Solze1267 202 #1 Posted October 6, 2019 Well got a message yesterday from a friend of the family saying they had a wheelhorse they wanted to sell...and even though I have 2 under the knife as we speak I was naturally curious. All she said was it has 500 special on it. So we wet out today and found it was in fact a 500 special and was in pretty good shape ( except the mower deck that had been cut and welded). Don’t know much about these except the basics so if someone could chime in with some details I’d appreciate it as always. Plus at $100 I couldn’t leave it to A. Rot or B. Go to someone who wouldn’t appreciate it so we made room in the shop for it. 6 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vinylguy 4,691 #2 Posted October 6, 2019 Can you post a picture of the dash? It appears the dash is original and in readable shape. Thanks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Solze1267 202 #3 Posted October 6, 2019 @vinylguy will grab one for you real quick Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Solze1267 202 #4 Posted October 6, 2019 Here ya go @Vinylguy it's a little rough but original 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RandyLittrell 3,894 #5 Posted October 6, 2019 You should sleep well with that deal!! Heck, that cherry seat is worth more than you paid for the tractor! You did good, that should be a nice little machine! Randy 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ebinmaine 70,696 #6 Posted October 6, 2019 Niiiice!!! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 57,854 #7 Posted October 7, 2019 Great find! Here is a thread that will answer most any question you could ever ask on the 500 Specials. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
troutbum70 857 #8 Posted October 7, 2019 You should have bought lottery tickets as well as it was your lucky day. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 2,636 #9 Posted October 7, 2019 11 hours ago, 953 nut said: Great find! Here is a thread that will answer most any question you could ever ask on the 500 Specials. What is so special about them? 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 64,492 #10 Posted October 7, 2019 4 minutes ago, adsm08 said: What is so special about them? They were a promotional deal at the Indy 500, I believe. They toted race cars around the track for a parade lap before the race. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 64,492 #11 Posted October 7, 2019 @Solze1267 great find! I use my $80 Commando 6 which looks to be essentially the same tractor quite often for chore duty! 4 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RedRider 120 #12 Posted October 8, 2019 (edited) 13 hours ago, pullstart said: They were a promotional deal at the Indy 500, I believe. They toted race cars around the track for a parade lap before the race. This is a common misnomer. The 500 Specials were merely a promotional model that were sold to the general public and they were not the model used for towing cars at the speedway in '68. There is one staged photo of a single 500 Special tractor at the speedway, but the Charger 10 was what was actually used at the track. Edited October 8, 2019 by RedRider 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 64,492 #13 Posted October 8, 2019 The things you learn on this site... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AMC RULES 37,145 #14 Posted October 8, 2019 Indeed. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
D_Mac 9,136 #15 Posted October 8, 2019 (edited) I had a chance to pick one up here recently but didnt take it. This one was a kohler engine with electric start. I didnt think they came with electric start or a kohler and once it finally started it didnt sound very good. Had a bad paint job and miss matched tires. He was asking 500 and didnt want to come off it. I took a photo of it before I left to try and convince myself to sweeten my offer. Well we never came together on a price. Edited October 8, 2019 by D_Mac 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Burnerman 759 #16 Posted October 8, 2019 I might have a solid deck for it. I’m in NJ though. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Solze1267 202 #17 Posted October 8, 2019 @Burnerman can you email me with price and what not bagged975@gmail.com Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vinylguy 4,691 #18 Posted October 8, 2019 On 10/6/2019 at 5:19 PM, Solze1267 said: Here ya go @Vinylguy it's a little rough but original Thanks for the picture. It may be rough but it's the first one I've seen that is legible. I think they used different dashes depending on what they had on hand? I've been wanting to offer a more complete kit for the 500 special with a dash kit but till now could not identify the dash panel. We are winterizing our redneck lakehouse this week and will be home for the winter. Summer seemed very short this year. This will be one of my first kit updates. Thanks again 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Solze1267 202 #19 Posted October 8, 2019 @Vinylguy well glad I could help...and as I've used your decals before and love them I already have what you offer for the 500 bookmarked on my computer for when it comes time to order them..guess I will wait to see what the update brings👍🏼👍🏼 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vinylguy 4,691 #20 Posted October 8, 2019 Will be adding the dash kit, shift pattern and uni-drive decals. I'll send you a message next week. Thanks again. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Pullstart 64,492 #21 Posted October 8, 2019 I bet that hole on the right side was for the ignition switch! Said key marks tell the story Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,243 #22 Posted October 8, 2019 This 513854 serial is the highest recorded so far and puts production into 8 batches of this 1-3631 model. The parts list dash panel is different than the one on this tractor. Illustration is not clear on the button plugs but suspect Item #118 is below the ignition switch for a 25/32" hole Item #137 is at the top in the lighter location for a 29/32" hole. Garry 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 723 #23 Posted October 8, 2019 That seat does not appear to be correct as the 500 Specials had a fiberglass back Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Solze1267 202 #24 Posted October 8, 2019 Both the fiberglass pan and the 3 piece were used... depending on production date and parts available Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
VinsRJ 723 #25 Posted October 9, 2019 (edited) 9 hours ago, Solze1267 said: Both the fiberglass pan and the 3 piece were used... depending on production date and parts available Interesting, never heard of that, I have had (5) 500 Specials all of them had fiberglass seat pans Edited October 9, 2019 by VinsRJ Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
