When all of these updates were made, the tractor was designated an 8020 to coincide with the 20 series that was being introduced for the 1963 model year. Not all of the 8010s had been sold so they were still new tractors but needed to keep up with the current series. Plus, by now Deere had quite a bit of money tied up in these machines and didn’t want to slash the price on old models. The 8010 was already starting to earn a bad reputation so the decision to change the numeric
designation to an 8020 didn’t take much thought. Only one-hundred 8010/8020 tractors were ever built in the Waterloo, IA plant. Every 8020 out there was born an 8010. Out of the onehundred tractors built, there are eighty-seven of them accounted for today and eighty-one of those are in running condition. There is ONE 8010 located in Wisconsin that escaped the recall. Forty-nine of the tractors were equipped with a 3-point and fifty-one were not. At least
This rare industrial model showed up in Penfield, IL in 2006. The round hole under the steps had been a mystery for years but it was learned this was for mounting a push blade on the tractor.
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a couple of them left the plant as industrial models. In 2006 a reunion was help at the Historic Farm Days event in Penfield, IL. There had not been that many 8020s together in one spot in over 40 years. Together 8010/8020 owners have formed a support group to help each other out with information and to document the locations of the existing models. Owners of these limited production models are all quite proud of their tractors and rightfully so. Opinions
vary as to the success of this tractor but regardless, this was John Deere’s GIANT. Later this summer the group plans a 50th anniversary celebration on the introduction of the 8010, to he held in Rantoul, IL at the Half Century of Progress show. If you need more information on this group or would like to include your 8020 in the celebration, please contact Darrel Fischer 815473-4367 or Roger Hayenga 815-562-7188.