Steyr 8300 still earning its keep: Classic chopper

A 38-year-old reverse drive Steyr 8300 still earns its keep as a dedicated self-propelled forager for Dutch dairy farmer Hendri Doze.

First seen at the DLG show in Frankfurt in 1984, the unusual vehicle was jointly developed by fellow Austrian companies Steyr and Pöttinger. Initially available from both brands, Steyr called it the 8300 and in Pöttinger colours it was known as the Mex-Mobile. It was the latter which was on display at the German show, which was the forerunner to Agritechnica.

Dutch dairy farmer Hendri Doze’s 120-strong dairy herd is milked by two newly-installed Lely A5 robots, but the silage making process is a truly classic affair. The backbone of which is his 1983, Steyr 8300 which is believed to be one of just three active survivors in the Netherlands and we enjoyed seeing the classic chopper in action in both grass and maize.

A long-running Steyr fan, the farm’s current tractor fleet comprises a 2004 6170 CVT, 2005 6135 CVT and 2008 Profi 4110. All three clocking up 700 to 800 hours each year.

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