International 1466: A Wisconsin Workhorse!

Ask a red tractor fan what their top three models are. I’ll bet that either a International 1066 or an International 1466 slots in there somewhere – and for good reason. They’re great tractors! They’re one of the best (and last) muscle tractors ever built, and they’ll still work all day long!

The 66-series tractors combined the proven drive trains of the 26/56 models with brand new 300 and 400-series motors. IH invested $25 million bucks in the R&D of these things, and the result set a pretty high bar for their competitors! The direct injection motors were cheaper to run than older designs. With rising fuel and input costs, this sold a lot of farmers.

The International 1466 was the big hoss for most of its 5-year run. It was beefier than the 1066, with a DT436 rated at 145 horse, bigger axles and brakes, and a heavier clutch. Overall, it was a good performer in the field. I’ve heard some farmers say that the rear ends are failure-prone if overworked. I look at it this way; as long as you’re not dragging a 40′ field cultivator with it, I think you’ll probably be fine.

So what’s the story with this particular 1466? According to our friends at Wilkinson Auction & Realty, it lived a good life on a small dairy farm in SW Wisconsin. The current owner overhauled and painted it 9 years ago. Original hours are unknown. I’m told that it runs and drives well; it definitely looks right with those 20.8s on it, too!

Bidding has held steady (it’s at $3700 right now), but I’m know it’ll start climbing later today. My guess is that this one ends up in the $12-14K range when it’s all done. If you want a nice 14 to keep your 10 company, this one is worth watching! Bidding wraps up tomorrow morning, so don’t wait too long to get your bids in!

Hammer Price: $16,000.

Click here to see what other IH equipment is changing hands at auction in the near future!