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International Harvester began their marketing of four-wheel drive tractors in the early 1960’s with the 4300 tractor made by Hough which was a construction equipment subsidiary of IH. The 4300 had a 300 horsepower IH engine and was articulated but was ahead of its time just like the John Deere 8010. There were few implements available for this large tractor so sales were limited. In the mid 1960’s, IH produced a smaller four wheel drive tractor, also made by Hough, and it was designated the 4100. It was powered by a regular IH tractor engine and produced 115 PTO horsepower. Like the 4300, it was painted yellow because it was expected that most would be used in the construction business. Unlike the 4300, it had four wheel steering and was not articulated. It was upgraded and power was increased to 120 PTO horsepower to become the 4156. By this time IH had decided that four-wheel drive tractors would be an important part of the farm tractor lineup so they changed the color to red. A final version of this machine was renumbered to 4166 in 1972 and power was increased to 150 PTO horsepower. IH soon realized that they needed a larger tractor so subsequent production of large four-wheel drive tractors was jobbed out to Steiger in which IH had a 28% ownership by this time. The result was the 4366 which was a Steiger tractor with an IH 230 horsepower engine. From that time to the present, all of the larger IH and Case-IH articulated four-wheel drive tractors were made by Steiger. Models of the 4300 were not available until Precision Engineering, of Ohio, began producing models a few years ago. Recently, Scale Models began offering a 1/16 scale 4366. There is no production model of the 4100-4156-4166 available presently.
The first mass produced toy IH four-wheel drive was the “2+2” 3588 which was introduced in 1979 when the real one debuted. Unlike most articulated four-wheel drive models where the cab is part of the front half of the tractor, the 2+2’s used a long-nosed section front section hinged just in front of the cab. This allowed IH to use the back end of an 86 series tractor and save on development and production costs. The result was the 3388 with 131 PTO horsepower and the 3588 with 150 PTO horsepower. Actually, the 3588 was introduced with a First Edition toy which could be ordered with a display stand. These First Edition 3588’s are quite rare and still have retained their value in comparison to other IH and Case-IH First Editions. Later in 1979, the shelf model 3588 became available and finally IH toy farmers had a big four-wheel drive to compete with the John Deere 7520’s, 8630’s and 8640’s. A scarce version of the shelf model 3588 had the First Edition inscription on the frame removed and collectors refer to them as the “ground out” variation.
International Harvester revised the 2+2 line in 1982 after the “88” series of conventional tractors was announced. The cab was changed to a red color from the 86 series white cab and the whole line was renumbered to be consistent with the big new 5488. Ertl redecaled the 3588 to a 6388 and changed the cab color to red. Only a shelf model of this tractor was produced. A plastic radio-controlled 1/32 scale version of the 6388 was also introduced in 1983 and marketed for only a short period. In real life, the 6388 was the upgrade of the smaller 3388 and produced 131 PTO horsepower.
Early 2+2’s had some reliability problems caused primarily by farmers who bought them as an inexpensive four-wheel drive tractor and then turned up the boost in the turbo and installed a larger injector pump to increase the PTO horsepower to more than 225 up from the stock rating on 150. The result was drivetrain failure which had been a problem with IH tractors since the 560 fiasco in 1959. Many mechanics who worked on tractors knew that many of IH six-cylinder tractor engines were essentially detuned truck engines so it didn’t take a “Nobel prize winner” to undo this process and get some real power. That is another reason why IH tractors were so dominant on the super stock tractor pulling circuit for so long. Finally, IH decided to capitalize on this problem and designed a new line to debut in 1985. The top of the line was a 7488 with 235 engine horsepower. These new 2+2 models were shown at a dealer meeting and a toy First Edition 7488 was available to each dealer. This was followed by a shelf model 7488. The First Edition had dual wheels at all corners, gray exhaust stack, and an inscription while the shelf model had singles and a black muffler. During this time, Tenneco bought the IH agricultural line and added it to their Case line. They had to pare down the tractor line and the 7488 was a victim of the cuts so only the sixteen prototypes remained.
While most farm toy tractors made from the late 1970’s through 2000 sell for substantially less than the original retail cost, 2+2’s prices have remained stable or appreciated slightly to keep up with the cost of living.
PHOTO CAPTIONS
1.IH 3588 2+2 was introduced in 1979.
2.IH 3588 First Edition with inscription on farmer was given to each dealer at the introduction meeting
3.IH 3588 “ground out” 2+2’s were leftover First Editions
4.IH 6388 2+2 came only in s shelf model
5.IH 6388 radio control was a 1/32 scale plastic toy
6.IH 7488 2+2 First Edition had duals and a gray exhaust stack
7.IH 7488 shelf model had singles and a black exhaust.
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