For those people who have spent any amount of time piloting a John Deere 7810, it is a tractor which arguably stands out as one of the most popular and capable high-horsepower tractors ever built.

If you’ve never driven one, that may seem like a bold statement. Yet this American-built stalwart earned its iconic status on the back of a reputation for unstoppable power, and uncompromising reliability.

The John Deere 7810 was the largest tractor in the John Deere 7010 Series, which was introduced in 1996 to replace the 7000 Series. Built in Waterloo, Iowa, the 7010 Series comprised of three models, namely the 7610, 7710 and the 7810.

Modular steel chassis

Underneath, the tractors were constructed around a full-frame modular steel chassis, which had been developed for the 6000 Series and 7000 Series tractors, introduced in 1992.

This new design eliminated the requirement for a load-bearing engine and transmission.

In many ways, the new models closely resembled their predecessors, sharing virtually identical styling, with only subtle changes to the design of the tractors’ decals. Beneath the sheet metal, however, it was a different story.

While the 7610 retained the 6.8-litre unit used by its 7600 predecessor, the 7.6-litre John Deere engine used in the 7700 and 7800 models was relegated to the history books. In its place, the 7710 and 7810 were equipped with a new 494 cubic-inch six-cylinder turbocharged John Deere 6081 engine.

Unstressed 175hp

Designed to be capable of reliably producing more than 300hp in marine applications, this 8.1-litre brute provided the 7810 with a colossal 870Nm of torque at just 1,400rpm, producing an unstressed, conservatively rated 175hp at 2,100rpm.

Harnessing the engine’s power, the 7810, and its slightly less powerful 155hp sibling the 7710, were offered a choice of either a 40km/h version of John Deere’s 19/7 Powershift gearbox, or a 40km/h rated version of its bulletproof 20/20 PowrQuad transmission.

PowrQuad, which had been introduced in the 7000 Series, was offered as standard with a forward-reverse mechanical shuttle lever incorporated into the gear lever console.

An electronic left-hand power reverse lever, positioned next to the steering wheel, was offered as an option.

In July 2000, John Deere added its AutoQuad II transmission to the options list. This was followed in 2001 by the introduction of AutoPowr, John Deere’s hydro-mechanical CVT gearbox. Both of these transmissions were available in 50km/h format, which John Deere specified as standard with an electronic power-boost system which increased power to 196hp for PTO applications, or at speeds above 30km/h.

TechCentre cab

The début of the TechCentre cab in 1992 introduced John Deere 7000 Series customers to a driving experience light-years ahead of the curved-screen SoundGard unit it replaced.

Equipped with a luxurious air-suspension seat, air conditioning and a level of ergonomic refinement almost unparalleled at the time, even now the two-door cab remains a comfortable place to spend a long working day.

It’s been 15 years since production of the 7810 and its siblings ceased. Yet the mighty seven-eight remains extremely popular with those farmers who still own them, and many are still on front-line service.

Sales slump

During the final months of 7010 Series production, sales of the John Deere 7710 and 7810 slumped across the UK and Ireland as dealers and farmers alike anticipated the arrival of the new 7020 Series.

Yet ironically they are now worth almost as much today as they cost when they were brand new.

Prices have been steadily creeping up, for the past five years.

A tidy low-hour example of a 7810, can now easily command in excess of €40,000. That’s a significant amount of money for an old tractor. But then we’re not talking about just any old tractor.