MADE IN AMERICA!

Both the 60 and 80 tractors had the option of two-wheel drive or front wheel assist (known as FWA today but which White called PFA, for Powered Front Axle). The two models were very much the same in size and stature, but the 60 had a naturally aspirated 60 PTO horsepower engine and the 80 was turbocharged and cranked out 80 PTO ponies. Those were the factory ratings, by the way. The Nebraska tests rated them at 61.61 and 81.48 horsepower respectively. Many owners and technicians have said both those ratings were wildly understated and that 90 horsepower from the White 80 was fairly common. Retired engineers from White acknowledge this with a wink and a smile.

The normal color scheme for the 60 and 80 was Silver but in order to tug on the nostalgia strings of old Oliver, Cockshutt and Moline owners, they offered special editions in Oliver Green, Cockshutt Red and Minneapolismoline Yellow. While the majority of the Model 60s and 80s built from ’89 into 1991 are Silver, the next most common color is Green, followed by Red and then Yellow. Unconfirmed production numbers are listed as 162 silver 60s, 435 Silver 80s, 91 green 60s and 165 green 80s, 19 red 60s and 19 red 80s and a mere 8 yellow 60s and 9 yellow 80s.

The base model features a 6 speed transmission but optionally, you could add a three-speed power-shift feature to further split the gears. As stated earlier, a FWA was optional and many survivors of the 900+ American Series have that option. A ROPS was standard and both canopies and cabs were optional. Power steering was standard as was a 540 rpm PTO and Cat I/II 3-point lift.

The American 60 and 80 models were a fine tractor that were lost in the shuffle when the newly formed AGCO acquired the White tractor lines in 1991, later getting the rest of White Farm Equipment. Once AGCO was in control, the 60 and 80 were discontinued and replaced for 1992 by tractors built in Europe by Same-lamborghini-hurliman. As a result, with only a few hundred of both types, the Americans are reasonably uncommon. By all reports they were popular and successful. Today those Americans in the special paint are attracting newfound attention.

 A three point hitch and rear PTO was standard but these telescoping low hitch links were an option. Lift capacity is 4,500 lbs. on the Model 60 and 5,000 lbs. on the 80. This one only has one set of remotes but up to three were optional. Flow was up...

 Here you see the four American colors in a period image. It’s hard to tell them apart without being able to see the decals, but the Silver and Red units are both 80s and the Green is a 60. The two-wheel drive 60 had significantly smaller front tire...

 When optionally equipped, the PFA axle was a ZF unit. A shield for the front driveshaft was option to protect it from “gathering up” tall vegetation.