Timeless Tractors
While modern tractors dazzle us with amazing features that make tractors more versatile and productive than ever, there was a time when the concept of a machine that would never tire in the field, and drank gasoline instead of hay, was remarkable. The great tractor boom in the mid-20th century left an incredible tractor heritage for the entire world to build upon.
Thankfully, that heritage is not lost on current generations. And thanks to hundreds of thousands of tractors being manufactured for use on farms in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s, there are still many machines from that era out there. With a little elbow grease, mechanical skills, a good paint spray booth, and of course the passion (and cash) for a hobby, a vintage tractor can be made to look and run like new again. When that happens, there are few things more compelling than the sound of an old engine clacking out in the field, or towing a hay wagon.
So without further ado, please join us for a trip down memory lane in this collection of vintage tractors.
1. 1953 Farmall Cub
This 1953 Farmall Cub is a piece of Americana; one of the most popular tractors during the biggest tractor boom in American history. Owned by Uncle Wayne.
2. 1941 John Deere LA
This is Uncle Wayne’s other hobby: a 1941 LA John Deere manufactured the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed. Wow!
3. 1944 John Deere Model B
![IMG_1894[1]](http://www.tractorbynet.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/IMG_18941.jpg)
This 1944 John Deere B was another immensely popular tractor. Many are still collected today by 2-cylinder enthusiasts, and people who love to own and preserve a piece of history. This one is owned by member rt7cattle.
4. 1940s Oliver 70
Pride of ownership here. A beautifully done Oliver 70 from the 1940s.
5. 1971 Massey Ferguson 150
Fast forward a couple decades and you find another classic—the Massey Ferguson 150. This one bought in 1971 by member FarmWithJunk is still looking new—and still out in the field. Amazing!
6. 1963 Massey Ferguson 35 Deluxe
Another Massey Ferguson here. This is a mint condition 1963 Massey Ferguson 35 Deluxe. The owner put some serious attention to detail in this one.
7. Massey-Harris 744RD
Another Massey! Massey-Harris that is. This one is a 744RD. Nice!
8. 1930s John Deere General Purpose
Who wouldn’t want one of these in their barn? A 1930s John Deere General Purpose. Photo by John Schanlaub.
9. 1943 B.F. Avery Model V
Ever seen one of these? A rare 1943 B.F. Avery model V. Photo taken by Roseohioresident at the Stumptown Equipment Show in Ohio.
10. 1960s Allis-Chalmers D10
This 1960s Allis-Chalmers D10 has been restored nicely. A beautiful machine with history that can still get work done? Sign me up. Owned by rpraymond.
11. Porsche Junior AP 108
What is it, you ask? A Porsche Junior AP 108, photographed in Algarve, Portugal.
12. Farmall Christmas Tree Tractor
Okay, wait a minute. If you’ve never seen one of these before, you’re not alone. This Farmall A+C, aka the “Christmas Tree” Tractor, was believed to be one of only seven manufactured in the early 1950s.
13. Ford NAA
A beautifully restored Ford NAA, by sawtooth.
29 Comments
Picture number two is ” NOT ” a John Deere A
Thanks for sharing the 13 Timeless Tractors with us.
I used to be a collector of antique tractors but had to give it up after I retired and relocated to an estate where I had no space for the collection.
Enjoyed the old girls or are tractors old guys? Have two of the ones shown, The Cub and the Ford.
I love vintage tractors! Just wish I could afford to find one and restore it, thank you for the gallery pictures of the various ones, Long like Tractor fans!
I love vintage tractors, Just wish I could afford to find one and restore it, thank you for the picture gallery of various ones, long live tractor fans!
All are great specimens that were obviously lovingly restored. The collection is lacking an important class of machines, the original diesel farm tractors from Caterpillar, the D-series. Understandably most people think of these as construction dozers but the 4U & 5U series D2, 9U series D6, and especially the 6U and 7U series D4 were built by the 10s of thousands as farm tractors. I’ve got a couple that aren’t show pieces like these but still doing the job they were built for after more than 60 years.
Thank you for the history .
Brings back fond memories! Dad had a B John Deere when I was a kid. Granddad had a M farm-all, and we still have his 1949 G Allis Chamler!
Number 2 is correctly identified as a John Deere “LA”
Grandfather on my Dad’s side had a Massey-Harris as the first tractor he bought (retired the horses-out to pasture) He laughed at his sons till they learned how to use it. I do remember the Wisconsin 4 that they used for the silage chopper.Sitting here typing this Memories are coming back.
