Giorgio Galloni
If we accept the idea that a specialized mechanic charges around €50 per hour, the 1:5 scale models created by Fornari, each taking over 2,500 hours of meticulous work, should cost no less than €125,000 each. However, works of art cannot be valued by weight or size, and considering that both the “SuperLandini” tractor replica and the Fiat Agri “70C” crawler tractor are genuine masterpieces, such a valuation would be an understatement.
This is especially true when you realize that these machines not only replicate the appearance of the original tractors but also feature functioning transmissions — the “SuperLandini” has a three-speed reversible gearbox and working power take-offs, all driven by 56 cc two-stroke gasoline engines. These same engines, of course, allow the machines to move across the ground just like real tractors.
In essence, these replicas surpass the boundaries of traditional models by capturing the fourth dimension: movement. This is an achievement that few other replicas can claim, and often comes at the expense of accuracy.
In this case, however, that attribute is further enhanced, not only in aesthetics but also in the precision with which Domenico Fornari replicated the materials originally used to build the actual tractors. It is no coincidence that each model weighs about 30 kilograms.
Title: Domenico Fornari’s self-propelled models, in Search of the Fourth Dimension
Translation with ChatGPT
