Classic Tractor Issue 236​​ December 2020

Combine Comparison: ​​ Three Ransomes combines go to work and are joined by a current John Deere.

Farming Diary: ​​ The Suffolk Bunch complete harvest and get stuck into autumn field work.

King of the Countys:​​ Inspirational Project:​​ ​​ This equal-wheel Ford TW-30 was the inspiration for the County 1884 model.

King of the Countys:​​ Advertising Image:​​ ​​ The very first County 1884 takes part in a recreation of an advertising shoot.​​ 

King of the Countys:​​ Production Line:​​ ​​ A rare photo shows four County 1884s being built, but where did they end up?​​ 

Landmark Model: ​​ A look back at the life and times of the MF 290, from its 1979 launch to today.

Driving Impressions: ​​ A JCB Fastrac 185-65 is put to the test to see how it fits into farming of today.

Original Classics: ​​ We catch-up with some classic and rare combines working in the 2020 harvest.

Memory Lane: ​​​​ Richard​​ reflects on his time as an MF demonstrator in the 1970s and 80s.

Show Report:​​ ​​ Some 60 tractors, big and small, came together for the Field of Friends event.

Classic Tractor Issue 235​​ November 2020

Home-Made Forager: ​​​​ This mammoth self-propelled forager is a mixture of Massey and Mengele parts.

Farming Diary: ​​ Members of the Suffolk Bunch group have been busy with cultivation tasks.

Harvest Highlights: ​​ Readers’ Combines: ​​ Readers show us their classic combines working to bring in this year’s harvest.

Harvest Highlights: ​​ Rotary Prototype: ​​ The revealing story of MF’s plans for rotary combines that were never built.

Harvest Highlights: ​​ Case Study: ​​ Owners of Laverda combines give their verdicts on their Italian-built machines.

Harvest Highlights: ​​ Original Classics: ​​ We turn the clock back to 1986 with a superb MF 860 combine and MF 2640.

Harvest Highlights: ​​ Rotary Refurb: ​​​​ An IH Axial-Flow fan brings a​​ derelict combine back into working order again.

Memory Lane: ​​​​ Richard Blair recalls his involvement in a major mid-1970s MF product launch.

Tractor Trade: ​​ A look at some of the modern classics that can be bought for around £25,000.

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​ A chance encounter on an Alpine road leads to a profile on a fleet of Schilters.

Classic Tractor Issue 234​​ October 2020

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​ A Lincs fleet that was mothballed for 20 years has gone back to work again.

Classic Cabs: ​​ Good in its day, we assess how the MF 3000 Series tractor cab stacks-up now.

Forage Harvesting: ​​ A classic 1980s silage-making team is sent to work in the fields of Cumbria.

Farming Diary: ​​ The Suffolk Bunch’s classic combines and tractors have been busy harvesting.

Tractor Lighting: ​​ Our in-field assessment of how tractor night lights have moved on since 1970.

Memory Lane: ​​​​ Richard Blair recalls his early days as an MF demonstrator in the mid-1970s.

From the Archives: ​​ Former Auto-Mower Engineering staff discuss tractor winching over the years.

Covid-19​​ Update: ​​ An update on the impact of coronavirus​​ on the farm machinery trade and events.

Classic Tractor Issue 233​​ September​​ 2020

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​ A Cumbrian silage contractor builds an engine-on harvester to boost his output.

Farming Diary: ​​ A round-up of what the Suffolk Bunch group did and also bought during June.

Deutz-Fahr Special: ​​ Deutz Distributor: ​​ A look back at Watveare Overseas’ 22 years of distributing Deutz in the UK.

Deutz-Fahr Special: ​​ Case Study: ​​ Visiting farms in Germany using Deutz DX tractors for a wide variety of work.

Deutz-Fahr Special: ​​ Driving Impression: ​​ A former Deutz-Fahr dealer apprentice is reacquainted with the AgroStar 6.11.

Deutz-Fahr Special: ​​ Forever Fahr: ​​ A brief history of Fahr and a visit to a superb club museum in its home town.

Deutz-Fahr Special: ​​ Original Classic: ​​ A North Yorks farmer tells us about his one-owner Deutz DX6.05 Commander.

From the Archives: ​​ A carefully-kept ledger gives an insight into the 1968/69 season on a large farm.

Market Shares: ​​ The second and final part of our tractor market review focuses on 1986 to 2016.

Tractor Registrations: ​​ Analysis of the tractor market shares in​​ 2019, using registration data from DfT.

Prairie Monsters:​​ ​​ This Australian museum contains a set of ingenious farm-built prime movers.

Coronavirus Update:​​ ​​ An update on the impact of coronavirus.

Classic Tractor Issue 232​​ August​​ 2020

Coronavirus Special:​​ ​​ An update on the impact of coronavirus on the farm machinery trade and events.

Classic Cabs: ​​ A detailed look at the features of John Deere’s SG2 cab of the 1980s and 90s.

Farming Diary: ​​ The Suffolk Bunch’s classics get busy during this spring’s drilling campaign.

