The 1970’s was a decade of big farm power. Tractor manufactures began building big horse power tractors with 4 wheel drive in the late 1950’s. During the 1960’s Wagner, Steiger, International Harvester, J.I. Case, John Deere, Versatile and Minneapolis-Moline were the pioneers of 4 wheel traction. By the 1970's 4wds were an accepted tractor across the United States and Canada. Four wheelers from the 60’s, were raw iron and from 1970-1979 big power was incorporated with style and comfort options. The 70’s were the golden age of 4wds that made the big tractors so popular.

Four wheel drives are a favorite among farm toy collectors. The big modern 425-500 hp models have been a big hit with 1/64 collectors. The mega sized tractors with triples and tracks are impressive. These machines have a 30 plus year history that are getting collectors and toy manufactures attention. In the year 2004, big modern 4wds like the CaseIH STX 500 and John Deere 9620 are not the only 1/64 models making there way to collectors shelves. Classic iron from the golden era of 4wds are being produced and purchased like never before. 4wds from the 1970’s are the hottest segment of the 1/64 tractor market today. This month we will look at the general 1/64 market 1970’sa 4wds that are readily available at tractor dealers, toy shows, toy dealers and e-bay.

Why are 1970’s 4wds becoming so popular? The decade saw three company’s build their reputations on big power. Steiger, Versatile and Big Bud became as 4wd specialists. In the late 1970’s the three 4wds makers raced to produce extra large 4wds. Versatile offered the 8wd 600 hp Big Roy 1080, Steiger offered a 650 hp Panther Twin and Big Bud topped them all with the worlds largest tractor, the 16V-747. The story of the Big Bud 16V-747 has become well known in recent years with two video’s about the tractor and its current owners the Williams Brothers of Big Sandy, Montana. In 2003 Toy Farmer Magazine offered both the 1977 760 hp “Factory Version” and the “Modern” 900 hp model owned by the Williams. A separate 900 hp Signature Edition was offered by the Williams Brothers. If you purchase the new 1/16 16V-747 Signature Edition it will have a serial number and a 1/32 and 1/64 scale matching serial numbers to add to the 1/32 and 1/64 Signature Editions previously sold. The 16V-747 is a model that has lots of promotion. It will be interesting to see where the 1/64 values go in the next few years. The 760 hp version is one of the nicest 1970’s 4wds on the 1/64 market today. The real 760 hp model worked on a 10,000 acre cotton farm in California during the late 70’s, if you are thinking about it for display purposes. Today at most toy shows you can find the 760 hp 16V-747 for around $25.00.

The start of the 1970’s saw much smaller 4wds entering the market. J.I. Case followed its 120 hp 1965 1200 rigid frame 4wd in 1969 with the TK 1470. The 144 hp TK 1470 has become a popular 4wds for toy makers over the past decade. In the early 1990’s C&D Models offered a 1/64 and HO Scale version of the 1969 TK 1470. The C&D TK 1470 is some what difficult to find as it was produced from a kit on a per-order basis. If you can find one it will bring around $45. The C&D TK 1470 model could be purchased with or with out a cab. 

Ertl introduced a 1/64 TK 1470 in 1996. This model surprised collectors because it had moving 4 way steering and a clear window cab with an interior. In 1996 a dessert tan TK 1470 on singles was offered along with a Collectors Edition with Black Knight Graphics. In 2002 Ertl introduced the 1969 TK 1470 with duals. Both of the dessert tan TK 1470’s from Ertl bring $7 or less while the Black Knight model is in the $25-$30.00 range.

In 1972 J.I . Case replaced the TK 1470 with the 174 hp 2470 Traction King. The Traction King lead the Case Agri-King series. This model has been highly requested by 1/64 collectors. The model has not been massed produced but offered by Gunning and J&J. Gunning and J&J offered Case 4wd kits in the 1990’s. These models were not licensed by Case so they were not offered long. Both casters also offered the 1975 219 hp Case 2670. 1975 was also the year Case changed its color from tan to white. The Gunning castings can be distinguished from the J&J models. The Gunning models have a slightly elongated body and come on hard plastic single tires. The J&J Case 4wds have a more refined look and come on rubber tires. The Gunning models can be found most often on E-bay in the $45.00 range. The J&J models are now reaching prices from $75.00 to $100.00.

