Boys and Their Toys

Part 4. Stutsman-Gerbaz Earthmoving

“He’s like a little boy on Christmas morning!”

That was resounding reaction from the crowd of Stutsman-Gerbaz family and friends who gathered in the company parking lot to watch Shay unwrap and unveil his newly renovated 1949 Caterpillar D4.

For Shay, it was love at first sight, “Oh my God, it’s beautiful.”

Shay Stutsman, Vice President of Stutsman-Gerbaz Earthmoving, always wanted an antique Cat machine of his own, and so last year he embarked on a global search that landed him in Midwestern region of the United States. He found an old D4 that was in good enough shape he thought it could be restored.

“I had it shipped to my shop and then sent it down to Wagner (Cat) for restoration.’ Said Stutsman.

After three months of hard work and painstaking detail, the Wagner team delivered the finished product. Not only is the machine’s physical appearance immaculately restored, it runs like day one on the jobsite.

“People get moments in life when they realize all the hard work has been for something,” says Shay grinning from ear-to-ear. “Seeing this restoration completed is one of those moments for me.

The History of the Cat® D4 Dozer

Eighty-two years ago, we introduced the Cat^® RD-4 track-type tractor – a machine that would eventually become the Cat D4.

The RD-4 (4G series), launched in 1936, was based heavily on the Cat R-4 spark-ignition gasoline powered track-type tractor, but without the gasoline engine. The RD-4 was powered by a Cat D4400, four- cylinder diesel engine that produced 41 horses’ worth of “Cat Diesel Power.”

A year later, the RD-4’s name was changed to the Cat D4. Other than the radiator, everything else on the tractor remained virtually unchanged. Other D4 models, based on this original design, were introduced in the next decade, including the 7J series from 1939 to 1942, the 2T series from 1943 to 1945, and the 5T series from 1945 to 1947. All were powered by the D4400 Diesel.

In 1947, a revised D4 (6U/7U) model was introduced, and it was equipped with the Cat D315 four-cylinder diesel engine rated at 48 belt-horsepower. Both engine variations on the D4 proved very popular in the marketplace, and with regular updates in horsepower remained on the product line all the way up to 1959.

The early D4 models were originally used for agricultural purposes. Today, they are one of the leaders in earthmoving. The D4 continued to evolve over time, and its DNA can still be found in today’s Cat D4K Series dozers.

See more from our archives at caterpillar.com/history.

“PEOPLE GET MOMENTS IN LIFE WHEN THEY REALIZE ALL THE HARD WORK HAS BEEN FOR SOMETHING. SEEING THIS RESTORATION COMPLETED IS ONE OF THOSE MOMENTS FOR ME.”

Shay hopes this is the first of many antique Cat machines on display in his garage. He plans to showcase this D4 in parades and other events around the Aspen area.

Watch Shay’s priceless reaction to the site of his new “baby,” and the skill and expertise that went into the restoration this Caterpillar classic.

Shay Stutsman always wanted an antique Cat® machine of his own, so last year he embarked on a global search that landed him in the Midwest. Watch as this 1949 Caterpillar D4 comes back to life.