Word went around the gossip circuit about the dropping of the  M2 in '79 for 1980.  We, dealers and employees, did our best to  encourage the powers that were to market the L2 as a M2 with increased capacity instead of 'dropping it' and replacing it with the lower hp L2.

The L2 with the 130 or 145 hp 301 cubic inch was as much hp as most needed in 90 percent of the harvest in the non hillside market.  The L2  frame, built as the M2 and L2 would have resulted in a common frame and a reduction in plant inventory thus making the L2 total lower cost. The sales psychology would have been that the M2 customer would brag about the increased capacity, less sensitivity to slope, increased grain bin size and still rationalize his purchase of an M instead of an L that many said was just to big.

Our pleas fell on deaf ears.  We still believe if the L2 had had a decal that said "M2 Plus" we would not have lost the market share and had to reinstate the M2...  just my ramblins on an old memory....  marketing is a challenging road to travel.