Some John Deere trivia from Wiki...
John Deere was the trade name of
snowmobiles designed and built by
John Deere from 1972–1984. The initial design and testing phase came in 1970–1971, when engineers tested other popular snowmobiles, and found ways to improve them. The machines were produced by the John Deere Horicon Works of
Horicon, Wisconsin along with lawn and garden products. Lawn and garden equipment is still manufactured there.
John Deere also had its own range of
snowmobile suits.
Marketing
The slogan "Nothing Runs Like a Deere", still used today by Deere & Co., started with the John Deere snowmobile line in 1972. From 1978 to 1980, JD used the slogan "Big John - Little John." In 1980, another new slogan was introduced: "Ride the new breed of Deere".
In 1980, John Deere was the official supplier of snowmobiles for the
Winter Olympic Games in
Lake Placid, New York.
Market exit
In 1982–1984, the snowmobile market was in a downward slide, and the driving force behind the snowmobile program, executive vice president Robert Carlson, had left the company. This made ending the snowmobile program an easy decision for Deere. The parts supply and all snowmobile-related resources were sold to
Polaris. There was an understanding that Polaris would continue where Deere left off, selling snowmobiles and parts to the Deere dealers that were interested. This never worked out. Recently a prototype Liquifire was uncovered in a Polaris warehouse which would have been one of the first snowmobiles to feature independent front suspension.
The Snowfire was the last production snowmobile on the market to have a free-air engine, and the last snowmobile in production for John Deere.
A 1948 Farmall Super A/C Christmas Tree Sprayer - one of only seven built, of which two are known to still exist today. It was probably very modern in it's day. Completely restored in Kentucky.
