Why Maroon Belly?

Oil leaks weren't as easily noticed on darker colors.

It was the 70's. Weird things were happening.

Someone in the accounting dept noticed that when they ordered paint by the 55 gallon drum the cost per gallon was way cheaper ($1 a gallon) then when they got it in 5 gallon buckets ($2 a gallon)  and when they ordered it by the semi tanker load  (50 cents a gallon) it was even cheaper per gallon then by the 55 gallon drum.

Now that's a conspiracy theory 

Allis company was soooo huge I doubt paint was much of an item. They bought about every color possible for all the things they built. At least that's my take.

I asked Norm Swinford this exact question. His reply was like Dr Allis said they wanted a darker color because oil leaks didnt show as easily, the intent was black, but they had a mock up that was in prime, and the president of the company seen it and said he liked that color, so keep it, and after a lot of negative feed back it was eventually changed to the intended black. His words, not mine

^^^Yeah!

And, like someone above said, that primer-maroon color and the orange do not compliment each other in the slightest. That president dude, his wife musta matched his socks, slacks, and tie for work each day.

ACFarmer wrote: Guess I'm in the minority, I think the maroon belly tractors look good as long as it's not faded out.

I agree, I've always liked the looks of them. I like the black bellies too but when someone paints a maroon belly black it doesn't look right to me, guess I'm just use to maroon paint with the different cab, decals and cream wheels and top. I think they look especially good with ROPS or an open station.

ACFarmer wrote: Guess I'm in the minority, I think the maroon belly tractors look good as long as it's not faded out.

I guess I'm in the minority as well as I always liked the maroon belly. Especially when they were new and glossy. Additionally, same colors as my alma mater: Virginia Tech!

I had a 7030 only truly new tractor I ever bought. Part of my purchase deal was remove all maroon paint and paint it black. When they got to my farm I scraped off paint behind the rails to make sure. They had and got to unload. I Never regretted my decision or the cost. I Hate the maroon some Moron chose.

I bet ya a dollar that sales would have been better if the 7000's came out with black bellies. They were such a shock to the system the way it was,then you add in that "out of place" maroon ......YUCK!

Well i have always prefered the maroon models, And i never liked the look of the black belly cabs always thought the earlier cabs looked better.

I tend to favor the early cab as well. The proportions are better but that front panel I'll bet was a bear to make. From the operator's seat it makes little difference. I don't remember ever seeing a moroon belly when they were new. Was the color dull then or shiny?
Check that, looking at a side by side photo of mine I see the flat panel offers more glass to reduce a blind spot.

Edited by plummerscarin - 21 Mar 2020 at 8:48am

I always figured the early cab’s lower windows where designed as a “cultivator view” window. Long days of row cultivating could hurt an operator’s neck. Look at front axle row marker rod, then turn and see cultivator behaving or not(1st gear @ idle, fenders, rolling fenders, shovels, shank angles, etc...).

The early year-a-round cabs weren’t conducive to cultivating. Lots of open station umbrellas used though.

So AC’s newer acoustic cabs allowed operator air conditioning, shade, music, comfy seat, & great views of the crop rows.

It sure did not hurt the sales like the Deutz color you all like so much !!  LOL