Years of production

[Curmudgeon 28]

I know, I should know, but I can't spit it out. What are the years of production for Wheel Horse? Guess I need four, the first year, the year AMC took over, the year Toro took over, and the last production year of the classic.

Thanks!

[dgjks6 6]

Someone with more knowledge will get more specific.

1947 was the first year of the walk aways - though I think they were Pond's. Not sure of the first year of wheel horse.

1974 bought by AMC

1986 bought by Toro

1990 is the first year the word Toro appeared

2007 is the last year of the Classic - though I heard they were all made in 2005 and then ust rebadged for 2006 and 2007.

http://www.tractordata.com/lawn-tractors/t...ear-sorted.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wheel_Horse

[C-Series14 15]

I'm brave...

1956 - Wheel Horse (1981 GT-2500 was 25th anniversary model)

1974 - AMC

1986 - Toro

2006 - 60th anniversary model 1946-2006 (counting the Pond years)

Now, let the others chime in, this should get them started! :thumbs:

[MikesRJ 552]

To the best of my knowledge ...

WHEEL HORSE TIME-LINE

- In 1946, Elmer and Cecil Pond began building their own tractors (approx. date-March 28, 19467) under the name of "The Pond Company".

- January 1, 1948, Partnership between Elmer and Cecil Pond officially cited.

- 1954, Pond Company begins marketing tractors as "Pond-Wheel Horse Garden Tractors".

- 1955, First Ride-Away Jr. marketed.

- 1955, "Wheel Horse Products, Inc" company name adopted.

- March 12, 1956, Cecil Pond takes over as Wheel Horse Products Company President from his father, Elmer Pond.

- 1973 Cecil announces he will step down as President and appoints Bob Hawkins the new President.

- May 23, 1974, Wheel Horse aquired by American Motors (AMC).

- 1983, Wheel Horse acquired by the Munn Investment Group in a leveraged buy-out.

- 1986, Wheel Horse acquired by Toro Company from Munn Investment Group.

- 2005 (??), Toro decides to kill the Wheel Horse name.

- 2006, Last Wheel Horse model produced.

[T-Mo-(Moderator) 4,345]

2007 is the last year of the Classic - though I heard they were all made in 2005 and then ust rebadged for 2006 and 2007.

I have a Wheel Horse brochure from 1998 and even at that time Toro used the name "Classic" for the 300 series.

[Curmudgeon 28]

ok, I did finally get off my dead butt last night and dug through what I have.

Dug out my copy of Straight from the Horses Mouth, and my copy of the last Classic build on cd. The date wrote on the cd is March, 9, 2007 and shows a 60th Anniversary being assembled.

I saw I left out the Munn Investment Group ownership, the original Pond is listed as 1946, AMC was 1974, Toro was 1986.

What I'm doing is writing a one paragraph history of Wheel Horse. Sounds easy, huh?

Thanks to all who responded!!

[64s 83]

Does anyone have the model numbers for the 2005 classic model? I can't seem to find any info on the 'classics' after 2004. Thanks!

:thumbs:

[TT-(Moderator) 1,128]

They were all model number 73450 - serial number denotes the year.

[MikesRJ 552]

73450 ... 270000001 - 270999999 ... 2007 ... GT Classic Garden Tractor

73450 ... 250000001 - 250999999 ... 2005 ... GT Classic Garden Tractor

73450 ... 240000001 - 240999999 ... 2004 ... 315-8 Garden Tractor

73450 ... 230000001 - 230999999 ... 2003 ... 315-8 Garden Tractor

73450 ... 220000001 - 220999999 ... 2002 ... 315-8 Garden Tractor