Glen Ellyn, Ill. (March 25, 2003) - They're for kids... for collectors... for everyone who's ever admired an American icon-John Deere's famous green-and-yellow farm equipment. Produced by Ertl, a brand of Racing Champions Ertl, they're the latest additions to the popular John Deere collectibles lineup that's been a hit since it was introduced in 1947, and they're arriving in stores now.
"These 1:16-scale replicas are the real deal," said Bill Walters, Managing Director of Ertl. "We've selected some of John Deere's best-known farm implements, the ones that almost everyone has seen in the fields hard at work, and we've precision-crafted them with amazing detail in heavy die-cast metal. And we didn't stop there. We've given them free-rolling wheels, we've made them steerable, and we've even built-in hitches so they can really get out and do the job. Above all, we've built-in the quality that's synonymous with the Ertl name."
And, he added, "Besides being attractive enough to grace any collector's shelves, these replicas are rugged enough to stand up to kids' serious play action for hours of great fun."
The new additions to the John Deere lineup for 2003 and their suggested retail prices include the 4310 Tractor with Mower $22.99; X485 Lawn Garden Tractor, $15.99; 950 Utility Tractor, $14.99; 2755 Tractor with Cab, $24.99; Tractor with Cab and Loader, $29.99; and Tractor with Wagon, $24.99. In all, Ertl will introduce more than forty new John Deere replicas in a variety of scales during 2003, and the entire lineup can be previewed on the Racing Champions Ertl website.
Racing Champions Ertl (www.rcertl.com) is a leading producer and marketer of innovative collectibles and toys targeted at adult collectors and children. The Company's diverse product offerings include scaled die-cast replicas of John Deere agricultural equipment and NASCAR stock cars, other licensed vehicle replicas, pre-teen toys, sports trading cards, racing apparel and souvenirs, and collectible figures. These products are sold under the Company's market-focused brand names, including Racing Champions®, Ertl®, Ertl Collectibles®, American Muscle™, AMT®, W. Britain®, Press Pass®, and JoyRide Studios™. The Company reinforces its brands and enhances the authenticity of its products by linking them with highly recognized licensed properties including NASCAR, NHRA, John Deere, Harley-Davidson, Case, Polaris, Caterpillar, Ford, General Motors, DaimlerChrysler, Texaco, Universal Studios, Warner Brothers, HIT Entertainment, Nintendo, Sega, and Electronic Arts. The Company's products are marketed through multiple channels of distribution, including mass retailers and specialty and hobby wholesalers and retailers, OEM dealers, and to corporate accounts for promotional purposes. The Company sells through more than 20,000 retail outlets located in North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
