Doug Harke
John Deere’s first large four-wheel drive tractor was the 8010 which was introduced in 1959 and became the 8020 a year later. Both models were powered by a six cylinder GM diesel which produced 215 horsepower. Sales of these early models were limited because the farmers weren’t ready for a such a large and costly tractor and because the selection of large implements was limited. Production ended in 1964.
John Deere 8020 serial # 44 of 99 models produced
The next large tractor venture, by John Deere, was the WA-14 and the WA-17 which were made by Wagner known for its construction equipment. Horsepower figures were 225 for the WA-14 and 280 for the WA-17. These Wagner built tractors were offered from 1969 until John Deere produced their own four-wheel drive tractor, the 7020, in late 1971. In the late 1980’s, Eldon Trumm produced 1/16 scale sandcast models of the 8010, 8020, WA-14 and WA-17 and these bring high prices today. Ertl brought out the 8010 in the Precision series last year.
John Deere quickly followed the 7020 with the similar but more powerful 7520 in 1972. Featured in the 7520 was a turbocharged and intercooled version of the 5020 engine which produced 175 horsepower. Ertl’s first four-wheel drive toy tractor was the 7520 which came out in 1972 when the real one was introduced. As with all of their toy tractors except the 5020, Ertl did not include a model number so some collectors referred to them as a 7020 but the intercooler bulge on the top of the hood, just in front of the cab, clearly reveals that this is 7520.
John Deere toy catalog showing the 7520 in 1973.
One piece air intake on an early 7520
Early versions of the 7520 had a one-piece solid plastic air intake just like the early 5020’s. After a year of production, this was changed to the more common two-piece air intake again like the 5020’s. The third 7520 variation added a large rivet across the inside back of the cab to resist the rigors of young farmers and this is the most common variation. In the interest of consumer and child safety, Ertl removed the air intake for the 1975 production run and this is by far the rarest variation. This one-hole variation came with sticker decals instead of the water transfer decals that were on the three earlier versions. Production of the one-hole 7520 was limited because the larger 8630 replaced it later in 1975. Because the one-hole variation is the rarest, you will pay twice as much as for an air intake version. Ertl is now offering the 1/32 scale 7020 in several versions.
Most common 7520 has the two piece air intake and cab rivet.
All 7520’s came in an open front corrugated box with early ones using the “slick” cardboard. There is a good selection of parts to restore or repair your 7520 including yellow plastic cab roof and seat, wheels, air intake, muffler, diecast cab, rear ends, and decals.
Rarest 7520 is the one-holer with no air intake.
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What is New in 1/16? |
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| 1/16th Steiger 2200
Collectors Edition. This Steiger is the second in the Steiger Barn
Series by Scale Models |
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| 1/16th International 1086 2004 Rick Larsen
Edition Toy Tractor Times Tractor. Special Chrome Collectors Edition by
Ertl.
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