Classic Tractor Issue 272​​ December 2023

Fleet Profile: ​​ UK-built MF pivot-steers and Canadian combines are the backbone of this fleet.

Driving Impressions: ​​ A journalist revisits a Case-IH 1056XL test he did for a farming paper in 1985.

Farm Invention Special: DIY Forager: ​​​​ When an NH 1770 forager fell short of expectations, it was heavily modified.

Farm Invention Special: Power Pack: ​​ The Denhill Twin-Pull power unit uses two DB skid units located side by side.

Farm Invention Special: LGP​​ Drilling Rig: ​​ How the Royal Farms at Windsor built its own self-propelled drilling machine.

Farm Invention Special: Combine Hedger: ​​ A Claas Dominator 86 forms the basis of this unique ‘Mad Max’ hedge cutter.

Farm Invention Special: Apple Harvesters: ​​ A farmer and engineer tells us how he converts sprayers into apple harvesters.

Farm Invention Special: Trimmer Hosts: ​​ A contractor shows us his Muir-Hill and MFT tractors fitted with hedge trimmers.

Ploughing Group: ​​​​ Four crawlers and Dowdeswell ploughs gather in​​ north Lincolnshire for a good workout.

Original Classic: ​​ A 60-year-old Claas SF combine goes back to work where it cut its first crop.

Farming Diary: ​​ The​​ Suffolk Bunch​​ get​​ cultivating and take their tractors to the Normac demo.

Sales Scams: ​​ We shine a light on tractor sales scams and offer advice on how to avoid them.

Classic Tractor Issue 271​​ November 2023

Fleet Profile: ​​ It’s red and grey all the way on this Co. Laois farm, home to seven MF tractors.

Reader Rebuild: ​​ This UK-spec Massey Ferguson 1100 has been returned to as-new condition.

HARVEST​​ SPECIAL: ​​​​ From the Archives: ​​ Photos from a Wiltshire farm show the classic harvest action of years gone by.

HARVEST​​ SPECIAL: ​​​​ John Deere Combines: ​​ A 1969 JD 630 cuts its final crop in the hands of the operator who drove it new.

HARVEST SPECIAL: ​​ Massey Ferguson 860: ​​ A combine with a straight-six Perkins bark revives prairie harvest memories.

HARVEST SPECIAL: ​​ BM Volvo S1000A: ​​ Two retired BM-Volvo salesmen watch as a veteran S1000A goes back to work.

HARVEST SPECIAL: ​​ Combine Collector: ​​​​ This avid combine collector has more than a dozen machines, mostly rebuilt.​​ 

Show Report: ​​ A big crowd is wowed by close-fought contests in an epic tractor racing rodeo.

Farming Diary: ​​ Fine weather allows the Suffolk Bunch to get on with hay, harvest and moling.

Tractor Trade: ​​ This Dorset business is celebrating its 30 years as a Valtra tractor dealership.

Classic Tractor Issue 270​​ October 2023

Original Classics: ​​ Power on this Co. Durham dairy and sheep farm comes from classic Fords.

Reader Rebuild: ​​ A​​ Ford​​ 7600 that was lost for 30 years returns home and gets a superb rebuild.

NORMAC SPECIAL: ​​​​ From the Archives: ​​ A review of classic-era demonstrations held by the NORMAC machinery club.

NORMAC SPECIAL: ​​​​ Fleet Profile: ​​ This year’s NORMAC demo hosts tell us about their past and present tractors.

Silage Event: ​​ Classic silage gear from the 1980s and 1990s is put to work in fields in Devon.

Market Review: ​​ Our analysis of tractor market shares in 2022, using data sourced from the DfT.​​ 

Farming Diary: ​​ Despite a wet July, our​​ Suffolk Bunch​​ machinery enthusiasts remained busy.

Reflections: ​​ A review of the 50 John Deere tractors operated by a contractor during the past 50 years.

From the Archives: ​​ Rare and unseen photos of the Marshall stands at the Royal Shows of the 1980s.

Classic Tractor Issue 269​​ September​​ 2023

Reader Rebuild: ​​ A​​ tired Ford TW-20 is transformed by a professional restorer from Somerset.

Driving Impressions: ​​ Getting behind the wheel of a V8 MF 1155 to see how it drives and sounds.

Fleet Profile: ​​ Nuffield and Marshall are the brands of choice on this grassland farm in Wales.

FENDT UK50 SPECIAL: ​​​​ Original Distributor: ​​ Bill Bennett recalls his time as the first distributor of Fendt tractors in the UK.

FENDT UK50 SPECIAL: ​​​​ Classic vs Current: ​​ We compare a 1987 Fendt Farmer 312 with its 2023 namesake, the 312 Vario.

