Do you own a Tree Frog?

[bmaverick]

We as North American owners haven't too much of a clue as to why Yanmar lime green tractors suddenly went red. Well, I found out the story on a Japan bloggers website.

On the blogger site there are 2 reasons why Yanmar tree frog green was abandoned.

1. People made jokes of the color and the tractor. Yanmar tractors got a nickname as ... tree frog tractors. And in a field of crops the saying went ... can anyone spot my tree frog? I don't recall where it was parked!

2. On export to the USA, it clashed with JD machine colors.

Now you know the rest of the story. So be kind to tree frogs and they will last a lifetime.

 

[bmaverick]

A cute tree frog.

 

[bmaverick]

Additionally, when the Yanmar machines went red, the headlamps (eyes) were first brought to the rear fenders with the YM273. It didn't fair well, thus, taking queues like the Satoh tractors, the eyes were moved inwards and above the grill.

 

[California]

Tree Frog? Hard to see in vegetation? Cute! I see the Japanese have a great sense of humor.

First time I saw a green Yanmar (I rented one for a day, 1977) my first thought was That's the same bizarre color as the ugly Leisure Suit a friend's wife bought for him to wear to the office. A painfully 'hip' 70's color. Now on a tractor??

 

[Citydude]

Tree Frog? Hard to see in vegetation? Cute! I see the Japanese have a great sense of humor.

First time I saw a green Yanmar (I rented one for a day, 1977) my first thought was That's the same bizarre color as the ugly Leisure Suit a friend's wife bought for him to wear to the office. A painfully 'hip' 70's color. Now on a tractor??

Ive always liked your avatar. Im in the tree frog color camp. It set them apart from the others.

 

[bmaverick]

Tree frogs are very cute. The Japanese culture is rich with items looking like living things. Glad Yanmar green machines got a nickname.

 

[bmaverick]

More cute tree frogs.

 

[bmaverick]

Tree frogs are really special. They existed for 3 years.

 

[bmaverick]

Beautiful tree frogs come to America.

YM135

YM155D

YM240

YM330

 

[California]

Tree-frog green persisted on the US Yanmars for a few years longer than on the Japan-market versions. My YM240 (YM2000 version for the US market) is from 1980, the next-to-last year for this model.

 

[bmaverick]

A tree frog farmer on a tree frog tractor. Love it!

 

[bmaverick]

Whilst looking around for the other thread for the YM2000 tree frog history, I happen across this YM1700. It's very unusual to see this color on a former tree frog green machine. This one is listed on a Polish tractor auction site.

 

[bmaverick]

And a second one!

 

[PILOON]

Don't own tree frogs but come early spring we have a bunch of them.
Noisy little guys for week or two but cute,

 

[bmaverick]

Don't own tree frogs but come early spring we have a bunch of them.
Noisy little guys for week or two but cute,

Are your tree frogs cute in green or red?