At the start of the 2022/23 school year, an exciting project began here at Werksviertel-Mitte in cooperation with the Porsche Junior Club and the Max-Josef-Stift. Together with a mechanic, ten pupils from the girls’ school are restoring a Porsche tractor from 1959. The aim of the project is for the tractor to then be used on the Niederalm of Joh’s Eckart. The social and sustainable project is led and supported by PORSCHE-Junior g.e.V from Bremen.
What the PORSCHE Junior project is all about
At the heart of the project is a small, 64-year-old Porsche classic car, which at first glance appears to have already seen its best years. But this is set to change with the help of a small school group. What do the pupils learn in the process? Turning old into new – living sustainability. Creating something with your hands – skilled trades for everyone. Getting a taste of companies – networking with trainees.
It is not the first Porsche tractor to meet this positive fate – just the first project of its kind to take place in Munich. In total, the club has already refurbished countless Porsche Junior tractors. This special type of tractor was manufactured by Porsche Diesel Motorenbau GmbH between 1956 and 1963. Its classic feature is its red color.
The vintage tractors have an output of between 12 and 40 hp, the engines have one to four cylinders and are air-cooled. There is also a gearbox with six forward gears and two reverse gears.
Part of the project is also to document the repairs, and we do this together with the young ladies here on our blog and our Instagram channel. There are regular updates here and you can follow the progress of the restoration step by step.
Making new from old – The tractor diary
Date on 19.6.2024
Today was a really special day for our Porsche tractor project! Because it was almost our last meeting. Today we finished restoring our “Rose” tractor. She looks so different from when we started the project, we can hardly believe it. Looking back two years, we looked different and so did the tractor. We didn’t even know what was coming. But now we are really proud of the result.
Today, our principal, our accompanying teacher and the employees of Werkviertel-Mitte, who were responsible for organizing the Porsche tractor project, also came to visit and praised us for our good work. We then had a little photo shoot downstairs in the garage. We were then allowed to drive up in the tractor. When we arrived outside after a bumpy ride, we took our first photos outside with Rose.
Now it’s time for the final event, where we will receive certificates for our great work. After that, the tractor can finally be put to use. I’m really looking forward to it, but at the same time I’m a bit sad that it’s coming to an end because I really enjoyed the project. We have learned a lot and are very grateful to have had this experience.
Date on 5.6.2024
Shoes tied, overalls on and off to the tools!
Today we quickly started changing the new front wheels, which we managed quite well after unscrewing and screwing on a few nuts. We then set about fitting the new benches, which we bolted to both sides of the tractor. Of course, we couldn’t miss out on a few photos once the work was done! Unfortunately, this was our penultimate meeting. The tractor is now almost finished!
Date on 6.3.2024
Today we fitted the front lights to our “Rose” tractor. It looks so different from when we started the project! In addition, a few employees from the organization of the Porsche tractor project came to visit and praised us for our good work. Now we are waiting for the remaining parts so that we can complete the tractor. I’m really looking forward to it, but at the same time I’m a bit sad that it’s coming to an end soon, because I really like the project. It was a really great day, see you next time!
Date on 31.1.2024
On our first appointment of the year, we gave the tractor a final coat of paint. Armed with red paint and brushes, we started by giving the trailer coupling a bright red coat of paint. After the trailer coupling, we turned our attention to various cables and screws that still needed to be painted red. As a team of four, this work went much faster than expected and we are already looking forward to next time!
Date on 6.12.2023
Before the Christmas break, we’re all putting the pedal to the metal! The new wheels are fitted, the steering wheel is tightened and the remaining trim strips are attached. Then we continue with the electrics, as Martin explains how to connect the negative and positive cables. The final step is to fit the new battery.
Date on 29.11.2023
You could be forgiven for thinking that Rose is almost finished, because she already looks beautiful from the outside. After we fitted the Porsche Diesel lettering and the trim strips today, attached the rear lights and fixed the indicators.
Date on 8.11.2023
Today was an eventful day, because we got to test drive Rose for the first time! And she’s running. Before that, we topped up the axle oils and fitted the steering wheel.
Date on 18.10.2023
Another successful productive day in the Werksviiertel-Mitte. Today we bled the tractor’s injection system and filled it with diesel. We then fitted the lamp bases and tightened the screw. Finally, starting the engine with an external battery brought a lot of joy to the team, because it clearly showed the effort we all put into assembling Rose. We can hardly wait to see Rose in action!
Date on 4.10.2023
And here we go again! The vacations are over and we are once again working hard on our little red tractor, which we have all really missed over the last few weeks. Today we have the following work to do: Drilling holes in the mudguards and fitting the lamp bases, attaching the seat shell, fitting the gear lever control diagram and finally putting on the newly painted hood.
Date on 19.7.2023
Our last date together before the summer vacation! A whole school year is over – madness. We really can’t believe what we’ve created in the last few months. An ancient tractor from a barn simply turned inside out. We are really proud of our achievement. Before we give our Rose a few weeks of rest, however, there are still a few jobs to be done: the new exhaust pipe is fitted and the tires (which now have the correct holes) are screwed on. And what should not be missing at the end? The test ride, of course!
Date on 12.7.2023
Today, we’re all really looking forward to the garage, because it can only be cooler in the shade at 34 degrees… And it is, wonderful! Full of zest for action, we get straight to work. Now that the parts are back from the paint shop, we can start assembling the battery box, the handlebars, the dashboard and the tank hinges. Everything works perfectly, but there is a small problem with the new tires – the distances between the holes do not match the old tires. We can turn and turn, but nothing changes, so we have to get a new set.
