Thomas-
Obviously, these weren't the most practical machines. I think the reason for building many of those kind of "experimental" tractors was just to show that they could do it. Big Bud is the only company I know of that would have even considered selling anything like them. Big four wheel drives had a lot of character back then, and unusal designs came around once in a while, since the biggest ones were often custom built by smaller companies like Big Bud, Versatile, Steiger. Many of these companies were absorbed in the consolidation rush following the 80's farming bust (Versatile to Ford, Steiger to CaseIH, etc.) and thus big tractors lost some identity and creativity to fit the "corporate" culture. Incidentally, Versatile tractors are once again being produced by a company called Buhler-Versatile (see attached pic). Apparently that name was sold off as part of the Case-NH merger, since the Case Steiger platform will be used for the big articulateds in both brands.
Chris