weesa20 said:
I think the answer is the tractor that had most units sold without significant change.
This answers the question because the company kept making them until they (the tractor) no longer sold, therefore lots of people bought them and therefore thought that tractor was "the best tractor for the best price" for their particular situation. This is very period/time specific.
One could say that the Ford 9N sold many copies and while it was being produced it was the best tractor for the money (partially because there wasn't much competition) then another tractor sold more copies and became the "best tractor for the best price"
W
Once upon a time, most all tractors sold new were headed to the farm. "Urbanization" of tractor buying started to gain speed in the late 60's/early '70's. The farm market for tractors started splitting into 2 more distinct catagories. High hp and low(er) hp.
Originally, the Fordson sold in big numbers. The John Deere "B" sold over a 17 year run. The N Ford stepped back in HP but brought the 3-point hitch. Then the '50's hit. HP was the ticket. There were a few good smaller tractors on the market, but sales of bigger units cut in to the number of units sold in smaller sizes. Along about the late 50's, Deere stepped ahead of IH as the #1 selling tractor brand. And it was big row crop models that sold the best. In 1960, the 4010, then in 1964 the 4020 was the #1 selling tractor model in the US anyway. Late 1964, Massey Ferguson released the DX series. Better known as the "100 series", the 135 started selling in HUGE numbers world-wide. First HIGHLY successful SMALL tractor model in a while, in terms of sales numbers at or near the "top".
Until the COMPACT TRACTOR and it's market came along, utility models filled their eventual niche. Now you spread out a market amongst a couple different "classifications" of tractors and more brands than we've seen in 50 years. Even with more people than ever owning tractors, you won't see the individual models sales numbers as high as "the good ol' days". More specifically, the numbers of the top selling models won't have the lopsided advantage over #2 selling model. In short, there's just so many choices nowdays.
The genious that is sales marketing has created many new niche markets, then rushed to fill that niche. Back in the 8N day, or the 135 day, Ford or Massey didn't sell 12 different models in the same general size. They diidn't compete with themselves for success of a certain model with-in their own line. And their product was the "best buy" of its day in their respective sizes.
In todays world, there are many choices as the best tractor for the money. The big question would be "best at what"? and "best with who's money"?
It's all about individual choices and individual needs.
