Iowa man's restored tractor featured in calendar

DYSART, Iowa (AP) - It is a true Cinderella story. She sat for two years after rolling off the assembly line in Charles City. Nobody wanted her. Now, every business or person hanging the 2010 edition of "The Original Classic Farm Tractors" calendar can look at Kent Aschenbrenner's 1959 Oliver 880 row crop tractor.

The Dysart farmer and his rare family heirloom, with a special mist-green paint scheme, are featured for April.

Inclusion in the calendar is a reward for years of hard work and love, Aschenbrenner said.

"Who would have thought (she) would be so popular?" Aschenbrenner said. "(The calendar) is the creme de la creme of the classic tractor world."

As a marketing ploy, Oliver made a limited production run of 880s with a green mist paint job instead of its signature darker meadow green. The grain and livestock farmer said 249 were made - and 30 are known to exist today - mostly with 737 as the first three serial numbers.

The light green Olivers were a tough sell. Aschenbrenner said many remained in lots for months or years. His sat at Davis Implement in Vinton for two years before Karl and Jay Aschenbrenner, Kent's grandfather and father, decided to buy it for $3,500. The dealership included a four-row cultivator for free to sweeten the deal.

"That's how unpopular the color was. Grandpa and Dad got so much razzing for this color tractor it wasn't even funny," Aschenbrenner said.

Color aside, the farmers bought the six-cylinder, 60-horse machine because they needed more power, and the 880 delivered. It was their largest tractor at the time.

The Aschenbrenners used it for a variety of tasks. The power helped them pick more Pioneer seed corn faster.

"It was great," said Jay, 75. "It had power steering. We really enjoyed it."

By 1969, another upgrade was needed to farm more acres, and Karl and Jay traded in the gas-powered 880 to the Oliver dealer in Dysart for a more powerful diesel with a cab. The family didn't see it again for 34 years.

Eventually Kent joined the operation and developed a love for antique Olivers, which he grew up with. He's restored four and owns 10 working Oliver or White machines. White purchased Oliver.

While cleaning out a machine shed in 2002, Kent found the 880's owner's manual, with serial numbers and original air cleaner cap. The odd color fascinated him.

A quest immediately began to find the machine using the Internet and fellow Oliver collectors.

"I never thought I would ever find it," Aschenbrenner said.

As luck would have it, Aschenbrenner found out Larry and Sandy Harsin of Estherville acquired and restored two mist green Olivers. The serial numbers -73727 - from Aschenbrenner's owners manual matched the tractor the Harsin's found at a dealer in Lake Henry, Minn.

"To me it was like winning the lottery. I was crying tears of joy," Aschenbrenner said. "I told my wife, 'I found grandpa's tractor.'"

The Harsins sold the tractor back to Aschenbrenner for $3,500 - the same price as new, minus the cultivator. His grandfather died before he could get it home.

The 880 no longer had its original color. After 12 experiments, that was rectified. Aschenbrenner also forked out big money for new tires, engine and electrical work, decals and a new seat.

"It's just a whacky story to find grandpa's tractor with the weird paint," he said.

So much so, a friend suggested Aschenbrenner - Mr. April, as he's now known by fellow farmers - send in a picture of the tractor and its story to Classic Tractor Fever of Wilmington, Del., which publishes the calendar. About 300,000 were printed, officials said.

John Harvey, president of the company, says he gets calls almost every day from restorers wanting to be in the calendar. He'll also receive dozens upon dozens pictures and written requests each year.

Harvey, who puts together the calendar, said he has an extensive waiting list. Aschenbrenner's story and tractor stood out.

"It's rare and extremely well-preserved. And, it's a family tractor with a unique history," Harvey said. "It's the entire package."