Allis-Chalmers 7000-8000 series
"Cane Tractors"

By: Dick Keesey and Nick Zurlick
AC had a strong following in the sugar cane growing portions of the US, especially in Louisiana. Allis started by offering a D-19 high crop tractor and then later a 190 high crop model. When the 7000 series came out dealers in the cane country were calling for  a 7000 series cane tractor. In 1978 AC introduced the 7020, 7045, and 7060 high crops. All were equipped with power shifts and cabs, we are unsure if there are rops and open station versions out there. New rear drop box final drives and extended front spindles gave them 13 inches of clearance under the tractors. Most likely fewer than a couple hundred were built and there are no records of there production . They were produced from 1978 until the 7000 series ended in 1981 in the black belly paint scheme only.

When the 8000 series came out dealers in the cane country were again calling for a cane model. Production of  the cane tractors gave AC little profit so they weren’t to concerned about produce them. AC changed their mind when some AC personnel found a number of left over raw casting for cane axle sleeves and drop axle housings. AC introduced the 8010, 8030, and 8050 high crops to keep the cane farms happy.

There are only 2 brochures for the 7000 and 8000 series cane tractors. They are simple 4 page brochures with a size comparison picture and all the specs. These brochures easily bring 15.00 or more. The 8000 brochure is more common than the 7000 brochure.

We are always looking to make AC variations for our collection. The cane tractors toys we made are from an Ertl 7045 and 8070 casting. Our 7020 has a scratch built front axle  with braces and lowered rear axle to hive it the right height. The tractor was repainted and re-decaled with decals from Burhmaster. The 8050 is pretty much the same with the scratch built axle dropped rear axle. We added the rops option to this tractor to make it different. It was also repainted and decaled with decals from Burhmaster. Some future projects will be a D-19 high crop and 190 high crop with a bar grill and XT version.

I hope everyone enjoyed this months article. Next month we will show some customs that  only a couple of people have seen.