Some of the most collectible IH tractors in existence, with some valued well above $100,000 will be on display in Des Moines today through Saturday. The 28th annual Red Power Round Up takes place at the Iowa State Fairgrounds.
Author and Photographer Lee Klancher is an IH authority who has written many books about red tractors.
?I love the fact tractors had such a significant effect on our society over the last 100 years. I love being out in the countryside taking pictures of tractors and the landscape around them,? Klancher said.
Klancher will moderate a panel joined by several engineers who brought tractors such as the 2+2 and Steiger models to life Thursday afternoon at 1:00pm. His new book Red 4WD Tractors will be available at the show.
?It is a big illustrated book. You can see a picture of every model we make sure to do that and they are gorgeous heavy-duty books with a ton of history. We work with about half dozen contributors to make sure we tell the story right and interview 100 engineers and designers,? Klancher said.
The book features the limited 7488 on the cover and captures stories about the design and evolution of high-horsepower four-wheel-drive tractors and chronicles many rare and collectible machines, including the 2+2?one of the most revolutionary and controversial machines built by IH, with styling and performance that generated varied reactions. Klancher will host a panel talking about those untold stories Friday afternoon at 1:00pm.
More than 1,000 tractors will be on display at the Red Power Round Up, including many special tractors such as one of the six Steiger-built models?7388, 7588, 7788. Only two of each of these were built. The 7488, Serial Number 1 also is expected, the very first example of only 15 built.
