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This John Deere 34 manure spreader sold for a new record high auction sale price of $2,700 on an April 13, 2012 farm auction in east-central Nebraska

Time to show a little love to the old manure spreader.

My last blog post here for Machinefinder.com focused on a sweet 1995 John Deere 7800 2WD tractor sold for a record auction price of $71,000 on a recent southwest Indiana consignment auction. I talked of how “beautiful” this used tractor was.

The popularity of vintage tractors in the U.S. likely stems from nostalgia from people in the agricultural industry and a favorance of certain brands like John Deere. These machines represent a popular hobby among farmers and people who simply enjoy the purr of an old engine on the used farm equipment.

A number of vintage John Deere equipment events are held around the country each year, ranging from tractor pulls to large conventions for fans to show off their machines, but one fan of the brand has turned his love of antique models into a lucrative business.

This 1995 John Deere 7800 2WD tractor with 1,679 hours sold for a new record high auction sale price of $71,000 on an April 7, 2012 consignment auction in southwest Indiana.

Used tractors can be beautiful.

One of the sharpest looking used tractors I’ve ever seen sold for a new record high auction sale price on a recent consignment auction in southwest Indiana. The tractor was a 1995 model JD 7800 2WD with 1,679 hours. Check out the picture above.

Isn’t she a beauty?

This 1972 John Deere 4020 with 3,660 hours drew intense bidding interest on a March 24, 2012 farm auction near Bremen, OH on a sale by Leith Auctions.

A pair of recent farm machinery auctions proved again the rising bidder interest in acquiring nice condition John Deere 4020 tractors.

It was an emotional day for Russ Alexander.

The Hannibal, MO resident was selling his prize collection of John Deere 2 Cyl. antique tractors on Sullivan Auctioneers annual Spring Consignment sale March 20, 2012 in Hamilton, IL. Russ decided to sell his tractor collection to start a college fund for his grandkids. A couple of those grandkids were on hand on sale day walking the line of green tractors with grandpa.

This 1999 John Deere 8200 tractor with 3,918 hours sold for a new record high price of $88,000 on a farm auction March 10, 2012 in northwest Missouri.

Up until last year I had only seen (1) John Deere 8200 tractor ever sell for over $80,000 at auction.

That one was WAY back on a March 6, 1997 farm auction in southeast Minnesota, where a 1995 model 8200 with only 545 hours sold for $81,000. It took another 14 years until I saw the next JD 8200 tractor sell for more than $80K, a 1998 model 8200 with 2,750 hours in “excellent” condition sold for $86,000 on a March 26, 2011 farm auction in northeast Colorado.

This 1981 John Deere 4240 tractor with 4,791 hours sold for a new record high auction sale price of $34,500 on a Feb. 28, 2012 farm auction in east-central Nebraska

Another week, another new record auction price on a John Deere tractor.

Last week’s new record high sale price was $34,500 paid for a very nice 1981 JD 4240 on a February 28, 2012 farm auction in east-central Nebraska. This 4240 was a “2nd owner” tractor and had 4,791 hours. Noteably, it was also a “Quad Range”, not a “Power Shift” and sold with 9-bolt duals & hubs.

This 1992 JD 4960 Tractor with 3,600 hours sold for $86,000 on a February 11, 2012 farm auction in south-central Illinois

The hottest used tractor around?

Easy. That would be the 200 horsepower John Deere 4960, made by Deere from 1992-1994. Prior to September 2012, the highest auction sale price I had ever seen on a JD 4960 tractor was $76,500. Since September? I’ve seen a whopping (6) 4960′s sell for $80,000 or more at auction.

Wow.

This 1983 JD 4050 2WD tractor with 3,975 hours sold for a new record auction sale price of $44,000 on a January 14, 2012 farm auction in west-central Iowa.

Values on used 100 horsepower and under tractors are going up.

Proof came in the form of two recent farm auction sales in January 2012. First on a January 14, 2012 farm auction in west-central Iowa, a very nice 1983 model JD 4050 2WD tractor with 3,975 hours sold for $44,000, a new record high auction sale price.

Talent, Imagination & Passion.

A winning recipe for any endeavor in life. Last week in Mississippi I met two retired buddies who are high on the talent, imagination and passion scale and have produced some amazing things with their heads, hearts and hands, unique testaments to their devotion to all things John Deere.

Check out the YouTube video above and you’ll be introduced to Raymond Miller of Stantonville, TN. Raymond used to work on oil rigs in South America back in the day. Lately he’s been busy crafting (3) exact replicas of his favorite tractor, his own 1939 John Deere B. Miller’s (3) minature replica JD B’s had tons of folks stopping to look at the farm show last Friday and Saturday.