RARE IH 7788: Sold!

[J-Mech]

Some of you guys may or may not be familiar with the '88 series prototype 4X4 tractors IH built. Guy in Canada owned two of them. Just sold them on the 17th of this month. Here's an excerpt from the auction:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sd3sktCKS5c


Fact:
In Ken Updike's book: International Harvester Tractors 1955-1985, he lists two 7388's being owned by Stuart Johnson of Rushville, Nebraska. Serial numbers #501 and #502. In this video, the publisher of the vid states in print at the bottom of the video that the 7388 at the auction already sold. He lists the hours, but not the serial number. It is not known how many of these tractors IH built, but Ken states in his book there are at least two of each model. If the auctioneer is right, he claims the seller bought the two being sold new. That would mean that at least three 7388's were built. According to Updike, all the inventory that IH had of these tractors were sold to the highest IH dealer bid at an auction at the Hinsdale Engineering Center (in Hinsdale, Il.).


As I recall, I have seen one in person at Red Power Round-up in Penfield, Il. But it was years ago, and I don't know where the pictures are I took of that day. I will have to look.

[Rescue11]

That is awesome. Did they offer a three point and PTO on the 77 and 7388's?

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by Rescue11

That is awesome. Did they offer a three point and PTO on the 77 and 7388's?

According to Updike in the aforementioned book, they made two versions of each model: A "bareback" tractor (4 hyd remotes and a drawbar only) and one of each model with 3ph on it. IH did not have any 4X4 tractors with a PTO. They didn't have the ability to add rear PTO according to Updike. Probably because of the HP, and no way to power it through the transfer case they used. I've been around few of the IH/Steiger produced tractors and the older smaller machines used a rear end of the 2 WD tractors to make the front and rear axles. I have no idea what they used for the 7X88 4X4's.

[zippy1]

That was awesome Jon, thanks for sharing it.
A rare bird indeed. Another piece of IH history. "If" they could have only kept agoing a little longer.

[R Bedell]

Thanks for sharing. I was not aware of these models. More surprised, that only two were built.

[Dirty Steve]

That was slick! Thanks for sharing the link. We used to have a pair of 4586's on the farm. Both bareback. Fuel HOGS!

Now, one of those rare birds is owned by a family friend in Michigan. And he got a mess of spare parts with it. I can not remember which version (73 or 77) he had/has (think he still has it). The 45's we had both came from him.

[SS5150]

There was a 7388 at Red Power Roundup last year in Racine, WI. I *think* it may be one of the tractors from Nebraska. Pretty sure it lives in SE Wisco.

I think these are similar to the older IH/Steiger hybrids, except these were upgraded to the series IV cab & 20 speed tranny setup, and the newer IH styling. The V800s in the 75 & 77 lost rpm & hp compared to the 45/47s they were set to replace.

Cool tractors too bad they never made it.

[SGragg]

Thanks for sharing the video, Jon. Auctions are always interesting...

[drglinski]

I saw that. Crazy how much the auction went for.

[J-Mech]

Originally Posted by drglinski

I saw that. Crazy how much the auction went for.

I dunno. Compared to the price of a comparable new tractor, it's not too bad. The fact that they were most likely purchased by a collector, and will never get dirty again..... that's a lot of money. But, if you have it to spend......