Deere Celebrates 50 Years of 4WD

John Deere is celebrating 50 years of manufacturing and marketing 4WD Tractors during 2009. To commemorate this milestone, each 9030 Series Wheel Tractor produced during model year 2009 will have a special decal displayed on the tractor.

The 4WD story started in 1959 when John Deere introduced its first articulated farm tractor, the 8010, at a John Deere field day near Marshalltown, Iowa. Farmers were invited to examine the tractor and view a demonstration of this new tractor along with other new equipment which would be offered for the next crop year.

The 8010, at 215 engine horsepower (150 hp at the drawbar), was the star of the show and farmers were in awe of this giant. It was 8 feet 2-1/2-in (2502 mm) tall to the top of its steering wheel, 8-ft (2438 mm) wide and 19-ft 7-1/4-in (5975 mm) from grill to drawbar and it weighed 19,700 lb (8936 kg).

Fifty years later, John Deere's 9630 is the flagship 4WD Tractor of the 9030 Series Tractors which was introduced in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 2007. The 9630 has 530 engine horsepower. It is 13 feet (3960 mm) tall to the top of the exhaust stack, 16 feet (4877mm) wide and 22 foot 6 inches (6860 mm) long. It can weigh up to 57,000 lb (25855 kg).

During the last 50 years, through customer input, continuous engineering improvements and new technology, John Deere has moved to the head of the class in 4WD Tractor innovation and is the leading 4WD Tractor of choice around the world.