In December of 1959, the first production Cat wheel loader was driven off the assembly line at the Caterpillar plant in Aurora, IL – the 944 Wheel Traxcavator.
The 944, fitted with a 2-cubic yard (1.5-m³) bucket and available with either a 105-horsepower (78 kW) gas or diesel engine, was the culmination of a seven-year development effort—and the beginning of Caterpillar’s leadership in the worldwide market for mid-size wheel loaders. Caterpillar’s 50-year dominance in this market segment has hinged, simply, on customers recognizing the inherent value of the Cat Wheel Loader—its fundamental reliability and durability, coupled with exceptionally strong parts and service support….more at Cat.com