The STIHL 07 chainsaw was produced from the early 1960s into the 1970s and stands out as one of STIHL’s great workhorses from that era.
It holds a notable place in chainsaw history as a bridge between STIHL’s early direct-drive saws and the more refined professional models that followed.
The 07 pictured here was on eBay (June 2025), listed by seller szabsa76, but it sold quickly. Make sure you check out Alex’s other listings because he’s always got interesting vintage saws for sale.
STIHL 07
This saw was listed with this description:
Vintage STIHL 07 ” Litle Contra” chainsaw beautifully restored for sale
For sale is a fully functional, detailedly restored Stihl 07 chainsaw with an original engraved Stihl nose armor guide and .404 chain. In original colors.
I replaced the crankshaft seals and the carburetor seals.
Easy starting, abundant chain lubrication, good strength.
I don’t recommend it for cutting wood, but rather for collections.
There are a couple of versions:
- STIHL 07
- STIHL 07 Super
The 07 was introduced in 1961 as a medium-duty, “general-purpose” chainsaw to complement STIHL’s larger Contra saws. It was built in West Germany (Stuttgart) and produced from 1961 to 1965.
In 1965, STIHL rebranded it as the “07S” (Super) model. Production of the 07S ran from 1965 until 1968.
The “S” suffix (for “Super”) was chiefly a marketing change – STIHL added it to match its other upgraded models (e.g., STIHL 08 S). In practice, the core engine and frame remained the same.
See the saw running in this YouTube video.
Despite the “Super” label, the 07S was not a substantially new design. Key points:
- Power: Both the 07 and 07S are rated at 4.5 HP. While some later materials list the 07S as 4.8 HP, original test data and specifications indicate no actual increase in power.
- Carburetor: The 07S used the Tillotson HL‑155B carburetor, replacing the earlier HL‑121A and HL‑147B variants. This offered slightly different tuning and reportedly smoother high-end performance, though without a significant power gain.
- Exhaust: The 07S featured a revised muffler and heat shield design. The muffler has a distinctive finned cover, which aided cooling but didn’t affect engine output.
- Cosmetics: Later 07S units showed updated logo styling and minor visual changes, but the core housing, controls, and color scheme remained essentially unchanged from the 07.
- Marketing/Name: The “07 Super” name was primarily a rebranding effort. From 1965 onward, brochures adopted the 07S label, but no major functional upgrades—such as safety or anti-vibration improvements—were introduced.
The 07-series was rated as a professional/industrial saw in its time. Its 4.5 HP engine delivered strong torque for a 75 cc saw.
Users report that it cuts quickly for its size – roughly comparable to a modern 45–50 cc saw – but the heavy weight makes it less nimble. It excels at tough limbing and cutting medium logs.
The saw was especially favored by forestry crews and fire departments in Europe; the combination of power and relatively light weight (for a 75cc saw) meant it could be run by one person but handle demanding work.
However, operators also noted the drawbacks: there is no chain brake or advanced safety gear, so kickback incidents can be dangerous by today’s standards.
Vibration levels are high due to the rigid handle and high-revving engine. Starting can be stiff (especially in early “sand‑cast” units) and throttle response is abrupt.
The saw does run smoothly when warmed up, but idles a bit high (the original spec lists 2,800 RPM idle, though many users fine-tune it lower). In short, it demands experienced handling.
| Specification | STIHL 07 | STIHL 07 Super (07S) |
|---|---|---|
| Years Produced | 1961 – 1965 | 1965 – 1968 |
| Displacement | 75 cc | 75 cc |
| Bore × Stroke | 50 mm × 38 mm | 50 mm × 38 mm |
| Power Output | 4.5 HP @ 7,500 RPM | 4.5 HP @ 7,500 RPM |
| Max RPM | ~7,000–7,500 | ~7,000–7,500 |
| Idle RPM | ~1,200–1,300 | ~1,200–1,300 |
| Clutch Engagement | ~2,950 RPM | ~2,950 RPM |
| Chain Pitch | .404″ | .404″ |
| Chain Type | Oregon chipper (standard) | Oregon chipper |
| Guide Bar Length | 17″–21″ (43–53 cm) | 17″–21″ (43–53 cm) |
| Weight (w/ 17″ bar) | 10.0 kg | 10.2 kg |
| Handle Type | Rigid wraparound | Rigid wraparound |
| Chain Brake | None | None |
| Carburetor | Tillotson HL-121A/B, HL-147B, HL-155A | Tillotson HL-155B series |
| Oil Pump | Automatic adjustable | Automatic adjustable |
Collectors and arborists today admire the 07/07S for historical value and reliability – the engines were simple and robust, and the saws are often reported to still run well after 50+ years.
But modern users view them as “heavy, basic machines” (an “ugly duck” design, as one forum noted) compared to ergonomic, lightweight contemporary chainsaws.
The Chainsaw Collectors Forum also shares that, “The 07 and 08 are the only saws to use the series number as the model number.”
07-series saws used a four-digit “type” number system; the base 07 types ran from around 1961 to 1968 (as 07 and later 07S “Super”).
Serial numbers in the 180,000 range probably correspond to units produced in the mid to late 1960s, likely during or just after the transition to the “Super” (07S) model. However, without official STIHL production logs, this is an educated guess rather than a confirmed assignment.
Be sure to check out these other interesting saws from eBay seller ‘szabsa76’:
