Back in Black: The story behind the Caterpillar 420F2 that you can’t have (PHOTOS)

Updated Feb 29, 2016
Cat Black Backhoe 3

Caterpillar didn’t have any new machine announcements to share at this year’s World of Concrete show. But that doesn’t mean their booth was devoid of buzzworthy machines.

One in particular had people talking: a 420F2 IT backhoe—painted bucket to bucket in black.

Technically, it’s a dark gunmetal. Whatever the true shade, it looks amazing. Strikes you like a special ops machine.

“Everybody’s asking about it,” said Cat’s Sherrie Williams, adding several show attendees wanted to know when they could order their own 420 in black. Unfortunately, the shade was specially mixed for only two units.

Last year, Cat celebrated two pretty big backhoe milestones: 30 years in the segment and 300,000 of those loaders produced. Williams said the company’s commercial team wanted to do something special to mark the occasions, and the black backhoe project was born.

Williams said Cat has no plans to make the shade available to the public.

The loader at WOC rolled off the assembly line in August 2015 and will travel around to a few more locations and events throughout this year, so keep your eyes peeled.