well I'm kinda in the market for an antique tractor. Right now we've got an early 80's kabota b8200 series, with a front bucket and a back hoe that we use mostly around the house. Both buckets stay on it at all times. I'm kinda wanting to pick up sometihng older of my own to take to shows and pulls and maybe slap a belly mower on it or some other implements and use around the yard, such as rakes or a sickel bar mower to do along the sides of the road.

My first thought was I'de like a ford to keep with the name sake but the only thing around me thats relativly easy to find with plentiful parts are farmall cubs. Perfect I thought, big enough to do what I would want to do but not so big that I wont have a spot to really keep it.(we have plenty of land, just no barn or anything to keep it in soo)

But then one of my buddies gave me a lead about someone that has a '70 something or other ford that was part of a trade for some impliments and he'de probally sell it if I was interested. Heres what my buddy remebers off the top of his head, <'70 something or other, maybe gas motor, not to big(I'm guessing alittle bigger then a cub), needs some small work but runs, and he thinks he remebers 600 bucks for it>

So I gues what I'm wondering is if anybody has any guess at what model it may be, or atleast could give me a list of models produced in the 70's and/or a good website for ford tractors.

one more thing, is a '70 vintage old enough to be considered antique? I dont want to buy something and then find out that I cant enter it. I cant wait till fair season, atleast then I can talk to the judges and find out for sure, but on the other hand if I can buy now and it needs anything then I can be set for the season.

Thanks for any help, I've always wanted to get into it but my dad wasnt about to let me use the kabota and now that ive got the money I say why not.

 

My grandpa has a mid '70s Ford. I know the model # is 1500. It's a compact with a japanese diesel. I know all of the smaller tractors were in the 1000 to 1900 series tractors.I've looked at several gas powered Ford 2000 & 3000 tractors. Seem nice. You are starting to see these tractors at shows restored. They can be pretty sweet. We currently are restoring a '58 Ford model 850. Might be bringing a '59 970 (narrow set) home soon. Be careful, old tractors are addictive!

If you like the '70s gasser, then get it. If it turns out not to be what you like, try looking for a N series tractor. I.E. 9N,2N,8N. These are still plentiful and are simple enough to work on. Dennis Carpenter in NC has all sorts of new parts for them. I've seen plenty of them around with Wood's belly mowers.

Don't buy a basket case for your first restoration. Remember, "Old tractors are fun!" So pick something you like and something that won't be too frustrating.


Good Luck!

Chris

 

Thanks actually I was just reading up about the n's. The 1950 and up 8n's really interest me, they seem to have made some changes that perk my ears. Any idea how big they are in relation to a cub, from the sounds of it there just a little bit bigger, which wouldn't be bad, seem like they make a considerable amount more power. I live just a couple hundred feet from a small farm and I think it would be cool to use it around the farm maybe make a little extra cash too. The owner only has one tractor that I know of. He has a couple of dozers and an excavator but only one tractor right now soo. Also any idea how fast the 8n's are rated for in top gear, considering the stock 4 speed? That was my concern with the cubs is that they dont seem to move all that fast, about 6mph or so I read. One of the fields that gets hayed is about 1/2 mile from the barn so the quicker the better. If it could get close to 15 mph or so that would be nice.

 

Once upon a time I had an early '70's Ford 2000 Series tractor. If I remember correctly it weighed about 4500 lbs. with the front loader and york rake on it. It had a 3 cylinder gas engine in it. Good tractor.

[QUOTE=phatpharm85]one more thing, is a '70 vintage old enough to be considered antique? I dont want to buy something and then find out that I cant enter it. I cant wait till fair season, atleast then I can talk to the judges and find out for sure, but on the other hand if I can buy now and it needs anything then I can be set for the season.QUOTE]

I would go to some tractor pull webb sights and see how old things have to be to participate.

We have an early '70's Cub Cadet lawn tractor. Promised my son, who's been bugging me for a while, we'd restore it so we could take it to some fairs and he can run it. Report cards out Friday, teachers say he's doing great. I geuss i'll start on Friday night.

 

a 70's tractor is almost too new to be considered an antique, but it all depends on the make. it also depends on the show too. hope this helps
Dinger

 

For true antique tractor pulling I believe 1959 or older!

 

i dont know, those john deere green A's and B's sure look and sound nice pulling a plow

 

There is a lot of antique tractor info at www.ytmag.com .

 

Hi Phatpharm85:


I currently own a 56 Ford 600 series tractor with front loader and like it very much. My son and I plan to restore it soon. As I understand a tractor has to be 50 years old to be considered an antique. There were two gas engines offered on this tractor, a 134 cu. in. Red Tiger and a 172 Cu. In Red Tiger both with overhead valves.

It runs great and everything works on it, although when I restore it I'll upgrade to a 12 volt system. (currently 6volt) I think if you looked for a Ford 8n, 9n, Jubilee or 600 series you would be very happy with it.

Good luck!

 

Look for an Allis Chalmers WD45 (gas) tractor. Plenty of parts available for them, easy to work on and different then a IH (red) or JD (green) tractor.

 

we have a 8 or 9n here at work 6 volt gasser it will fit on a normal car trailer and be pulled by a half ton truck....they are great for brush hogging a small field blading drive way we hav a box blade for our (6ft) and if you dont watch it it will hang you up (ligh front end) they are a light duty tractor no good for tractor pulls... I have a john deere A it will out pull the 8n one of the funnest tractor to toy with would be a Oliver they used a Chevy motor (292) easy to rig up a 350 on them.. the 8 or 9 n will do about everything you listed above... we paid 1500 for ours
they sell around here from 1500 to 3000 depending on condition

 

old ford with a flat head 4 model a engine from the late 40's early 50's . parts and repairs are easy to get and do.

 

From what I understand about the 8n's there were only rated like at 20 HP. Not much for doing any serious farm work. Pulling a bale wagon for feeding the cridders is about it.

Trippy

 

I have a 1952 Ferguson TO-30 that is in excellent condition. My father purchased it new in 1952 and it has been in the family since. It is rated at 30 HP. It has pulled logs out of ravines, pulled hay balers, three bottom plows, plowed snow and about all you can do with a farm tractor.

 

Yeah, it really depends on the make at that time. You couldn't really compare a '70 4020 or a mid '70's 4430 to a 4 cylinder of that time.