Silage Special: ​​ Working Classics: ​​ Readers show us their classic foragers bringing in first-cut silage this season.

Silage Special: ​​ Teagle Toucan: ​​ Teagle Toucan forage wagons from the 1980s gather silage on this Welsh farm.

Silage Special: ​​ Case Study: ​​​​ Visiting farms in Ireland where classic self-propelled foragers make the silage.

Silage Special: ​​ Mengele Models: ​​ A former RECO engineer shares photos and his experience of Mengele foragers.

Silage Special: ​​ Steyr 8300: ​​ This early 1980s Steyr 8300 bi-di tractor has been a hit on a farm in Co. Galway.

Market Shares: ​​ This two-part review of the UK tractor market starts off in the 1966-86 period.

From​​ the Archives: ​​ The Uni-System came to Britain in the 1970s but its history goes back further.

Memory Lane: ​​ A former Mercedes product manager remembers the MB-trac and Unimog.

Classic Tractor Issue 231​​ July​​ 2020

Coronavirus Special:​​ ​​ An update on the impact of coronavirus on the farm machinery trade and events.

Classic Cabs: ​​ Assistant editor Sandy Cox reacquaints himself with the cabin of a Renault TX.

Classic Conversion: ​​ If Leyland had produced a six-cylinder turbo, would it have been like this one?

Farming Diary: ​​ The Suffolk Bunch’s classics get busy during this spring’s drilling campaign.

Summer Shows: ​​ Highland History: ​​ A review of the history of the Highland and the trade stands at its Ingliston site.

Summer Shows: ​​ Royal Show Scenes: ​​ The 1969 Royal Show at Stoneleigh, as seen through the lens of a photographer.

Summer Shows: ​​ Scottish Showcase: ​​ David Winthrop reflects on his visits to​​ the Royal Highland Show in the 1990s.

Summer Shows: ​​ Happy Snapping: ​​ Richard Weymouth shares the pictures he took at farming shows in the 1980s.

Reflections: ​​ Bruce Keech reflects on his career as a salesman and demonstrator for County.

Tractor Trade: ​​ After a 10-year break, we return to one of the biggest salvage yards in Europe.

Memory Lane: ​​ Tales of a former MB-trac and Unimog product manager during the mid-1980s.

Classic Tractor Issue 230​​ June​​ 2020

Coronavirus Special:​​ ​​ We assess the impact of coronavirus on farm machinery sales, service and parts.

Farming Diary:​​ ​​ Introducing the Suffolk Bunch and the machinery they use on their host farm.

Reader Rebuild:​​ ​​ A 20,000-hour Renault 106-54TL gets an as-new look from refurb specialists.

Fendt Collection:​​ ​​ Located in Luxembourg, this massive collection contains 200 Fendt tractors.

Classics Cabs:​​ ​​ A journalist who attended the launch of the IH XL cab is back in the seat again.

Original Classic:​​ ​​ Recently unearthed from a back garden, this rare Northrop 5004T is a great find.

MF 4000 Series:​​ ​​ A history of the MF 4000 Series artics made in North America from 1978-88.

Reflections:​​ ​​ Henry Harvey reflects on his time with IHGB, and its later farm tractor ranges.

Original Classic:​​ ​​ A farmer from Warwickshire is living the dream with his rare Same Galaxy.

Memory Lane:​​ ​​ Bruce Keech recalls his experiences as a demo driver with Ford and Roadless.

Classic Tractor Issue 229 May 2020

Reader Rebuild: ​​ A 1995 Deutz-Fahr AgroStar 6.08 gets its mojo back after a stunning overhaul.

Classic Conversion: ​​ This MF 30 drill offers the best​​ of both worlds after receiving pneumatic parts.

Original Classics: ​​ This Ford 7810 and New Holland 8070 are a terrific pair of one-owner classics.

Fleet Profile: ​​ A visit to a Landini fleet in Italy which includes a rarely seen big Starland 210.

Secret History: Driverless Tractor: ​​ The amazing story of an MF 65 MkII and its role in driverless trials in 1963.

Secret History: IH TD-8CA: ​​ This Doncaster-built crawler missed the boat with fewer than 10 machines sold.

Secret History: MF 4000 Series: ​​ Looking back at how MF designed its 4000 Series artic models from scratch.

Secret History: Prototypes: ​​ Ten prototype tractors from the classic era that were kept out of the public eye.

Machinery Trade: ​​ A visit to Econ Engineering to discover its history and see its classic collection.

Memory Lane: ​​ Henry Harvey reflects on his time with IHGB and its implements in the 1970s.

Tractor World: ​​ Our pick of the exhibits and highlights at the Tractor World Show at Malvern.​​ 

Classic Tractor​​ Issue 228​​ April 2020

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​ A last look at a time​​ warp fleet before it is finally dispersed by its retired owner.

Dyno Day:​​ ​​ Modern, classic and older​​ re-powered tractors take part in a charity dyno day.

Reader Rebuild:​​ ​​ A Case 2390 returns home after almost 30 years and gets a complete makeover.

