DATS*

[Cé hé sin]

*Down at the show

Until about the 1970s Ford made their tractors in 2wd which provided a market opportunity.
County Commercial Cars duly took advantage and made 4wd conversions of Ford 2wd models.
I saw this one today.

It's got equal sized wheels all round which provides a terrible turning circle but that's not what's odd about it.
You would expect it to be built like any other 4wd with a shaft going forward to a front axle and differential. Not a bit of it.
Here's one side.

A shaft goes from just inside the left rear hub to just inside the front left hub. The other side is just the same. So each rear wheel drives the corresponding front wheel. No front differential.
Yes, there is a reason. A tractor is built from an engine, a gearbox and a back axle without any chassis. Fitting the usual transfer box would mean extending the tractor by that length and then finding some way of adding a front axle and differential. Doing it this way is easier.
If you have a County, it's worth money. They are collectible and some models go for serious sums.

[krustywantout]

@Cé-hé-sin Very novel approach.