Time for a new project. How about doing a tractor that has several different colors Dianne suggested? After looking at possible options, the Oliver Super 99 GM diesel was chosen. Let’s just say that probably wasn’t the most scientific or sentimental way to choose a tractor to build!

A John Deere 425 with a bucket had been helpful with the little jobs around our farm and yard but wasn’t needed as much after transitioning out of dairy farming. Giving it a new look in its retirement years seemed like a nice transition.

Same story… strip it down and start mocking up. Anxious to see how the color combo would look, wife tried using the computer’s paint program. Obviously that is better left to the grandkids and cardboard and tape will continue to be used for any mocking up .

Hood, front grill, fenders were first in line to get replaced. The Super 99 GM diesel had dual air cleaner stacks that made it stand apart from the other Super 99’s. Although we couldn’t replicate the sound of a Super 99 GM, we pulled two exhausts into one and used a straight pipe to make the tractor sound a little beefier.

Adding the different paint colors brought the tractor to life. When the Super series were introduced, the wheels were painted green. In 1957 Oliver changed the wheels to red which seemed to be a more popular color scheme.

It has been interesting learning about the Super 99’s and especially the GM diesel version. Thanks to those who shared information with us about this particular tractor. Even more fun than building this “colorful” little tractor was hearing the stories people have shared about these workhorses and the sound that made them so distinctive!