Most of us are familiar with tractors that pull us along, engine in front. But a few makers experimented with rear-engine machines – and that did not include Porsche, which went for a conventional configuration. Here’s one of the more obscure makes we’ve ever run across, and with that push-you rear-mount powerplant to boot: this is a John Blue G1000, made sometime between 1974 and 1976, listed … well, everywhere really because this is the only John Blue that’s been for sale for years and every tractor seller worth his salt is repeating the ad … but here at TractorHouse for $8500. Only 200 of these oddities were made; demand petered out due to John Blue’s pricing structure, which charged the buyer for every single thing on the machine until it became prohibitively expensive. Estimates suggest that only about 30 of these unusual ag machines have survived the abuse of their work. If you’ve been looking for a John Blue, get on over to Marlette, Michigan, to pick her up.
John Blue was founded in 1886 by a guy named John Blue – big surprise – an inventor by trade. Growing up in North Carolina cotton country, his first product was a stalk cutter – a drum with several sharp blades that could turn under a mule-driven wagon, shortening the time to harvest. Well, where there’s a mule, there’s manure, so Blue’s next invention was a fertilizer spreader. Later, his company specialized in repairing cotton gins, then moved on to making a variety of implements. John Blue Company still exists today, part of the agricultural supply chain, now specializing in pumps. The G1000 was inspired by the Allis-Chalmers Model G, produced from 1948 to 1955 for small plots and gardens. The AC G bore its engine in the rear, allowing the operator to see the work being performed, and Wes Cagle, an engineer at John Blue, thought that idea would be popular twenty years later. If you’re a hack at running a tractor like me, you’ve gotten off the seat once or twice to see exactly what the heck is going on back there, so I can appreciate the strategy.
The G1000 was advertised as the “tool carrier” because it could carry implements in front on the implement ears, attached to the axle, or in the rear. But it’s a lightweight 2WD tractor, so don’t be thinking it’s ok for your 100 acres. This one runs well, and the hydraulic system apparently works.
Speaking of running, the G1000’s utilizes International Harvester’s UC-60 four-cylinder gas engine – the same one used in the Farmall Cub – good for about 12 hp. The gearbox is a Borg-Warner manual with three forward gears, reverse, and a hi-low range limited-slip differential. A pump running off the engine provides power to the hydraulics, and a pulley runs a rear PTO. Users recommend attaching ballast to its front end: that rear engine and lightweight nose can have this little guy standing on its hind legs!
This example provides a good start for a prospective restorer: the graphics are still mostly intact – including the warning label below the seat – the tractor runs with its original equipment, it has a canopy, and it even comes with a few vintage implements. The price is on the high side, but it wouldn’t surprise me if someone steps up to add this to a tractor collection.
Never seen one, never heard of one. Interesting concept. Thanks for the feature on it Michelle 🚜
Really neat tractor. My first thought was weight distribution when I saw this, but completely get the concept of actually seeing where you’re going and what you’re doing. ( this is coming from a fella who couldn’t even mow a straight line on the front lawn). This is something I think somebody could use today if they wanted too. But to see something this rare at a tractor show fully restored would be a serious attention getter for sure. Cool find Michelle, thank you once again for showing us something rare that many of us have never heard of or seen.
Great stuff, Michelle! I also have never heard of John Blue tractors.
At first glance it reminded me of those 2 wheeled tractors, like a an old Gravely or David Bradley, which I have desired for about a decade.
I love that this thing sports the same engine as a Cub, to me one of the greatest and most useful small tractors ever built.
I suppose if you needed parts (other than engine or grearbox) for a John Blue, you’d probably have to fabricate them.
Excellent write-up, Michelle, and I echo Driveinstile, thanks for showing us these rare and wonderful old machines.
Kind of reminds me of a David Brown 2D, which had the engine in the back and ran all its implements forward of the operator. I imagine that they could get a little bit hairy to handle. But I guess if there was a use for it, someone is likely to step up with the checkbook…
Like an Allis Chalmers G
Another take on an old concept. The only thing that would make this worth the money is that it’s a rare John Blue. The Allis G is still the favorite of truck farmers because of the unobstructed view for close cultivation of row crop vegetables. There are a couple of companies building new versions of this type of tractor, the latest is the Tilmor Super E, and yes, you guessed it, the E stands for electric.