Model tractors have been around since the early 20th century, but it wasn't until the 1970s that collecting them became a serious hobby. Early toy tractors were often made of cast iron, and are highly sought after today. There are also collectors tractors, produced by companies like John Deere in limited numbers for hobbyists. And then there are pedal tractors, or rideable scaled-down versions of the real thing.

Manufacturers like Dent, Hubley, and Ertl have produced model tractors of all sorts, ranging from the brand-named John Deeres, International Harvesters, Farmalls, and Fords to unbranded models. The most popular scales for these models are 1/16 and 1/64. Some companies today make precisions model tractors for collectors who like to display them in cases or in miniature scenes featuring other model farm equipment.