One of the UK’s largest collections of John Deere toy tractors and implements is to go under the hammer at Cheffins on 16th October, with more than 500 models offered for sale as part of the Cambridge Vintage Sale.
Collected by Peter Green, 77, a retired building surveyor from Saffron Walden, Essex, the toys have been assembled over the past 12 years. At its peak, Mr Green’s collection saw some 900 toys and models. He is now offering approximately 50 per cent of these, as he plans to expand other parts of his collection.
Mr Green will be selling the 1:16 scale models, which include rare and highly sought-after examples of American John Deere tractors and implements. The majority were built by ERTL, which was founded in 1945 and is the global leader in farm toys. Other examples are from Spec Cast, Gilson Riecke and Nolt.
Mr Green said: “Like most schoolboys I had been interested in tractors from a very young age. I visited the Royal Show in the 1960s and started collecting tractor leaflets and pamphlets. Over time that collection grew, and I then decided to sell it all but by then I had the collecting bug. So I started collecting John Deere toys instead. I started the collection 12 years ago, when I got in touch with a dealer from Indiana, US. I built up the collection slowly with him as he helped me source some of the rarest models out there, including the specialist gold models. As time went on, the collection grew and I fitted glass-fronted cabinets into my house to keep them in. I also bought from dealers based in the UK and also off of Ebay and other websites.”
The highest value examples from the collection include some of the bespoke commissions, such as the John Deere 8650 Kinze conversion; a John Deere 4520 V8 with twin rear wheels and a modern John Deere 9RX830. These are estimated at £300 - £500 apiece.
Mr Green continues: “I have decided to sell for two reasons – the house is just about full up and I need to be able to make space for the other part of my collection. These are the 1:32 scale models, I already have around 450 of these, but I intend to buy more with the space left over after the sale. Also, the American market for these has changed. It’s getting harder to import them and a great source of future models has now been cut off from collectors here in the UK. So, I will be selling the bigger toys and keeping the smaller ones. I am also looking to expand my collection into Caterpillar earthmoving examples.”
Ted Shepherd, Associate at Cheffins says: “This has to be one of the most expansive John Deere toy collections we have seen in the UK. Collections of this quality and scale rarely come to the market, and we expect there to be considerable interest from collectors both in the UK and internationally. What makes Peter’s collection particularly interesting is the level of research and attention to detail behind it. He has spent 12 years tracking down individual models, and some of the pieces have been custom built, with examples that are believed to be unique. All of the toys are offered without a reserve.”
Custom built models include a John Deere 425 Hay Cuber, a Number 22 Cotton Picker and an early engine powered wire tying mobile baler.
Mr Green continues: “Collecting these took up a lot of my time. What I have really enjoyed has been the investigation into finding the models, sourcing them and the detective work which goes into that. The joy really comes from finding something available which you have been looking for and then working out the puzzle of how to get hold of them. I hope these models will give someone else as much joy as they have given me.”
The proceeds from the sale will be reinvested into Mr Green's 1:32 scale John Deere collection, as well as helping him expand his collection of Caterpillar earthmoving models.
To sell items at the Cheffins Vintage auctions, please visit: https://www.cheffins.co.uk/machinery-vintage-auctions/vintage/enter-lots.htm
The Cheffins Cambridge Vintage Sale
16th and 17th October 2026
For more information, please visit contact Cheffins Machinery Department on 01353 777 767, [email protected]