Unitow Model 75 aircraft tractor

[GPPilot]

Good morning
I have acquired a Unitow model 75 aircraft tractor and trying to find historical information on it.

Does anybody know these tugs?

I am not sure how to ad pictures

[ajhbike]

If those pics are of your unit...that is super cool. Confratulations

[GPPilot]

Just starting the cleaning now. Would like to restore to original if I can find details. It has had many small changes over the years to keep it running.

[Bob McCarty]

search.php?keywords=unitow

[GPPilot]

Used the search but only a model 18 came up.
This specific model does not seem very common.

[Jim Becker]

That looks like a pretty heavy unit, way beyond the Cub-based ones we have seen. What engine does it have?

[GPPilot]

Looks like a flat head chrysler 6. Need to clean to get to the markings.

[ricky racer]

If it was Cub based, it would have a flat head 4 cylinder engine.

[indy61]

Can you post a photo of the data plate?

[GPPilot]

Had to resize picture to fit

[Eugene]

https://www.facebook.com/groups/175264653702799/

Might get some answers in the above link. Unitow is mentioned in an other of their ads.

[Indy4570]

I love it!

[SONNY]

If Chrysler, --probably a 230 like Oliver 525 combines used in them. I used one on my homemade excavator that I made. good motors.

[GPPilot]

From the serial number it’s a 1953 plymouth 218cuin

[Jim Becker]

In the early '50s, Chrysler Corporation had an Industrial Engine Division that sold engines as "Chrysler Industrial Engines". I would expect a Chrysler engine originally installed in something like the Unitow to have a serial tag showing that name. That leads me to suspect an engine swap some time in the past. It may have been a swap in of a nominally "identical" engine removed from a '53 Plymouth. (On the other hand, I know very little about Chrysler Industrial Engines and my data plate assumption could be wrong.) My data is from 1952 but is probably about right for 1953. Chrysler was marketing seven or eight 6-cylinder engines. The 218 identified as model 5. It was the smallest, rated 52 hp at 2,000 rpm. It was first produced in 1949.

So I guess my question comes down to, does the serial number on the engine's data plate match the serial number on the Unitow serial plate? If it does, you most likely have the original engine and the tractor dates to 1953. If it doesn't match, the engine has been swapped out. The year of the tractor is still likely to be within a few years one way or the other.

Either way, it is a cool piece of machinery. Original or not, the engine data tells you something about the tractor.