts still available.
From £200–£700
The standard Merry Tiller: 4 hp Briggs & Stratton, 171cc, front-tine cultivation. The common used heritage tiller across UK allotments. Engine verified via heritage sources; width/weight approximate. Used-only.
From £150–£500
The PE-14 is one of the early two-wheel motokultivatori from Tomo Vinković of Bjelovar, Croatia, built under Italian Pasquali licence from 1966 (before the firm's well-known articulated four-wheel tractors). Period sources record a ~14 hp single-cylinder engine; the Pasquali licence and 1966 start are documented, but the exact engine make and fuel type are not confirmed (diesel is inferred from the Pasquali lineage) and working width/weight are configuration-dependent — specs are flagged.
From £200–£800
The rear-tine tiller that built Troy-Bilt's name. The Horse has run since the Garden Way era (1970s) and the nameplate still sells in the US today; recent models pair a 306cc Briggs & Stratton OHV engine with a 20 in (51 cm) tilling width, 7 in depth and a counter-rotating cast-iron transmission, around 361 lb (164 kg). In the UK it's a used/import heritage buy. Recent width/weight/engine verified via Troy-Bilt/dealer listings; classic examples vary by engine and year, so specs are flagged.
From £600–£2,200
The heavy-duty Merry Tiller. Built by Wolseley Webb in Birmingham, the Titan looked like the Major but shared few parts: an all-roller-bearing chaincase with three sets of chains, a stronger hitch casting, a different chassis and a 5 hp engine with twin belt pulleys for speed changes. The toughest of the front-tine Merry Tiller range. Engine and configuration from heritage sources; width/weight approximate. Used-only.
From £200–£750
The IMT 506 is the archetypal Yugoslav-era walking cultivator, built at IMT's Knjaževac motokultivator factory under licence from Germany's Agria (it corresponds to the Agria 6000). It runs an IMT 66/2 two-stroke petrol engine of 4.5 kW (~6 hp) with three forward gears. Engine type and power are well-documented in period manuals; working width and weight are implement- and configuration-dependent, so they are left unstated, and the introduction year is approximate — specs are flagged.
From £150–£600
The Horse's smaller stablemate: a 250cc 7 hp Briggs & Stratton rear-tine tiller with a 16 in (40 cm) width and a cast-iron gear case, the right size for established beds rather than breaking new ground. A long-running, still-sold nameplate that's a common used heritage buy. Engine and 40 cm width verified via Troy-Bilt/dealer listings; weight is approximate and varies by year.
From £450–£1,500
The Agria 2400 is a classic German single-axle tractor (Einachser) from the mid-20th century, built as a carrier for tillers, mowers, ploughs and sweepers. Period machines ran an air-cooled two-stroke engine (Hirth, JLO/MAG or NSU) through a 3-speed gearbox with a PTO, with about a 40 cm working width on 4.00x8 wheels. A heritage collector machine on the used market (Agria still builds modern Einachser). Engine type, 3 speeds and 40 cm width verified via Agria archives/listings; weight and used price are class-typical.
From £600–£2,000
A classic Staub heavy motoculteur, hugely popular in France and still widely run on the used market. Reversible, takes tillers, ploughs, ridgers and trailers; original Bernard/MAG engines are now commonly replaced with Briggs & Stratton Vanguard units, for which parts remain available. Model line and engine lineage verified via Staub parts specialists; power, working width and weight are class-typical heritage estimates pending verification. Period engine, displacement and gearbox per the mototracteurs.com Staub register; the factory horsepower is not documented there, and the 9 to 14 hp figures seen on used listings refer to modern repower engines, so no power figure is quoted.
From £400–£1,200
The smaller sibling in Staub's classic motoculteur range, lighter than the 8000 but built to the same reversible, implement-driving pattern that made Staub a French institution. Found across the French used market with good parts support. Model line verified via Staub parts specialists; power, working width and weight are class-typical heritage estimates pending verification. Period engine, displacement and gearbox per the mototracteurs.com Staub register; the factory horsepower is not documented there, and the 9 to 14 hp figures seen on used listings refer to modern repower engines, so no power figure is quoted.
From £300–£900
One of Staub's iconic PPX-series motoculteurs, a heavy reversible machine prized by French smallholders and now a used-market classic. Originally Bernard-engined, very commonly converted to Briggs & Stratton Vanguard with parts still supplied by Staub specialists. Model line and engine lineage verified via Staub parts specialists; power, working width and weight are class-typical heritage estimates pending verification. Period rating of 5 ch (Bernard 239, sold November 1963 to February 1978) per the mototracteurs.com Staub register; the 12 to 14 hp figures seen on used listings are modern Vanguard repowers, not the factory engine.
From £400–£1,100
Bouyer's landmark 1960 convertible: from a single cell the same machine becomes a motoculteur, a motobineuse or a motofraise, with the tools mounted to the front for visibility in the Bouyer tradition. Bernard-engined and now a sought-after French used-market classic. Model, convertible design and engine lineage verified via Bouyer histories; power, working width and weight are class-typical heritage estimates pending verification.
From £250–£800
A development of Bouyer's convertible transformable line, the 334 carries on the 333's idea of one cell serving as motoculteur, motobineuse or motofraise. A common sight in French restoration circles with active owner communities. Model and transformable design verified via Bouyer enthusiast records; power, working width and weight are class-typical heritage estimates pending verification.
