Caterpillar created in 1977 what some consider one of the finest wheel loaders ever designed. The largest and most powerful Cat front-end loader at the time, the 992C contained the new turbocharged V-12 Model 3412 diesel engine, pushing out 690 flywheel horsepower. So well designed was the 992C wheel loader that it survived virtually unchanged, other than a new 13.5 cubic yard bucket, for its entire career as Caterpillar’s big loader. One of the most unique features of this loader was the newly designed lift arms with the Z-bar linkage. This configuration boosted the 992C’s capacity to an incredible 12.5 cubic yards and 37,000 pounds. Its speed had increased, as well, and it could load a 50-ton-capacity truck in just three passes.