The Top 5 John Deere D Variations Collectors Want! - Classic Tractor Fever

John Deere purchased the Waterloo Boy Company in 1918 and with it the Waterloo Boy Tractor. Deere continued to build the Waterloo Model N until about 1923 when they introduced their newly designed Model D. The D was a total redesign for the company, but did keep a two cylinder engine. The Model D has a two-cylinder, gasoline engine that can do 15 horsepower on the drawbar and 27 horsepower on the belt. Back in 1924 the Model D would have cost you about $1,000 US dollars or about $15,000 US dollars today. At 31 years the Model D was the longest production run of John Deere’s line of tractors. Over the years the D went through many variations and improvements, some of which are included on this list.

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[danjosephson]

Although most are now run on gasoline they do not have a gasoline engine. The 1924 Nebraska test was on kerosene. The 1935 and 1940 tests were on distillate. Low grade fuel was Deere's hallmark.

[geraldmingus]

As a young teenager in the '50s, dad had two John Deer on a Wisconsin farm - a "B" and a "D." The D was use to do the heavy work, and the B was used for everything else. My big memory was trying to start the D by myself. It had no starter, so first I had to open the petcocks. Then, I would climb onto the flywheel and let my body weight pull the flywheel around. Good thing it usually started pretty well!

[jimsteele]

Now that was an economical tractor. But why no drink holder?!

[deanbarr]

Beautiful machines, wouldn't mind owning a couple dozen of em. Love them Deere's.

[damienodonohue]

🤔mmmhhh, what about ladder frame radiator, and the real holy grail, fabricated front axle??

[tyfrank]

The John Deere D was a modern tractor in 1924, but by 1940, when they were styled, they were quite primitive. Nevertheless, they sold lots of styled Ds. I'm surprised the D was styled rather than replaced by a new model like a standard tread variation of the G.

[ericcoffedgp]

I love them! They are a blast to drive in a parade!

[NEAFarmKid]

Didn't the Exhibit B's (and Exhibit A's that preceded them) have a 3-spd transmission as well? I know the production line of D's didn't get 3-spds until 1935 or so.

[ramshackleshack]

We have a 1929 D.
Was grampa's pride and joy.

[thevillageblacksmith]

What do I think? Absolutely beautiful

[TheRancher]

I always thought the styled John Deere D at 0:44 was an older version of the John Deere AR but both JD AR-AO are versions of a John Deere A.

[richardwernig]

The most popular poppers for collectors

[jayeddleston]

Deere should’ve used the D model for a crawler instead of the m, 40

[n.mcneil]

If I was collecting Model D's I would definitely want one with an enclosed steering box filled with oil. The early D's had the worm & sector mounted in the front axle right next to the left king pin. It was completely in the open & exposed to mud & dirt. Very primitive.

[whalesong]

When was electric starting introduced? I plowed with a "styled" D in the late '50s and it had electric starting. I assumed it was a late '40s or early '50s machine.

[duncanwatson]

Q: Why is a John Deere D like a navel ? A: 'cause everybody has one ! One of my brother's is different that way, he has five, ... D's that is.

[dwightl]

My father had a D in the early 1950's. No idea what year it was made. I will say it had a nice coat of "patina" on it though. Recall riding with him plowing pulling 2-14"s.

[Grabatire]

Although the 1939 production started out in the fall of 1938, there were1265 unstyled tractors built before the first styled D came off the line on April 3rd or 4th of 1939, with serial number 143800. For whatever reason, those first 1265 tractors are often referred to as '38's although they were clearly manufactured in the 1939 model year.

[mattbachman]

Not sure how to refferance my styled D's serial # to determine the year. Or to use the one on the side of the block or is block or the 1 on the metal tab just below the shifter.??

[Brommear]

I'm old enough to remember them as working tractors - in Africa!