The first 863 skid steer loaders rolled of the production line back in 1996.

Click on the photos to enlarge!

Three years later in June of 1999 the 863 F Series scale model was born.

The back upright had the new horizontal stripes and numbers in black and red.

The 863 F also had the "one piece" tailgate with the Melroe bobcat and Ingersoll-Rand logo on it.
Also notice the radiator grill and exhaust pipe.

History was made again in the bobcat scale models:

For the first time a scale model was equipped with a quick change system.

The "BOB-TACH" quick change attachment system was first introduced in 1970.
This innovative system enabled the bobcat skid steer loader to be transformed quickly into a multi-job machine.

Changing attachments now could be done in a breeze.
Although it has been revised and redesigned numerous times, the Bob-Tach system has been a mainstay ever since.

With the 863 F Series scale model came 4 different attachments:

- bucket

- hydraulic breaker

- auger

- pallet fork

All of these could be easily snapped on and off the loader.

The 863 F Series scale model came in a display box, with pictures on it but, no technical data.