Date on 21.6.2023
Things are moving forward! Our Rose is starting to look like a tractor again. Today we are fitting the tread plates, the air baffles for the engine block, the starter motor and the cooling cover. However, we are most excited about the seat console, and of course we all sit down to try it out.
Date on 17.5.2023
This time, we were a fairly small group, which was even more of a challenge. When we saw our Rose tractor, it was painted a fiery carmine red. Then we successfully installed the clutch and pushed the two main parts of the tractor together. We then fitted both mudguards. These protect the wheels and the entire vehicle. This proved to be difficult at first, but we solved this task through teamwork, with one person always screwing and the other holding the heavy mudguard. It was a very instructive and successful day. We look forward to the next time!
Date on 3.5.2023
Rough work is on the agenda today, which we will only be able to do with combined forces. First, with the help of Phillip – our nature friend from Joh’s Eckart, who always helps us with the small forklift truck – we get the engine block from Martin’s trailer. This is really millimeter work that requires full concentration, because such a part weighs more than 200 kg. Once the engine block has landed safely, the assembly of the front axle and the wheel suspension continues immediately. After the hard work, the “only” thing left to do was to clean up, but that is also part of a proper workshop.
Date on 19.4.2023
This time we have started assembling the Porsche tractor!
At the beginning of our afternoon, we were delivered the freshly painted engine block, on which the cylinder and cylinder heads were replaced, as well as the pistons, liners and the connecting rod bearing. We were allowed to replace the seal on the clutch, which we did using an injection pump containing the sealant. We then fitted the turbo clutch and tightened it (the latter with a lot of teamwork and effort).
After that, there wasn’t much more for us to do, as the other parts of our tractor hadn’t yet come back from being painted. We completed our work very quickly in the two hours, even though there were only three of us this time! We are definitely looking forward to next time when we can continue working on the tractor.
Date on 15.3.2023
We got a lot done again this time. We removed the front axle support, the right and left steering knuckles, the steering gear with the hitch jaw, the hydraulics of the lower link and the axle carrier as well as the hydraulic support. We loaded these and many other parts from the last few weeks onto the trailer of our mechanic Martin, who is now preparing them for painting in his workshop. Phillip from Joh’s Eckart also came to our aid with his forklift truck to get the particularly heavy and large parts ready for transportation. Otherwise the five of us wouldn’t have been able to do it. We then cleaned the inflatable tub on which the tractor had been standing and removed the oil stains. Now the tractor is ready to be painted, and hopefully it will soon shine in new splendor.
Date on 1.3.2023
This time everything went very quickly. Our goal: dismantling the spin wheel cover and front axle. The latter still had to be jacked up. With a bit of rust spray and the right wrench, this went really well! In order to recharge our batteries and stay motivated, we had a few short tea breaks in between. As always, the informative two hours flew by.
Date on 8.2.2023
This time was again very successful and funny! We screwed the new front tires onto the tractor, removed many screws and separated the tractor in the middle. In between, we treated ourselves to a cup of tea and then continued with new tools. It was great again!
Date on 25.1.2023
The flexing really started today! First, we removed the front tires with great effort and teamwork. Then we started flexing. This means that we used two flex machines to remove the rust – which was quite dirty and noisy work. However, we overcame this challenge together and mostly freed the tractor from the rust. It was a great and instructive day and I’m already looking forward to the next time.
Date on 11.1.2023
Today we really unscrewed it again: We removed the front lights and the rear wheels. Some of the screws were quite rusty and difficult to unscrew, but we overcame this problem thanks to our teamwork. It was another instructive and fun day! We are already looking forward to our next appointment.
Date on 7.12.2022
At first glance, the next steps seem like minor details in a before-and-after comparison, but it was quite an effort. The team removed the seat, exhaust, tank and cylinder at this appointment. This resulted in a thorough mess, as fluids kept flowing out of the little old Porsche tractor.
Date on 23.11.2022
But now it really started! Tractor Rose changed abruptly within two hours. Together with mechanic Martin, the students loosened mudguards, tires and the first lights. The phrase “It won’t work, I give up!” was regularly uttered because the parts were so stuck. But surprise – it almost always worked in the end. What a great sense of achievement!
Date on 9.11.2022
Our second appointment may not have gone quite as planned, but we can be “flexible”. That’s why an original tractor crafting event became a Werksviertel-Mitte discovery tour. The girls from the Max-Josef-Stift were allowed to count mountain peaks from our Giant Wheel Umadum and pay an exclusive visit to our Stadthochalm. The sheep obviously enjoyed it – at least they willingly made themselves available as a photo motif.
And one thing was achieved after all. The tractor – or should we say female tractor – now has a name: Rose.
Start signal on 19.10.2022
Here we go! October 2022 marked the start of the new school year for the joint project. Ten schoolgirls from the Max Josef Stift Munich in Bogenhausen came to Werksviertel-Mitte accompanied by their principal Ms. Kalb-Heubisch. Chairman of the Board Harald S. Stegen, 2nd Chairman Sven Bössow of the PORSCHE Junior project and Paul Gregor, Project Manager at Porsche AG, traveled especially for the occasion. Everyone met for the first time in this group on site. A chat was held, overalls and small gifts were distributed, a small photo shoot was carried out and the first tasks were assigned. To celebrate the day, there was also a round of donuts for everyone present. Delicious!
