John Deere completely revamped their four wheel drive tractor lineup in 1997 with a new number scheme and new machines. Beginning in 1975, John Deere used the 8000 series to designate the four wheel drive tractors and now they moved up to the 9000 series for the new line. Ertl mirrored the changes in the real tractors with changes in the toys and introduced the new series with a Collectors Edition 9400 in 1997. It was one of the largest 1/16 scale toys ever with wide duals at each corner. Then they followed this up with a shelf model with 9300 decals which also had wide duals. For some reason, there was a limited supply of the 9400 Collector’s Edition and they bring almost $200 today. Ertl changed the decals in 1999 to produce a shelf model 9200 with triples at each corner. Early versions of the 9200 came with narrow tires and they remain fairly scarce today and bring significantly more than the later and more common 9200 with wide tires. The narrow tires on the 9200 are the same as on the 1/12 Ford utility tractors that Ertl produced from 1965-85 and can also be found on the 60 and 70 series tractors covered last month. Again, the 9200 with wide triples was the largest toy that Ertl had produced to date. For those who are comparing the real tractors, the 9200 had a 310 horsepower engine while the 9300 and 9400 had 360 and 425 horsepower respectively.

Modifications to the 9000 series, as well as to John Deere’s other series, were indicated with a “1” and then a “2” in the third digit. This led, in 2002, to the 9420 toy with wide duals at each corner but the horsepower rating of 425 was the same as the 9400. Ertl made another change, in 2003, with the 9520 which has ultra wide triples at each corner. This was by the far the largest Ertl 1/16 scale tractor and its box was as large as my regular toy bin that holds six to eight 1/16 scale tractors from the 1950’s and 1960’s. Decals were changed to a 9620, in 2005, and wide singles were put on each corner. In real life, the 9520 has a 450 horsepower engine while the 9620 has 500 horsepower.

It is interesting to note that each of the 9000 series tractors has a corresponding rubber track model to compete directly with the Cat Challengers. Ertl also makes a full line of these John Deere tracked models and these could be the subject of a future article.

Prices for these recent large four-wheel drive John Deere’s have remained near the retail level except for the 9400 Collector’s Edition. With the introduction of the highly detailed Big Buds by DCP, “big iron” collectors may be waiting for the next “near precision” models and this will soften demand for these less detailed toys of the 1980’s and 1990’s which have clogged the market with the conventional 1/16 scale tractors.

What's New in 1/16th?

The new 1/16 John Deere 9620 shelf edition was released to John Deere dealers in February.  This new model has large single tires and the box has an Ertl 60th Anniversary decal.

The new 1/16 John Deere 4995 Disc-MoCo Windrower was released to John Deere dealers in February.  The 4995 is Ertl's first 1/16 self-propelled harvesting toy.  It has impressive detail with a clear window cab, raiseable disc-mower head and hydraulic lines. 

Scale Models has released a new 1/16 AGCO DT-240 with all around duals.  This new big orange tractor represents the new 240 hp AGCO tractor with Power Maxx CVT transmission.  The 1/16 DT-240 collectors edition was offered by AGCO at the 2005 National Farm machinery Show in Louisville, KY.