co-op tractor

I saw a co-op tractor once (only once) are they that rare? are they good machines? who made them? where are they from? I have never heard anyone talk about them so whats the deal about them? Just courious!!!

It's a cockshutt marketing ploy.

Not ALL Co-ops were Cockshutts.

Here's ONE Co-op tractor history writeup:
Cooperate

Early model Co-ops were painted Red and made in Shelbyville In.Later model Co-ops were made by Cockshutt in Canada and sold in US as Co-op e2,e3,e4,and e5 and painted Orange.These tractors are not rare but are very collectable tractors.

Bob's history isn't bad at all. The original Chrysler 6 engined "HD Dodge Truck" rear axle units have a fascinating (and variable) history, depending on which version you find, complicated by the records in Shelbyville being lost in a fire, and no known records existing from the Arthurdale production, which's a fascinating history all by itself.
I believe the Minn-St.Paul Cooperatives sold theirs as Farmers Union CO-OP's, and some reportedly used New Process rear axles.
When Cockshutt made their deal to sell in the US under the CO-OP name, the m'f'g rights to the original "Chrysler product " CO-OP went to Custom, and copies were sold under Custom, Lehr Big Boy, Jumbo/Simpsons Jumbo, Wards (not the twin-row), and as Regal, Rockol and Norseman in Canada (and maybe more, don't have my notes).
Jacob Love and Dave Friday built a few, some with 2-spd axle, supposed to do 65 on the road (the original supposedly would do 35 or so, supposedly got a speeding ticket as a merchandising ploy!.
Amos Osterberg (Ostenberg?) built a few as OMC's, guys named Closson and Wilson built a few, and there's one in AZ badged "Chrysler", altho the namescript was probably transferred from a car.
There were reports of other "Chrysler" badged units but I could never verify.
Some of the Custon units were built with Chrysler straight 8's, and some units had Chrysler Fluid drive.
Sorry, didn't mean to run on; fascinating history.

My grandpa had an E-3. They were bad to break the rear axle shafts. I remember his sittin' in the field a couple of times for days waitin for parts and a fix. It was unique and different from the Farmalls around. I believe it had a Continental engine. It was a 4 speed and very heavy for its size.

I believe that farmcrest or something like that was also the same as the co-op and cockshut mechanically, as not all of the tin was the same

Jim: if I'm reading my marginal scribbles correctly the Cockshutt Co-op E3, later the Cockshutt 30, originally came with a Buda 4B153, and when Buda bought by A/C Cockshutt went to Perkins and Herc.
Greg: per the same scribbling the Cockshutts were sold as Farmcrest, AKA Gambles Farmcrest, and possibly also as Seacrest, altho I have no source for the "Seacrest".
As mentioned above, I've mislaid my CO-OP notes, so I'm open to any corrections.

Thank all for the history on a co-op tractor. A very interesting piece of history!!