You won’t find this month’s Eagle Engines feature vehicle on the road, but that doesn’t make it any less cool.
Sophomore Aidan Luther is a diehard John Deere man and owns a classic green machine, the John Deere Model A.
Luther’s dad bought the historic tractor from a neighbor who had already restored it.
In 1934, John Deere & Company began production of the Model A to compete with McCormick’s Farmall tractors.
Deere marketed it as an affordable row-crop tractor, and it was a staple on family farms from the Great Depression through the 1950s.
Deere built 65,031 Model A’s in its single factory in Waterloo, IA. They sold for about $2,400 or roughly $59,000 in today’s money.
Luther’s tractor is a late-model, produced from 1948 to 1952. These models have a style that is highly sought after for restoration by collectors.
The late models looked slightly different, with the addition of a three-spoked steering wheel and battery under the seat.
“I’ve always really liked old John Deere tractors, and the John Deere Model A is one of my absolute favorites,” Luther said.
John Deere equipped the Model A with a 26-horsepower two-cylinder engine nicknamed the “Johnny Popper,” and a classic look that’s aged well.
The tractor is an iconic part of American farming history and a popular collector’s piece.
Over 300,000 Model A’s were sold by the end of its original production, from 1934 to 1952, and kept the same old 2-cylinder for the entirety of its 18-year run.
John Deere replaced the Model A with the John Deere 60, which was produced from 1952 to 1956.
Luther says he plans on keeping his Model A as original as possible.
One of the things that he likes about the Model A is how incredibly simple it is, making it easy to maintain and repair.
One of his favorite aspects of the tractor is its condition.
“For being over 70 years old, it’s great,” Luther says it still runs fine, and he drives it around the Luther farm in Sinking Valley during the summer.
The Luthers’ farm primarily grows corn or beans every year, but they also have horses, miniature donkeys, cows, and chickens.
Luther’s Model A looks so good that it even made it into West Central Equipment’s yearly calendar.
While he loves the tractor, it’s not exactly a daily driver, so when asked what his dream truck would be, Luther said: “either a 1997 Ford F-250 7.3 Powerstroke or a 1979 Ford F-250 with the 460 V8.”