FENDT UK50 SPECIAL: ​​​​ Reflections: ​​ Dealers and distributor staff reflect on their involvement with the Fendt brand.

FENDT UK50 SPECIAL: ​​​​ Fendt 309 Rebuild: ​​ A 1988 Fendt Farmer 309LSA receives a rebuild and is put back to work again.​​ 

Farming Diary: ​​ The Suffolk Bunch​​ carry out late Spring work and visit some rarely seen classics.

Tractor Trade: ​​ We look back at the history of Olivers as it celebrates 200 years as a dealer.

Show Report: ​​​​ Our selection of the best classics from this year’s Tractor Fest at Newby Hall.

Classic Tractor Issue 268​​ August​​ 2023

Reader Rebuild: ​​ A​​ farmer and his farm manager rebuild an IH 784 with an optional Sekura cab.

Forage Harvesting: Fleet Profile: ​​ A​​ Co. Wexford contractor uses classic tractors with his rare NH 2100 forager.

Forage Harvesting: Fendt 926 Vario: ​​​​ This contractor from Cumbria has been running a Fendt 926 Vario for 23 years.

Forage Harvesting: Foraging Fiats: ​​ A revitalised 1982 Fiat 1380DT heads a terracotta-themed team in Shropshire.

Forage Harvesting: On the Wagon: ​​ A Case Study on Irish farmers who use modern classics on their forage wagons.

Forage Harvesting: Grassland ’75: ​​ A review of the new equipment seen at a grassland demo at Stoneleigh in 1975.​​ 

Farming Diary: ​​ The Suffolk Bunch​​ report on their visit to the world’s biggest Fendt collection.

Claas on Tracks: ​​ Our Claas rubber-track series concludes with rare and unseen Challenger photos.

Reflections: ​​ A retired farmer describes the one-pass system he based on a County 1004 FC.

Memory Lane: ​​ MF photographer Ted Everett recalls the photos he took at the Royal Show.

Show Report: ​​ A special anniversary event in Scotland attracted 50 different models of County.

Classic Tractor Issue 267​​ July​​ 2023

Fleet Profile: ​​ This contractor runs Fendts and Deeres in his business, but collects older MFs.

Reader Rebuild: ​​ A​​ decaying Case-IH 1394 and loader is rescued and given a full refurbishment.

Farming Diary: ​​ The Suffolk Bunch go on a European road trip and find some great classics.

From the Archives: ​​ Our Muir-Hill history series​​ concludes with the firm’s final Series III tractors.

Claas on Tracks: ​​ The​​ history of green Claas Challengers and the impact they had here in the UK.

Memory Lane: ​​ MF photographer Ted Everett reflects on his classic-era work at Stoneleigh.

Euro Scene: ​​ The​​ story of Eicher of Germany and the owners who are keeping its legacy alive.

Road Run Special: ​​ We look at what it takes to organise a tractor road run and participate in one.

Classic Tractor Issue 266​​ June​​ 2023

Fleet Profile: ​​ The Taylor family’s Ayrshire farm is home to 24 red tractors, old and new.

Reader Rebuild: ​​ A​​ Deutz enthusiast from Co. Kilkenny buys a rare DX160 and makes it shine.

Red Power Test:​​ ​​ A​​ 20-strong line-up of IH and Case-IH tractors get dyno tested in West Yorkshire.

Suffolk Bunch: ​​ Workshop projects were to the fore for the Suffolk Bunch during a wet March.​​ 

Tractor Trade: ​​​​ A​​ former dealer technician sets up his own business, specialising in Ford/NH.

From the Archives: ​​ Our​​ Muir-Hill​​ history series continues with early V8 models and the Series II.

Claas on Tracks: ​​ The start of a new series chronicling the rubbed-track machines offered by Claas.

Memory Lane: ​​ Retired MF photographer Ted Everett recalls the firm’s Stoneleigh facilities.

Fire Prevention: ​​ The precautions you can take to reduce the risk of farm machinery-related fires.

Classic Tractor Issue 265​​ May​​ 2023

Fleet Profile: ​​ Cost effective horsepower is provided by Zetor and Ursus on this dairy farm.

Reader Rebuild: ​​ A​​ Case 1694, one of a small number to be made, receives a total refurbishment.

Old vs New: ​​ A Ford 5030 and New Holland T4.75S, separated by 28 years, go head-to-head.

White Field-Boss: ​​ Our editor lives the dream as he gets behind the wheel of a mighty White.​​ 

Driving Impressions: ​​​​ A​​ journalist revisits a Deutz DX3.70 field test he carried out back in 1985.

