Deere 4-WD Tractors Trace Back To Oregon Inventor
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Turn the calendar back to 1969, and that’s when you’ll find that the bloodline of Deere 4-WD tractors was injected with 51 gold FWD Wagner 4-WD tractors painted Deere green and yellow. Oregon inventor Elmer Wagner, inspired by powerful equipment he’d seen working in Germany during his time in the service, built a prototype 4-WD tractor in 1949 and, along with his six brothers and another company, formed the Wagner Tractor Company in 1955. News travels fast in the equipment business, and when Deere heard of the tractors, they bought one and pitted it against a modified J.I. Case 4-WD in a field test. The Wagner outdueled the Case in an uphill tillage test and thoroughly impressed the Deere brass in attendance, including the Chairman. For several years, Deere tried rather unsuccessfully to build its own 4-WD loosely based on the Wagner concept.
The Deere model 8010 4-WD debuted in 1960 with a marketing splash. Farmers clamored around the 20,000-lb., 225-hp. rig and soon backed away when they saw a $30,000 price tag, more than $20,000 higher than a 4010. In the field, the 8010 had mechanical problems and also lacked Wagner’s patented Pow-R-Flex coupling. That feature allowed Wagner’s articulated design to perform flawlessly, even when the tractor was turning, under full power and its wheels were oscillating up to 20 inches on uneven ground. Deere struggled to sell 100 of their 8010s in 5 years, while Wagner was selling 100 or more 4-WD tractors a year.
Eventually, the problematic 8010s were recalled, rebuilt in the factory, and reintroduced as 8020 models. In the late 60’s, as Deere worked on a different 4-WD design, Steiger, Versatile, J.I. Case, and Oliver were selling successful models. To gain a stronger presence in the marketplace, Deere approached Wagner in 1969 to deliver 100 Wagner tractors that Deere would repaint, rename, and renumber.
Deere dealers were wary of promoting the models because they were built with outsourced truck and industrial parts, which they didn’t want to stock. The company sold just 23 WA-14 models and 28 WA-17 models of the 100 they’d contracted for. The WA-14 was priced at $35,900, and the WA-17 sold for $41,750. The tractors were heavy and expensive, and only large farmers could afford them.
Both WA models used an 855-cu. in. 6-cylinder Cummins diesel. The WA-14 output was 225 hp., and the turbocharged WA-17 produced 280 hp. Both models had a Fuller Roadranger RTO 910 10-speed transmission. Axles were supplied by FWD and Wagner made the drop boxes and hinges. An open station was standard, and cabs with heaters and air conditioners were optional. Either 15 or 35-gpm hydraulic pumps with single, dual, or triple outlets were available. The tractors were bareback and had no pto.
While Deere was selling Wagner models, it was also developing its own 7020, which debuted in 1971. The 7520 appeared in 1972. They weren’t produced in large numbers, but they did help the company gain a small foothold in the already crowded 4-WD market.
Meanwhile, the contract Deere signed with FWD Wagner was voided. It had a stipulation that allowed Deere to cancel at any time, and if they did, a no-compete clause prevented Wagner from producing 4-WD tractors for 5 years. Deere canceled in 1970, and Wagner was soon out of business. Fifty-some years later, many gold Wagner tractors built in the 50’s and 60’s are still being used in the U.S., Canada, and other countries.
The 51 Deere badged WA-14 and WA-17 are now collector tractors, though they’re seldom seen at tractor shows. Collectors surmise that many, like the Wagners they’re modeled after, are still being used. Darrell Ebbersten of Elkhart, Ill., owned two that sold at his 2020 auction. His completely restored WA-17 brought $148,000, and the unrestored WA-14 sold for $78,000.
Deere has undeniably done extremely well with 4-WD tractors, manufacturing well over 60 4-WD and tracked tractor models through 2023.
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Deere 4-WD Tractors Trace Back To Oregon Inventor TRACTORS Antiques Turn the calendar back to 1969 and that’s when you’ll find that the bloodline of Deere 4-WD tractors was injected with 51 gold FWD Wagner 4-WD tractors painted Deere green and yellow Oregon inventor Elmer Wagner inspired by powerful equipment he’d seen working in Germany during his time in the service built a prototype 4-WD tractor in 1949 and along with his six brothers and another company formed the Wagner Tractor Company in 1955 News travels fast in the equipment business and when Deere heard of the tractors they bought one and pitted it against a modified J I Case 4-WD in a field test The Wagner outdueled the Case in an uphill tillage test and thoroughly impressed the Deere brass in attendance including the Chairman For several years Deere tried rather unsuccessfully to build its own 4-WD loosely based on the Wagner concept The Deere model 8010 4-WD debuted in 1960 with a marketing splash Farmers clamored around the 20 000-lb 225-hp rig and soon backed away when they saw a $30 000 price tag more than $20 000 higher than a 4010 In the field the 8010 had mechanical problems and also lacked Wagner’s patented Pow-R-Flex coupling That feature allowed Wagner’s articulated design to perform flawlessly even when the tractor was turning under full power and its wheels were oscillating up to 20 inches on uneven ground Deere struggled to sell 100 of their 8010s in 5 years while Wagner was selling 100 or more 4-WD tractors a year Eventually the problematic 8010s were recalled rebuilt in the factory and reintroduced as 8020 models In the late 60’s as Deere worked on a different 4-WD design Steiger Versatile J I Case and Oliver were selling successful models To gain a stronger presence in the marketplace Deere approached Wagner in 1969 to deliver 100 Wagner tractors that Deere would repaint rename and renumber Deere dealers were wary of promoting the models because they were built with outsourced truck and industrial parts which they didn’t want to stock The company sold just 23 WA-14 models and 28 WA-17 models of the 100 they’d contracted for The WA-14 was priced at $35 900 and the WA-17 sold for $41 750 The tractors were heavy and expensive and only large farmers could afford them Both WA models used an 855-cu in 6-cylinder Cummins diesel The WA-14 output was 225 hp and the turbocharged WA-17 produced 280 hp Both models had a Fuller Roadranger RTO 910 10-speed transmission Axles were supplied by FWD and Wagner made the drop boxes and hinges An open station was standard and cabs with heaters and air conditioners were optional Either 15 or 35-gpm hydraulic pumps with single dual or triple outlets were available The tractors were bareback and had no pto While Deere was selling Wagner models it was also developing its own 7020 which debuted in 1971 The 7520 appeared in 1972 They weren’t produced in large numbers but they did help the company gain a small foothold in the already crowded 4-WD market Meanwhile the contract Deere signed with FWD Wagner was voided It had a stipulation that allowed Deere to cancel at any time and if they did a no-compete clause prevented Wagner from producing 4-WD tractors for 5 years Deere canceled in 1970 and Wagner was soon out of business Fifty-some years later many gold Wagner tractors built in the 50’s and 60’s are still being used in the U S Canada and other countries The 51 Deere badged WA-14 and WA-17 are now collector tractors though they’re seldom seen at tractor shows Collectors surmise that many like the Wagners they’re modeled after are still being used Darrell Ebbersten of Elkhart Ill owned two that sold at his 2020 auction His completely restored WA-17 brought $148 000 and the unrestored WA-14 sold for $78 000 Deere has undeniably done extremely well with 4-WD tractors manufacturing well over 60 4-WD and tracked tractor models through 2023
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