My neighbor collects and restores old tractors, but almost all are either John Deere or Sears garden tractors. The JD are in the 100 group. So far he has about 8 completed and two more enroute. He plows, cultivates, and tills as well as cuts weeds with the various implements. Neat to see them.
My father had a Massey Ferguson 35 and my grandfather had a Ford NAA. Great memories. Wish I had both of them in the barn today!
Hello,
The Tractor looks so amazing, I really like this kind of tractors.
Thank you for sharing this picture with us.
Good morning folks. I am a new member in central arkansas. Love vintage tractors. I have a Farmal Cub (1950, I think). A very good candidate for restoration as it hasn’t has any welding done on it. Would like to sell it to someone interested in restoring it. It has hydraulic lift, rear wheel weights, draw bar. The kicker: The motor is locked up. Will sell cheap. Will take a pic soon and post it. $350
Rode on the JD B as a kid w/ Grandfather in Elgin, Minnesota. We were wheat farmers before & during WW II & into the 50s.
Much thanks for sharing these neat examples of what was used by many forgotten.
Interesting thing is we still had huge horses that pulled a few cars & truck out of low places in the roads. Now they’re called ditches.
Very little pavement. At times tractors would be parked on hill tops during storms to lessen the ”stuck factor”.
Farming was a rough way to earn a living for your family but having something good on the dinner table was easier than some city dwellers had it.
Our first tractor was actually shared by two other families in the beginning.
Grandmother kept buying up little farms as folks left the area. Their farm equipment was near worthless to the bankers then. Banks were also going under or being bought up by larger interest, as it was call then.
WOW those tractor pix sure stirred up forgotten times.
Picture No 2 is an LA not an A
Nice pictures thank you. I love old iron and have a 1948 Farmall C with hydraulics still in use. Been all gone through and painted.
very cool
Would like more info on #12, “The Christmas Tree” tractor.
It is great to see these old tractors restored! I have a 1949 R John Deer that had never pulled implement in the field, it had been used as a power source for a sawmill.
I enjoyed looking at these restored old tractors. Would someone out there have a picture of a restored 1965 or 1966 Ford 6000. I grew up on one of those and just loved that tractor. Worker many hours plowing with this tractor and a 5 bottom plow.
What exactly is a 44 Rd? We had a plain 44 real good tractor.
I really enjoy your pictures and content. I live in Alaska, and have too many Tractors…53 Golden Jubilee, 55 Ford 850 with backhoe and loader(Very rare) Ford 1600 Diesel, Case 530 Industrial, 1952 Grizzly riding tractor(Tiller steering), Dresser TD-7E Dozer…I have to get almost all my parts from lower 48 States. Hard to come by up here.
very nice tractors
I have a Farmall cub like the one pictured and a 600 series Ford that are in need of restoration if anyone is interested. I am 77 years old and I doubt I will ever get to around to doing it myself. Located in north Florida.
Because these tractors last that long, 60 years and still going. Can anyone be kind enough to donate one of them so we can ship it to poor countries in Africa where soil is still plowed by hands. We will take care of shipping to Africa. Thanks soo much
VERY surprised that a Ford 8N or 9N was not included in this lineup.
I managed a berry farm back in the early 80’s. When I took it over I found 2 discarded Farmall Cubs in the bone yard. I was able to put one good one together by salvaging parts from the two. It ran like a top and was a true workhorse. My eldest daughter learned to drive on the cub and could back up a trailer loaded with flats of raspberries to the loading dock at age 11-12.
Great bunch of pictures of some great old tractors. I have had a few and will buy more in future, God willing and my sun don’t set too soon. Great comments too. Especially BigBlueFlorida. Your words remind me of my childhood and the struggles of wheat farming.
Best crop my dad grew was these four boys that were successful. I had a 9n ford I bought of a man who’s first name was ford. I swapped a jeep top for a W4 McCormick and a w6 as well. Damn 6 was like a race horse, and the previous owner had used it for going to town when the roads were bad. Really clipped along. My uncle had a super wd9 and another had a cat D8 2u that was brought over from the Aleutians after the war. I learned how to run dozer on a 64 td9 that dad owned. Looking now at buying a 50’s Harris Power Horse to clear the driveway. Keep up the great articles, it’s always appreciated.