Gary: Here are some ideas on how you can start looking for that JD 4000
1) Talk to the auction company. They MAY still have records of the sale'
2) IF they do not, then go and talk to neighbors of your Father-in-law. They more than likely where at the sale. They MAY remember who bought the tractor.
3) IF the dealership that sold the tractor to him is still in business they may have an older employee that may remember who/where the tractor went.
4) You need to post much more information. The following would help.
A) THE town and state the auction was held in.
B) The exact DATE of the sale. I remember sales that I went to years ago but may not remember the farmer's name. Some times it is just where and when that I remember. I may remember who bought some thing or the area it went to.
5) Your more than likely not going to find it very easily. It is like an investigation. You will find a little information here and there. It took me years to find my Grand Father's JD 4010 and I had a lot more information than you have.
6) If you find out the general area that it sold in then here are some things to do.
A) Check with the closest JD dealer in that area. They may know the person that bought it.
B) Put an ad in the local paper asking for information. I had the best luck putting the ad in the "For Sale" classifieds. Farmers will usually look at the "For Sale" ads but not much other stuff.
C) Put an ad in the regional farm papers' An example in Iowa that could be the "Iowa Farmer Today". IF your Farm Bureau member you would post in the "Spokesman".
Now some general thoughts. The odds that the tractor is still in one piece and not parted out is pretty good. There where not that many of the JD 4000 built. They have been kind of an oddity since they where new.
Do not depend just on the Internet. Many guys that are collectors are not computer guys.
Now some bad news. They are very collectible right now. Even if you do find it you may not be able to buy it back. Even if you can, expect it to cost you good money. I have seen pretty tough JD 4000s sell for 10K plus pretty easily. Restored ones can easily bring 20K plus.
There are guys putting together collections of JD New generation tractors and the JD 4000 is a hard one to find to complete the "set". So there is a very good high dollar demand for them.
I wish you GOOD LUCK in your search. Involve that 15 year old in the "hunt". HE will remember the hunt just as much as the tractor if you do it together.
We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Restoration Story: Fordson Major - by Anthony West. George bought his Fordson Major from a an implement sale about 18 years ago for £200.00 (UK). There is no known history regarding its origins or what service it had done, but the following work was undertaken alone to bring it up to show standard. From the engine number, it was found that this Major was produced late 1946. It was almost complete but had various parts that would definitely need replacing.
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.