John Deere also reentered the 4wd market in the 1970’s. In 1971 John Deere introduced the 146 hp 7020. In 1972 the 175 hp 7520 joined the 7020 in the John Deere line. Both the 7020 and 7520 have been among the most requested tractors in all scales and brands by collectors. For many years Roy Baker offered a 7x20 casting that could be decaled as a 7020 or 7520 with early or late series decals. These castings were not licensed by Deere so collectors had to purchase decals separately. The Baker kit assembled and painted was bringing $45.00 before late 2002. In December 2002 Ertl released a 1/64 John Deere 7520 with duals in a set with a disk. This model is the deluxe version with 4 fenders. In November 2003 The Toy Farmer Magazine with Ertl released its 5^th 1/64 National Farm Toy Show tractor with the 7020. This version of the 7020 has a windowed cab and duals. In February 2004 Ertl introduced a 7020 on single tires. The 7520 and disk set brings around $10.00, the Toy Farmer 7020 is $25.00 at most shows and the new shelf 7020 is $7.00 at most John Deere dealers.

The other popular John Deere 4wd of the 1970’s is the 225 hp 8630. This model is at the top of many 1/64 collectors lists. Roy Baker has offered an 8630/8640 casting for the St. Louis Toy Show in the past. This model will bring around $45.00 if you can find it.

International Harvester entered the 1970’s with a 140 hp tractor and lead John Deere and Case at the end of the decade with a big V-8 powered 350 hp 4786. IH has the widest range of 4wds to collect in 1/64 scale. IH offered both ridged and articulated 4wds in the 1970’s. The 4156 transitioned IH into the decade. Only 218 2156’s were produced from 1969-1971. The Federal Yellow 4156 was built by Hough the industrial division of IH. In 1971 the 4166 replaced the 4156. The major changes included a power boost to 150 hp and a paint change to IH red. In 1977 the 4186 replaced the 4166. In 1979 the all new 2+2 design replaced the ridged frame Hough IH’s. Matsen Miniatures has produced the IH 4100 series casting for a number of years in 1/64 scale. These models can be found at toy shows and on e-bay. The average price is in the $45.00 range. Matsen offers the yellow 4156 and red 4166 and 4186. The 1976 4166 and the 1977-1978 4186 were available with a ROPS cab. In 1976 new Federal regulations required all tractors to offer roll over protection. In 1965 when the original 4100 was introduced it could be purchased with or with out a cab. The cab used on the 4100 was used throughout the 13 year production run. By 1976 when the ROPS legislation came into effect IH decided to retrofit ROPS around the 4100 cab rather than engineer a new cab for a tractor headed for retirement. Matsen Miniatures offers both their 4166 and 4186 casting with a plastic resin IH ROPS structure around the cab, if the collector wants it.

Matsen International 4186 with ROPS

In 1974 IH entered the articulated 4wd market. By the mid-1970’s 4wd were gaining market share and popularity. IH teamed up with Steiger to produce a new line of 4wds. The first model was the 174 hp 4366. In 1976 a V-8 powered 4568 model was added. In 1977 the 4386 and 4586 debuted. IH topped off the line in 1979 with the big V-8 powered 350- hp 4786. The IH 4wds offer a range of cab and decal variations from thw white cab 4366, red cab 4366 and 4568 and black cab 86 series models. Two castings of 1/64 models of the IH articulated 4wds are available to collectors. Roy Baker produced both a 4366 and an 86 series casting for his well known St. Louis Toy Show. The Baker castings can be easily identified because their frames are two casting haves and the wheels are attached with screws. These Baker Kits bring around $30-$35.00, in finished form. 

Baker International Harvester 4786

Big Bud,  John Deere, Case, International and Steiger are just part of the 1970’s 1/64 4wd story. In March we will look at Woods & Copeland, Knudson, Versatile, Oliver, Minneapolis-Moline, White-Plainsman, Allis-Chalmers, and Massey-Ferguson.