Collector to auction off 500 John Deere toy tractors in Cambridge
A 77-year-old collector from Essex is selling half of his John Deere toy tractor collection at an October auction to make room for more collectables at home. The sale takes place in Cambridge on 16 October.
About 500 John Deere toy tractor models belonging to 77-year-old Peter Green, of Saffron Walden, Essex, will go up for auction in Cambridge on 16 October. Green is offering only around half of his full collection, saying his house has become too full to hold any more.
A retired building surveyor, Green spent 12 years building the collection. He said his fascination with tractors began in childhood, when he first collected tractor leaflets and pamphlets. After eventually selling that collection, he found he still had the collecting habit and turned to John Deere toy tractors instead. Over the years he acquired increasingly rare pieces, including specialist gold models, and had glass-fronted cabinets installed in his home to display them. He sourced items from UK-based dealers as well as online marketplaces including eBay.
Most of the models are built to 1:16 scale by farm toy manufacturer ERTL. Among the pieces heading to auction are a bespoke 8650 Kinze conversion, a 4520 V8 fitted with twin rear wheels, and a modern 9RX830 model, which auctioneers Cheffins expect could each fetch between £300 and £500.
Ted Shepherd, an associate at Cheffins, described it as one of the most extensive John Deere toy collections seen in the UK, noting the level of research and attention to detail behind it. All items in the sale are being offered without a reserve price.
Green plans to reinvest the proceeds into his separate 1:32 scale John Deere collection and to expand his collection of Caterpillar earthmoving model vehicles.
