Tractor designation number

[twostepn2001]

l saw in another post there was mention of the 606, 706, 806 and 1206. made me wonder how IH chose the model numbers for each tractor and sometimes the seemingly random way they were designated. For example, what happened to the 906 or 1106? Why were those particular numbers skipped?

[12_Guy]

I always assumed the first two digits were appropriate HP and the last was number of cylinders. 404 and 504 are similar age and 4 cylinders but what do I know?

[Matt Kirsch]

Not sure if there was ever anything "official" on how the marketing department came up with the numbers. No doubt some of it came as the result of asking the question, "What sounds good?" That's why you don't see certain numbers like 906, 1006, 1106.

It's pretty obvious that the 4's and 6's came from number of cylinders in the engine. I suspect that IH started out intending the model numbers to be the approximate horsepower plus the number of cylinders, but it really only comes close to holding true with the 06 series. Then again, a 1206 is really only about 20HP stronger than the 806, not 40, so it really doesn't warrant being called a 1206. "Ten-oh-six" doesn't sound right, and "eleven-oh-six" just plain sounds awkward.

[nepoweshiekfarmalls]

On 3/5/2025 at 12:03 PM, Matt Kirsch said:

Not sure if there was ever anything "official" on how the marketing department came up with the numbers. No doubt some of it came as the result of asking the question, "What sounds good?" That's why you don't see certain numbers like 906, 1006, 1106.

It's pretty obvious that the 4's and 6's came from number of cylinders in the engine. I suspect that IH started out intending the model numbers to be the approximate horsepower plus the number of cylinders, but it really only comes close to holding true with the 06 series. Then again, a 1206 is really only about 20HP stronger than the 806, not 40, so it really doesn't warrant being called a 1206. "Ten-oh-six" doesn't sound right, and "eleven-oh-six" just plain sounds awkward.

The decision to use the 666 model number must have been an interesting one!!!

[lotsaIHCs]

40 minutes ago, nepoweshiekfarmalls said:

The decision to use the 666 model number must have been an interesting one!!!

My wife told me I can't bring a 666 home. I'm skirting the issue by owning a Hydro 70.

[Matt Kirsch]

2 hours ago, nepoweshiekfarmalls said:

The decision to use the 666 model number must have been an interesting one!!!

They painted themselves into a corner.

[jordi 1455]

From the mid 50's to the mid 60's the german model designation was the number cylinders first and the hp second.

In 1963 came the D-514 based on the 504 and the first digits the amound of hp. and the last digid the number of cilinders.

In the mid 60's most European models used this kind of designation. This started to end in the late 70's with the introduction of the 955, the first digids still telling the amound off hp, but the last digid doesnt represent the number cylinders. 

 

Also the number designation can be different by country. The 845XL was build in France, but the same tractor was build as the 844XL in Germany. When de the production of the 844XL ended in Germany and was moved to the UK in the late 80's, the tractor was build as the 845XL, but for the German market still sold as the 844XL.

The UK build 85XL and 95XL series were sold in north America as the 85 and 95 series. 

Also in Europe we had the Maxxum 5100-series, 5100 Plus series and the 5100 Pro series who were sold as the Maxxum 5200-series

The magnum 7200 Pro series were sold in the US as the Magnum 8900-series. 

[Little Red]

I think John Deere did something similar with the numbers example: 4020, 40 engine hp, 20 pto hp 

[Drysleeves]

6 hours ago, nepoweshiekfarmalls said:

The decision to use the 666 model number must have been an interesting one!!!

That's the predominant thought but:

https://escapeallthesethings.com/666-616-number-mark-of-the-beast/

[acem]

Woe to you, oh earth and sea
For the Devil sends the beast with wrath
Because he knows the time is short
Let him who hath understanding reckon the number of the beast
For it is a human number
Its number is six hundred and sixty-six

 

[Sask466]

Six Six Four, the neighbour of the beast!!

I always thought 666 was a questionable number for IH to run with, especially 60 years ago.  

 

[DT Fan]

On 3/6/2025 at 12:23 PM, nepoweshiekfarmalls said:

The decision to use the 666 model number must have been an interesting one!!!

I wonder how many buyers actually opted not to purchase those machines just because of the number? I'm sure there were at least a few. I have plenty of tractors in that hp range but wouldn't mind having one if the right deal came along.

[nepoweshiekfarmalls]

I pulled the church float in the 4th of July parade a couple times with the old 666.  Nobody complained!!!