John Deere produced the Model 4255 tractors for four years from 1989-1992.

The very last one they made, SN# RW4255PO11844, was up for sale last Saturday (March 26, 2011) at a consignment auction by Ray Dietz Auctioneering in Fredricksburg, IA. What made this tractor even more enticing was the fact it was a “one-owner” tractor with only 1,850 hours and in excellent condition, despite being 19 years old.

What did it sell for? A record high auction price of $72,000. The previous record price I had seen was $56,200 for a 1991 4255 (MFWD) with only 641 hours, sold at an auction in southwest New York back on February 3, 2006.

The 1992 JD 4255 tractor that was sold Saturday on the Iowa auction was the two-wheel drive model. My contact at the auction, who sent me the cell phone video he shot, said the tractor was purchased by a young, local farmer.

John Deere 55 Series tractors (produced 1989-1992) with low hours are the hottest things I see on the used farm equipment market and it has been that way for the last 4-5 years. More proof came last Saturday on a farm auction in southwest Iowa, where a nice 1991 JD 4455 2-WD with 4,183 hours sold for $60,250.

I’ve been compiling auction sale price data now for 21 1/2 years. That’s the highest auction price I’ve ever seen on a 2-WD Deere 4455.