Farming Diary: ​​ The Suffolk Bunch and their modern classics make the most of a dry spell.

From the Archives: ​​ Our history of early Muir-Hill tractors is illustrated by unseen archive photos.

Show Report: ​​ Our​​ report​​ from Tractor World focuses on the classic-era exhibits at the event.

Tractor Trade: ​​ How a farming family came to own and run the Independent Agri Parts business.

Classic Tractor Issue 264​​ April​​ 2023

Fleet Profile: ​​ Zetor and Renault tractors provide the power on the Scrowstons’ arable farm.

Reader Rebuild: ​​ A 1991 Ford​​ 8210 Generation III gets the ultimate in rebuilds in Northern Ireland.

Dyno Day Special: ​​ Reports and all the results from Dyno Days held in Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire and Nottinghamshire.

Tractor Trade: ​​ We visit a Devon-based used tractor specialist and sample his tasty stock.​​ 

Farming Diary: ​​​​ A​​ 1960s Deere and a Schlüter from the 80s join the Suffolk Bunch tractor fleet.

Case Study: ​​ Trailed beet harvesters are a rare sight now, but we found a few in Germany.

Show Report: ​​ A report on the John Deere feature and exhibits at the Somerset Tractor Show.

From the Archives: ​​ Recalling the period when John Deere produced a line of telescopic handlers.

Reflections: ​​ Colin Johnson recalls his 30 years as a field test driver for IH and Case IH.

Classic Tractor Issue 263​​ March​​ 2023

Fleet Profile: ​​ This Welsh farming family runs a fleet of 16 Massey Fergusons and one Ford.

Driving Impressions: ​​ A journalist​​ revisits his test of a Fendt 311LSA in 1985 and drives one again.

Prairie Monsters: ​​​​ A John Deere 8640 that was unused for 10 years is back in action in Yorkshire.

1973 Special:​​ What was New: ​​​​ A review of the farm machinery that was new on the market 50 years ago.

1973 Special: MF Range: ​​ Comparing the specification of the six MF 100 Series models on sale in 1973.

1973 Special: County Line: ​​ The Ford four-wheel drive conversions that made up the County range in 1973.

Reflections: ​​ Alun Jones gives us a tour of his farm’s working fleet and his tractor collection.

Farming Diary: ​​ The Suffolk Bunch find a dealer’s yard in Holland filled with desirable Fendts.

Classic Tractor Issue 262​​ February 2023

Fleet Profile: ​​ A Yorkshire farming family show us around their sizeable fleet of classics.

Driving Impressions: ​​ A journalist who tested the Ford 7910 in 1985 is reacquainted with the model.

Reflections: ​​ Alun Jones tells us how he created his Jones 5000-Six conversions in the 70s.

Reader Rebuild: ​​ The last remaining Jones 5000-Six is treated to a full professional overhaul.

Farming Diary: ​​ The​​ Suffolk Bunch go on tour and visit a superb​​ Schlüter​​ field day in Germany.

Original Classics: ​​ A cider apple grower finds classic IH Hydro tractors work well in orchards.

Tractor Trade: ​​ Looking back at Hamilton of Larkhall, a top DB and Case dealer for 50 years.

Memory Lane: ​​ Retired MF photographer recalls the firm’s Coventry Engineering Centre.

From the Archives: ​​ Looking back at the first 50 years of the Society of Ploughmen, founded in 1972.

Leyland Test: ​​ The story of how two Leyland tractors ploughed for 10 days solid back in ’69.

Finishing Touches: ​​ Making decals that give the authentic finishing touch to tractor restorations.

Classic Tractor Issue 261​​ January​​ 2023

Modern Classics: ​​ Appraising a trio of John Deere, Valtra and Fendt models that have cult status.

Reader Rebuild: ​​ An 18,000-hour MF 5455 goes back to the factory for the ultimate in rebuilds.

Driving Impressions: ​​ After field testing an MF 2725 in 1985, this journalist returns for a second look.

Farming Diary: ​​ The​​ Suffolk Bunch​​ cultivate and drill with Challengers and a Ford Versatile.

Newark Tractor Show: ​​ We look at the best classics on display at Newark Tractor Show in November.

Original Classics:​​ ​​ Low-cost​​ maize harvesting with a pair of Same classics and a bargain forager.

Reflections: ​​ Alun Jones recalls his 60-year career as an agri engineer and Ford dealer owner.

From the Archives: ​​ Royal Smithfield Show visitors reflect on past events and machine highlights.

Case Study: ​​ A study of smaller classic tractors that are used for row-crop work in Europe.