Claas had been producing combine harvesters in Harsewinkel, Germany, for 24 years when the company launched its biggest machine yet, in 1960. The firm’s first self-propelled machine – the Hercules, quickly renamed the SF – first appeared in 1953, rapidly becoming popular across Europe, including the UK. There was an appetite for self-propelled combines in Britain during the 1950s and ‘60s, although only the larger farms and estates could stretch to something as big and expensive as the Claas SF.
Times were changing though and, while Claas introduced two smaller machines in 1958, the Europe and Columbus, the Matador Giant arrived in 1960. This was a serious machine, built along similar lines to the SF, but with everything beefed-up, including an 87hp, six-cylinder diesel engine, 10ft wide header, 2,155-litre grain…
