Hesston Tractors

1/64 Hesston 1180 Turbo

For everyone who was able to get to the summer show in Dyersville, I hope you had a good time and found a few things you were looking for.

This article will focus again on the Mini Toy (MT) line and its conversion into Ertl. MT made the well know Hesston tractor line that was sold through Ford dealers in my area. There were several models to chose from that would fit the horsepower requirements of your farm.  

Hesston tractors were offered in the United States through the 1980's.  Fiat the Italian car maker also built tractors.  In 1975 Fiat entered the North American farm market with the acquisition of Hesston a hay equipment manufacturer.  By the late 1970's Fiat was selling its tractors with the Hesston name in the U.S. and Canada.  In 1990 Fiat sold the Hesston hay line to AGCO and formed New Holland.  In May 1999 Fiat acquired CaseIH and formed CNH.  The Hesston tractor was the start of Fiats climb to the top of the tractor market.

Back to the toys. Mini Toy started producing Hesston tractors in 1/64 around 1983. The MT toys had a plastic hood and cab, a die cast body and soft rubber tires. When Ertl acquired MT the only changes made were the Ertl trademark plastic wheels.

One other observation worth noting is the time stamp Ertl used on the bottom of the tractor. This time stamp is written out as month/day/year instead of the normal day of the year and the year. For example 2538Q equals the 253 day of 19X8. “Q” is the code for the plant and country it was made in. I am not aware of any other time Ertl has used this format.

There are two models that for whatever reason, Ertl decided not to carry over. MT offered a 980 and an 1180 tractor. The 980 was offered as a 980 row crop and also as a 980 DT with FWA.

The second exclusive model to MT was the 1180. The 1180 was available with duals or a row crop version. The 1180 DT model was available with FWA and duals or just a FWA model.

A 3^{rd 1180 is available as a special edition with 1/5000 stamped on the bottom.}

There are no decals to recognize a specific event. Instead a second stack and fender lights were added. This model is the only Hesston tractor that is rare. With the exception of the 1/5000 model all of the 980’s and 1180’s did not have a cab decal.

Ertl carried these next models over from the MT line. Unless otherwise noted, all Ertl models will be found with plastic wheels. The MT models will be found with rubber tires.

The 100-90 can be found with FWA, a loader, and a row crop version. The FWA models are DT versions. There are three loader models. The first model is an Ertl model with plastic wheels. The next model is also an Ertl model, but it has rubber tires. The last Ertl model has rubber tires and is a Farm Show Edition 1986 model.

The 130-90 was the next tractor to be carried over by Ertl. This time they were offered with duals, FWA, FWA and duals, and a row crop version. Both company’s FWA models were specified as 130-90 DT.

The last two models are unique to Ertl only. The 180-90 was only available with duals, or FWA. Two 180-90 DT’s were also offered as show models. One has a sticker that reads “Farm Show Edition, Rochester Indiana Sept 26-28 1989”. The other is a Husker Harvest Days Grand Island Nebraska Sept 12-14 1989 model. Both of these models have special cab and hood decals that I have not found on any other models. The last 180-90 model is also a show model. This model is designated as a 180-90 and reads 1987 Farm Show edition.

The last Hesston model to be made available is an Ertl 80-90. This is a row crop version and comes with plastic wheels.

I hope this helps to explain a little more about the Mini Toy Company and how it is related to Ertl. I am always looking for new variations so if you have one that I have not listed here please send me an email to let me know. MISTER164@HOTMAIL.COM

Mini Toy

980 DT FWA

980 Row crop

1180 Duals. 1/5000. Two stacks. Fender lights.

1180 Duals

1180 DT FWA

1180 Row crop

1180 DT FWA, Duals

100-90 FWA

100-90 Row crop

130-90 DT FWA, Duals

ERTL

100-90 DT FWA

130-90 Row crop

^{130-90 FWA, Duals}

130-90 DT FWA

130-90 Duals

180-90 FWA. Husker Harvest Days Grand Island Nebraska Sept 12-14 1989

^{180-90 FWA 1987 Farm Show Edition}

180-90 Duals

180-90 DT FWA. Farm Show Edition Rochester Indiana Sept 26-28 1989

180-90 FWA