From £250–£800
A larger Bouyer motoculteur in the firm's later range, heavier and more powerful than the convertible 333/334 and built to drive a full set of implements. Kept alive today by French collectors and parts specialists. Model verified via Bouyer enthusiast records; power, working width and weight are class-typical heritage estimates pending verification.
From £300–£900
A heavy classic in Staub's PP2X series, the S7 is a powerful reversible motoculteur prized by French smallholders and now a used-market workhorse. Originally Bernard-engined and very commonly converted to a Briggs & Stratton Vanguard, with parts still supplied by Staub specialists. Model line and engine lineage verified via Staub parts specialists; power, working width and weight are class-typical heritage estimates pending verification. Period engine, displacement and gearbox per the mototracteurs.com Staub register; the factory horsepower is not documented there, and the 9 to 14 hp figures seen on used listings refer to modern repower engines, so no power figure is quoted.
From £450–£1,300
Near the top of Staub's classic motoculteur range, the 9000 is among the heaviest and most powerful, built for sustained work with a full implement set. A sought-after machine on the French used market with good parts support. Model line verified via Staub parts specialists; engine type, power, working width and weight are class-typical heritage estimates pending verification. Period engine, displacement and gearbox per the mototracteurs.com Staub register; the factory horsepower is not documented there, and the 9 to 14 hp figures seen on used listings refer to modern repower engines, so no power figure is quoted.
From £450–£1,300
A later Bouyer motoculteur in the firm's heavier line, built to drive a full set of implements in the front-tool Bouyer tradition. Actively restored and discussed in French enthusiast communities, with Bernard-engine parts findable. Model verified via Bouyer enthusiast records; power, working width and weight are class-typical heritage estimates pending verification.
From £300–£900
The flagship of Staub's classic motoculteur range, the 9500 is the heaviest and most powerful, built for full-time work driving a complete implement set. A prized find on the French used market with good parts support. Model line verified via Staub parts specialists; engine type, power, working width and weight are class-typical heritage estimates pending verification. Period engine, displacement and gearbox per the mototracteurs.com Staub register; the factory horsepower is not documented there, and the 9 to 14 hp figures seen on used listings refer to modern repower engines, so no power figure is quoted.
From £500–£1,400
One of Bouyer's 1950s transformable single-wheel motoculteurs, an early expression of the convertible idea that the firm perfected with the later 333. Lighter and simpler, with the tools mounted forward in the Bouyer style. A collector's heritage machine. Model and transformable single-wheel design verified via Bouyer histories; power, working width and weight are class-typical heritage estimates pending verification.
From £200–£700
Holder's most successful heavy single-axle tractor, built from 1952: a Sachs D500W single-cylinder two-stroke swirl-chamber diesel (10 PS) with a differential and rotary-grip steering, used as a universal machine for small farms and gardens — mowing, hauling, ploughing and tilling. A prized German collector Einachser. Engine, power, differential and history verified via Traktorenlexikon; working width (varies by implement) and weight are heritage estimates pending verification.
From £800–£3,000
A lighter post-war Holder single-axle tractor in the E-series, Sachs-engined and built as a versatile small-farm and garden machine that takes tillers, mowers and ploughs. Kept alive by an active German collector community. Model line and Sachs-engine lineage verified via Holder enthusiast records; engine detail, power, working width and weight are heritage estimates pending verification.
From £500–£2,000
The companion to the E5 in Holder's post-war single-axle E-series, a slightly larger Sachs-engined Einachser for small-farm and garden work with the full Holder implement range. A sought-after German heritage machine. Model line and Sachs-engine lineage verified via Holder enthusiast records; engine detail, power, working width and weight are heritage estimates pending verification.
From £600–£2,200
Bungartz's single-axle tractor, the foundation on which the firm's later small four-wheel tractors were built. Designed around soil cultivation with rotating tools for horticulture and viticulture, it ran a 7-speed transmission (4 forward + 3 reverse) and a single-cylinder diesel. A rare German heritage Einachser. Model, transmission and soil-cultivation design verified via Traktorenlexikon; engine detail, power, working width and weight are heritage estimates pending verification.
From £700–£2,800
The Tomos UMO is the two-stroke motokultivator from Tomos of Koper, Slovenia (the moped maker) — a popular Yugoslav-era alternative to the IMT machines, with which it shares many components. The two-stroke petrol engine is documented in type, but the exact UMO-08 power output, working width and weight are not, so power and dimensions are left unstated and the record is flagged.
From £150–£600
Pubert's cordless take on a real garden tiller: an 800W brushless motor on a 40V 4Ah battery driving four forged tines across a useful 55cm width to ~29cm depth, with the rare luxury of a mechanical reverse gear and a second battery slot. Runtime is the catch at around 20 minutes per charge, so it suits maintained beds rather than breaking new ground all day.
From £600–£750
Tiny 12 kg Honda-powered compact cultivator for raised beds and tight borders. Worm-gear drive with triple bearings, foldable handlebar and a carry handle. Only 28 cm wide, so it is a bed-and-border tool, not a plot-breaker.
From £350–£599
Often, yes — a well-kept heritage machine can outlast a cheap new one, and parts for the popular models are still around. The catch is condition: budget for a service, check the gearbox and tines, and buy from someone who can demonstrate it running.
Many wear parts and consumables are still available through specialists, and the Howard owner community is active. Always confirm parts availability for the specific model and engine before you buy.
Start it from cold, listen for gearbox noise, check for play in the tine shaft, look for oil leaks, and confirm the clutch and gear selection work cleanly. Surface rust is normal; seized controls and a smoking engine are not.
