1998 was a special year for the bobcat skid steer loader, it was four decades old.

Click on the photos to enlarge!

To mark this event a special 40th anniversary collector's edition model set was produced.

The commemorate sets were first handed out to the dealers at the 1998 bobcat dealer meeting in Germany.
Only one set was available per dealer.

The 40th anniversary set featured:

- 24 - Carat gold plated 763 F Series scale model.

- plastic cover display with a 40th anniversary gold medallion on it.

- oak wood presentation base, containing gold description plaques outlining the 763 and M 200 machine features.
- serial number on the presentation base.

- certificate of authenticity.

The 763 and M 200 scale models had all the original parts and decals.

This limited edition set was produced by Clover and scaled down to 1/25

For people who are interested in it, I have a nice anecdote about these sets:

When the set was first introduced to the dealers, rumors where that only one of this verry rare and beautiful sets was going to be donated per dealer, this caused small riots between Melroe Bobcat employees and there dealers and salesmen, asking for a set because they deserved it
Bobcat employees resisted each argument, I've even seen a salesman getting on his knees, but still without results.
Even myself had trouble to get one.

They where sad to see, that one year later the same sets were for sale in the Bobcat Store on the internet.
Of course they where upset, they did not receive a set in 1998 but know they and everybody else could buy one.