Newark Vintage Tractor Show marks 75 years of John Deere diesel engines 

The modern 8RX 410 may look a far cry from its 1949 ancestor, but it is the natural successor to the Model R, demonstrating how farm machinery has evolved over the period and will be on display at the Newark Showground event on 9th and 10th November. 

A special exhibitor class for original two-cylinder John Deere diesels has been created and will be judged at the show.  This will include 70, 720, 730, 80, 820 and 830 models. 

Introduced in 1949, the Model R tractor marked John Deere’s entry into the production of diesel-powered farm equipment, the event organisers said.   

Between 1949 and 1954, over 21,000 Model R tractors were produced at John Deere’s factory in Waterloo, Iowa.  

Fuel efficiency

The rugged and dependable 6.8 litre, two-cylinder, 47 hp diesel engine was the forerunner of a range of two-cylinder diesel models famous for power delivery and fuel economy. 

When tested at the Nebraska Tractor Test Laboratory in 1956, the 720 tractor set the fuel efficiency record of 17.97 horsepower hours per gallon at 100% maximum load, a record not broken until 1983. 

From 1960 onwards, John Deere tractors were powered by three, four, six or eight-cylinder engines and continue to offer industry-leading fuel efficiency today.  

While John Deere has committed to offering a wide range of products powered by alternative fuels and renewable energy, diesel engines continue to offer the most convenient, efficient, and environmentally acceptable solution for large agricultural and industrial machines, show organisers added. 

The Newark Vintage Tractor & Heritage Show has been running for more than 20 years, attracting 10,000 visitors and showcasing 1,000 exhibits.  

Learn more about the Newark Vintage Tractor Show. 

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