The "cab-less" 7000 series tractors ??

I posting this in an effort to maybe learn something that I really never knew until recently. I'm in high hopes that someone can clarify the matter of 7000 series tractors that didn't have a cab or even a ROPS structure.  When the 7030 and 7050 were introduced in early 1973, there were quite a few of them that were platform tractors and got Hiniker or Year-a-Round cabs installed on them. So, I have actually seen 5 or 6 of those early 7030/7050 platform/fender tractors over the last 50 years. My youngest brother actually owned one for a couple of years and sold it to an old customer, who to this day, still has it. It was all painted up and was a factory built platform/fender tractor. The 1973 advertising literature even has ONE picture of such a configuration for the 7030-50 tractors. Well, the other day I discovered something in a January 1st, 1977 Sales Book that I never knew. The 7040-7060-7080 tractors were offered four ways:  Cab and heater was standard equipment....Cab, heater and Air conditioning was an extra $943 bucks.....This is the way 100% of the tractors we sold were ordered !! They were also available with: Protective frame (4-post style with canopy) for a deduct of $1290 dollars (which I knew) BUT, they were also available with : "No Cab--No Protective Frame" for another deduct of $1933 dollars from the standard equipment price !!    So, exactly what is "No Cab--No Protective Frame" ???? This is my question....what is this !!?? Now, one page back in this same Allis-Chalmers Sales Book is the model 7000 tractor. It too is listed with cab and heater, or cab heater and A/C, then a 2-post protective frame with canopy and finally the last choice was "Wheel Guards only". Well, that's pretty clear as I've seen several 7000's over the years with fenders and no cab. But, back to the bigger chassis 7040-60-80's......what was "No Cab--No Protective Frame" ??    I've never seen one. I have no idea how many were made. I'm thinking it was just the bottom half of a 4-post protective frame with a place to fasten the seat track and the fenders from a cab. In other words, a one-piece weldment with no roll over protection and no big flat top fenders like we are used to. The 7040-60-80 parts book shows nothing. It does show the platform, but nothing for the seat to bolt to. When you look at the 7030-7050 parts book, they clearly show fenders and a seat track frame with the platform pictures. So, am I correct in my thinking ??  Does ANYONE remember a 7040-60-80 configured like this ??? Because I sure don't and it was never talked about as a possibility to make a sale. As far as the first 7040-60-80's using the 7030-50 fenders and platforms, I suppose they could have BUT, the parts books do not reflect that at all. And if someone says that the tractor was delivered to a dealer without cab, fenders and a seat , and the dealer just added these things on to complete the tractor???  I don't believe that for a minute. How would the transport driver be expected to load and unload it without a seat mounted to some sort of framework ??  So, for all the veteran AC Techs out there....WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ???   Maybe the parts book is in error. I see the 7010-7020 and 7060 parts books all show big flat top fenders but the 7040 shows nothing of the sort.

Edited by DrAllis - 19 May 2023 at 6:51pm

The question is was the 7080 built by the factory, the dealer or later.

Edited by coggonobrien - 20 May 2023 at 7:50am

There was a member here that went by Dan's 7080. He had a cabless 7080, I always assumed he had cut the cab down and left the fender portion, maybe not? Haven't seen him on in years, about all I can add to this.

Did you guys buy it new?

Think about how farming was changing in the early 1970s. We went from the D21 being a big tractor to the 220 to the 7000 series, farms were getting bigger. Farmers kids were getting jobs in town. You didn't have farmers out in the fields all nite long. When they first got tractors they were glad they didn't have to walk behind a horse all day. Then when they got a tractor sitting in the dust or working thru a cold nite. After they got cabs then they realized they were hot boxes that needed ac. I remember when the 7000s came out, I was a kid, seemed like some didn't have cabs but I don't know where they disappeared to. I remember going to farm shows and seeing Hiniker and Year-round selling cabs for those tractors. And you do see one for sale occasionally.

Edited by DanWi - 20 May 2023 at 10:33am

Sherman, curious on your sn? Mine is 3118. I'd imagine they would run them at the same time. Jan Jocam? would be a good informant on this. 

A friend of mine has a 7030 fender tractor, thought it was neat without a cab. A fella that pulls a 7050 with 4 post ROPS does very well at a local fair each year. They are rare, but I have seen a few. I’m glad Dr Allis brought this topic up, it’s been interesting.

Edited by AC720Man - 20 May 2023 at 10:04pm

Check out the pictures on this website of open platform 7045 7060 7080 sold in Africa

And, apparently 7080 for that market anyway. I still bet you'll not find an originally built open station 7080 for the North American market. They sure do look cool open though! It would be cool to go over to see some of the stripped down tractors from here, but they likely are long gone now as they don't take care of equipment the way people in our country do. Dang near everything in a third world country is junk, which is why their country is a third world country lmao! 

Doc I dont know. Its Bobby Vauses tractor.
He wasnt there today to ask. If its not factory somebody dfoid a fantastic job to make it look factory
He has another fender 7000 series ill compare the next time im there

Four things catch my eye. #1. that bracket that goes across between the fenders that holds the rear work lights. Look at the welds......doesn't look anything OEM to me. #2. ANY 7030 I ever saw with platform only, the left and right platforms front edge was angled (45 degree?) just like the cab would have been. These look like a blacksmith job of square tube welded together with steel on top. The OEM left platforms angled front edge was even cut out to go around the fuel tank neck. This one sure isn't.  #3. If you look on the left side of the radiator mounting plate, there's no paint between those two 3/8" bolts. Looks to me like there was an air conditioner condensor bracket plate there when it was painted and that's why there's no paint. Also look at where the AC compressor bracket was bolted to the block....no paint there either ??  #4. On factory platform tractors the center platform doesn't sit on top of the left/right platforms like this one does. This center platform is from a cab tractor. Factory platform center section sits at the same level as left/right down in-between unlike this tractor. I'm afraid this tractor ain't original OEM platform as some of the parts aren't matching up.

Edited by DrAllis - 22 May 2023 at 4:58pm

Do you think that in the United States when these tractors came out they were being operated by the farmer and his family members vs other countries where they would be operated by field workers. Also wouldn't it have been about that time that there was a big push here for rops on tractors so in most cases they just ended up being cab tractors.

Hey Ed, I think those fenders are from a 6060-6080 !!   The left one has the tunnel on the inside near the front and that's what gives it away.