Last of the Line:​​ ​​ Historic Selection:​​ ​​ All 10 of the classics in this selection were the last of their type to​​ be made.

Last of the Line:​​ ​​ New Holland 110-90:​​ ​​ One of the late 110-90s in this fleet is for work, the other one is just for play.

Last of the Line:​​ ​​ Banner Lane:​​ ​​ Looking back to the day the last tractor was built at MF’s Banner Lane factory.

Last of the Line: John Deere 4955:​​ ​​ The story behind what is thought to be the final JD 4955 sold new in the UK.

Somerset Tractor Show:​​ ​​ Marshalls made in small numbers were a highlight at the first show of the year.

Case Study:​​ ​​ We visit 16 MB-tracs in this case study of the iconic tractors in their homeland.

Original Classic:​​ ​​ A first-time importer explains how he shipped over a JD 8850 from the USA.

County Show:​​ ​​ County fans from across all of Ireland converge for a commemorative event.

Memory Lane:​​ ​​ Henry Harvey recalls his​​ early years in farming and then joining up with IHGB.

Classic Tractor Issue 227 March 2020

Reader Rebuild:​​ ​​ A rarely seen side-drive version of the Roadless Ploughmaster 78 gets rebuilt.

Contractor Special: Fastrac Pioneer:​​ ​​ John Orford,​​ an early user of Fastracs,​​ reflects on his past and present models.

Contractor Special: Getting Started:​​ ​​ Advice and tips from the NAAC about​​ starting-out in agricultural contracting.

Contractor Special: One-Man Operation:​​ ​​ This one-man band contactor relies on​​ a proven John Deere 6010 Series fleet.

Contractor Special: Custom Cutter:​​ ​​ This custom cutter started with nothing but now runs four high-output Lexions.

Contractor Special: Case Study:​​ ​​ Three contractors answer our questions about how they succeed in the business.​​ 

Contractor Special: Hedging Cutting:​​ ​​ A hedge trimming contractor reflects​​ on the equipment he’s run since 1970.

Cult Classics:​​ ​​ German farmers and enthusiasts share their thoughts on the Case-IH 1455XL.

Classic Conversion:​​ ​​ How the Thomas Ninety-Five 100 was built in the early days of its production.

Iconic Engine:​​ ​​ The story of the iconic Cummins B5.9 engine and its applications in tractors.

From the Archives:​​ ​​ A former County employees recalls the Perkins-powered models sold in Africa.

Classic Tractor​​ Issue 226​​ February​​ 2020

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​ This Scottish farming family has used Ferguson and MF tractors for 70 years.

Reader Rebuild:​​ ​​ This Harvest Gold Leyland 804, a​​ very late model, has had a thorough rebuild.

Show Report:​​ ​​ Our selection of the classics displayed at the successful Newark tractor show.

Case Study:​​ ​​ We visit farms using tractors with TB Turbos​​ to find out how they’ve fared.

Steel-Track Crawlers:​​ ​​ Steel-track crawlers are on the decline, but still have their uses on some farms.

Original Classics:​​ ​​ The editor revisits two American MF imports he last saw over 25 years ago.

From the Archives:​​ ​​ Looking back to the machines used on a family farm in Leicestershire​​ in 1985.

Agritechnica:​​ ​​ As well as all the latest machines, there were some top classics at Agritechnica.

Memory Lane:​​ ​​ Mervyn Spokes finishes his series on his time with Belarus importer UMO.

Tractor Trade:​​ ​​ We visit a farmer and engineer who is producing parts for late David Browns.

Fendt Gathering:​​ ​​ There were some great classics at this Irish gathering of Fendts in Co. Louth.

Farm Favourites:​​ ​​ Your opportunity to tell us about your favourites and give them some praise!

Classic Tractor​​ Issue 225​​ January​​ 2020

Reader Rebuild:​​ ​​ This former breaker’s yard Ford 8210 has more power and a faster top speed.

Artic Comparison:​​ ​​ Four high-horsepower American​​ artics with ploughs are compared in Suffolk.

Ploughing Trial:​​ ​​ A 24-hour ploughing marathon test for a mint JD 2850 and its youthful driver

Fleet Profile:​​ ​​ Four Claas combines out cutting with a contractor who has worked 57 seasons.

Smithfield Scenes:​​ ​​ We look back at the Royal Smithfield Show in its 1960s, 70s and 80s prime.

Case Study:​​ ​​ Exploring the origins of some oddball Massey tractors sold on the Continent.

Ploughing Contest:​​ ​​ The main results from the 2019 British National Ploughing Champs at Lincoln.

Reflections:​​ ​​ Ted Everett looks back on a career of over 60 years as an MF photographer.

From the Archives:​​ ​​ Tim sugar beet harvesters were on the British market for more than 20 years.

Goodyear Tyres:​​ ​​ A look back at Goodyear’s history and its current offering​​ of agricultural tyres.

Farm Favourites:​​ ​​ Your opportunity to tell us about your favourites and give them some praise.

Forecourt Find:​​ ​​ A rare set of IH classics with Roadless and County conversions come onto the market.