by Jason Hasert

1993 Toy Tractor Times Ford 9n by Ertl

After seven successful small horse power tractors in the TTT Anniversary Series, Rick Larsen, TTT’s founder, decided to close out the small horse power series in 1993. From 1986-1992 all of major tractor makers of the 40s’ and 50s’had been represented: Massey-Harris, Allis-Chalmers, Minneapolis-Moline, Oliver, John Deere, International and Case. The only brand not represented was Ford.

Rick wanted to close out the series with a special tractor. The 1993 Anniversary tractor would also mark the Toy Tractor Times 10^th year in serving the farm toy hobby. In August 1993 TTT started out with 50 subscribers and by August 1993 the magazine reached 6,000 readers. To help celebrate ten years of TTT the Ford 9n was selected as the 1993 Anniversary Tractor.

Like the first seven TTT tractors the Ford 9n was built with the smaller 40 acre farmer in mind. The unique difference that separates the Ford 9n from past TTT tractors is that it had a standard frame rather than a “culti-vision offset or narrow row crop frame. Although the 9n was built by Ford to work row crops.

The 9n Ford was introduced in June of 1939 by Henry Ford and Harry Ferguson at the Ford Fair Lane Estates.

The customer received a lot for their money. The base price of $585 included rubber tires, an electrical system with starter, generator, battery and a power take off. Headlights were optional.

Powered by a four cylinder L-head engine with 120 cubic inches, the tractor put out 28 horsepower at 2000 RPM. Smooth and quite motor operation was obtained with an automotive-type reverse flow muffler. The 9N had a direct drive distributor which was quite unique at the time, as most tractors used magneto ignitions during this period.

A special adjustment setup allowed the tractors front end to be adjustable to the widths of crop rows. By changing the position of the rear wheels on the rims, the tread could also be changed.

With the famous patented draft control of the Ferguson system, the eighteen different implements available could easily be attached and removed from the three point hitch. The 9n was one of the first tractors to use a 3pt hitch. In the 1940s’ the 3pt hitch was a new concept , that would go on to be an industry standard thanks to tractors like the 9n proving the 3pt system.

Toy Tractor Times Ford 9n Proto-Type

Rick Larsen was particularly excited about the 1993 Ford 9n because TTT was able to offer the rare 1939 aluminum hood. Rick with Fred Ertl III on the 9n project. Upon it’s introduction in 1939 , the real tractor had a cast aluminum hood and grill, as stamping equipment for steel was not ready at the time of the tractor’s release. To obtain this aluminum effect, Ertl used nickel plating on the 1/16 TTT 9n replica. The TTT Ford 9n had the distinct anniversary inscription and specially designed box with appropriate identification and historical write up on the Ford 9n. The TTT 1939 Ford 9n was the first anniversary tractor to model a tractor from a specific year. It retailed for $47.50 in 1993 and today sells for $65 to $70. 

TTT Anniversary Collectors Imprint

TTT Ford 9n

TTT Collectors Box

The TTT 9n holds a special place in Rick’s memories of the series. The nickel plated hood and grill were a big accomplishment. In honor of Rick’s 19 years of publishing The Toy Tractor Times another special silver tractor was produced during last years 20^th Anniversary. A chrome plated 1973 Allis-Chalmers 7030 was produced by Ertl for Rick Larsen. The AC 7030 was the 20^th Anniversary TTT tractor. Each year from 2003 a TTT will be plated in chrome. The chrome TTT tractors will be known as the Rick Larsen Edition Anniversary tractors. Toy Tractor Times Authors will receive these tractors and one will be auctioned on e-bay. Only three TTT AC 7030s’ were produced in chrome out of the 1,092 models produced. The third model will on display at the National Toy Show and be auctioned on e-bay this November.  This proceeds from this auction will go to ToyTractorShow.com to aid in its free server space for all farm toy collectors to use.

TTT 20th Anniversary TTT Tractor in Chrome

TTT 1973 AC 7030 in chrome is the "Rick Larsen Edition" stock # 16111X

TTT Chrome AC 7030 is 1 of 3 special AC 7030's in the 1,092 models produced.