1956 COE and Tractor Combo Makes One Tasty Duo

American Duo

Few things in the world are more distinctly American than Ford trucks. But as you probably already know, Ford has been building tractors that our nation's farmers have relied on for decades as well. So why not combine those two things together and come up with the ultimate American duo? Well, that's exactly what happened at a recent Mecum auction when a 1956 Ford COE and 2N tractor paired up to make one incredibly cool lot.

Fully Restored

Both of these working-class heroes have been fully restored to better-than-new condition, and the results of those efforts are impossible to ignore. The '56 Ford COE C600 truck only had 52,579 miles to begin with, so it was obviously a solid candidate for a redo. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1956 COE Tractor combo right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Hip to Be Square?

This particular COE is rather notable as well because it was the last year these iconic trucks sported that beloved round shape before many changes were made in 1957. Ford made the switch to square-shaped big trucks and simply never looked back.

>>Join the conversation about this 1956 COE Tractor combo right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Big and Slow

Of course, that big flat nose required Ford to install the engine under the COE's flat bench seat. And in this case, you'll find a 332 cubic-inch Y-Block V8 under there, backed up by a 4-speed manual transmission. Packing a solid (for the time) 200 hp and 316 lb-ft of torque, it was more than capable of getting the job done. Just not terribly quickly. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1956 COE Tractor combo right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Moving Along

The V8 does sport a 4-barrel carb, which helps up the power just a tad. A 2-speed rear axle helps ensure that there's a forward speed to suit whatever load you're hauling, and dealer-installed air brakes help bring it all to a halt. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1956 COE Tractor combo right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Manual Operation

Of course, the Ford 2N tractor this COE is hauling has a pretty unique story behind it as well. The 2N was built between 1942-47 as a wartime version of the 9N, which means that it lacked a battery and electric starter from the factory because those things were needed in the war. Instead, it got by with a magneto ignition and hand-crank starter. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1956 COE Tractor combo right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Perfect Pair

Even better, the previous owner of this iconic duo painted them to match each other, so they just look fantastic together. And what else could you possibly want to haul on the flatbed of a classic Ford truck than a classic Ford tractor? 

>>Join the conversation about this 1956 COE Tractor combo right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Looking Tough

Despite its charming appearance, it's also quite clear that this COE is up to the task of getting the job done. It has plenty of visual appeal in that regard thanks to cab lights, air horns, step plates with Ford logos on them, and wraparound front glass that makes it easy to navigate the farm. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1956 COE Tractor combo right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Big and Beautiful

With just the right amount of chrome up front, it's pretty obvious why so many people love the looks of these old COE trucks. They carry all the looks we love in this generation of the F-Series, yet in a much larger and truly interesting package. 

>>Join the conversation about this 1956 COE Tractor combo right here in Ford-trucks.com.

Barn Beauties

Toss an iconic Ford tractor out back, and you've got the perfect duo. And while both of these Fords are far too nice to subject to the rigors of a modern day farm, they're sure to make any barn look that much better! 

>>Join the conversation about this 1956 COE Tractor combo right here in Ford-trucks.com.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our How-to section in the forum.