The Mystery Moline: The G1000 Wheatland “Rice Special” FWA

I’m just about positive that this is the single rarest tractor that an auctioneer has ever listed on Tractor Zoom. It’s one of two ever built…I think. For now, I’m still working on tracking that part down.

Background:

The Minneapolis Moline G1000 in and of itself isn’t the world’s most uncommon tractor (the factory churned out about 7400 of them), but there were a few of them that are super-rare. The G1000 Wheatland accounts for about 37% of the total production (just under 2900) according to some research done by the folks over at Michigan Moline.

The Rice Special:

The Minneapolis Moline G1000 Rice Special was a variant of the Wheatland, as best as I can tell, and I think most of them went down to TX near the Gulf Coast. Mechanically, they’re pretty much identical to the G1000 Wheatland. Same 504A-6 diesel motor, beefy frame, full crown fenders…the typical stuff. However, to be a Rice Special, it had to be ordered with rice tires (23.1-30s, I believe) and there may have been one or two other things. Regardless, they apparently have a special character or two somewhere on the serial tag (I don’t have a photo of the serial tag for this tractor, unfortunately.)

So here’s where the story gets interesting. There were only 89 4WD G1000 Wheatlands built, but I think there were only two  Rice Specials. I’ve done a fair amount of poking around and I only found record of one other one – it’s painted red and it’s got a cab on it.

The Mystery:

So, I’ll ask you…are these two tractors a pair separated at birth, or are they half-siblings? Was there another open-station G1000 Wheatland Rice Special with front wheel assist? Furthermore, if there was another, where is it now?

The world may never know. I’m trying to run down the gentleman in Texas who owns the other G1000 Rice Special. If the two of us get our heads together and figure this out, I’ll update this post!

In the meantime, go click the link and check out the details on this G1000! If you can help me solve the mystery, send me an email! (interestingiron@tractorzoom.com)

Until then, I’ll continue pacing the floor at night long trying to solve the mystery…

Looking for some Prairie Gold of your own? You should start here.