Hi 
For those of us who spent our childhood and youth in the 1960s and 70s, the arrival of the MF 100 series of tractors was for some of us a part of that period, and a time that brings a lot of pleasant memories to many of us. This year marks the 60 year anniversary of the presentation of these tractors, as they were first presented to the public throughout the latter part of 1964 and early parts of 1965, at various parts of the world.
After the 1953 merger of Massey-Harris Limited and Harry Ferguson Limited to form Massey-Harris-Ferguson Limited, top management decided to pursue a „two-line policy“ of tractor production and distribution, to supply the respective dealers and customers with familiar looking tractors and implements. The formal approval to end this policy was taken by the Executive Committee of the Board at a meeting on August 10th 1956, where it was decided that: „the ultimate goal will be a single line of goods“.
In March 1958 the name of the company was changed to Massey-Ferguson Limited, „Harris“ being dropped, and a new corporation symbol, the triple triangle, was introduced.
In late 1962, the Corporate Co-ordinating Committee made a decision, that would prove to be very important for the future of Massey-Ferguson. The rapid pace of technological development, and the trend towards larger and more powerful tractors - especially in the North American market - made it clear that the company was weak in the higher power range of tractors. It was decided to plan for a whole new range of tractors including larger ones, and to incorporate the Ferguson System into all of them.
With this, the DX tractor programme (Detroit Experimental) as it was known internally, was launched. Initially the 100 and 1000 tractor series as it was later to be known, consisted of the following models for the US market:
MF 135, MF 150, MF 165, MF 175, MF 1100 and MF 1130
In the US the new line of tractors were praised as the „Rugged new breed“, whereas the new tractors were called the „Red Giants“ in the UK and parts of continental Europe. The initial models launched at the Royal Smithfield Show in London on December 7th 1964, were:
MF 130, MF 135, MF 165 and MF 175
In France the initial models were:
MF 122, MF 130, MF 135, MF 140, MF 145 and MF 165
Some models, like the MF 175 and the bigger MF 1100 and MF 1130 were completely new, while the smaller models were based on earlier models like the MF 825, MF 25, MF 35 and MF 65.
Further models were later added to the 100 and 1000 tractor series, mainly at the upper end of the power range. In the first years following the initial launch, some models - like the French-made MF 1080 from 1967, or the MF 1150 for instance - were made in the same design as the 1964-65 models. In 1973 a little handful of restyled models were produced primarily for the North American market: MF 1085, MF 1105, MF 1135 and MF 1155.
Although new tractor series were later introduced, some of the initial 100 series tractors were produced until the late 1970s, and with a bit of luck, one might still see some of them in active duty today.
Best regards
Jens
For those of us who spent our childhood and youth in the 1960s and 70s, the arrival of the MF 100 series of tractors was for some of us a part of that period, and a time that brings a lot of pleasant memories to many of us. This year marks the 60 year anniversary of the presentation of these tractors, as they were first presented to the public throughout the latter part of 1964 and early parts of 1965, at various parts of the world.
After the 1953 merger of Massey-Harris Limited and Harry Ferguson Limited to form Massey-Harris-Ferguson Limited, top management decided to pursue a „two-line policy“ of tractor production and distribution, to supply the respective dealers and customers with familiar looking tractors and implements. The formal approval to end this policy was taken by the Executive Committee of the Board at a meeting on August 10th 1956, where it was decided that: „the ultimate goal will be a single line of goods“.
In March 1958 the name of the company was changed to Massey-Ferguson Limited, „Harris“ being dropped, and a new corporation symbol, the triple triangle, was introduced.
In late 1962, the Corporate Co-ordinating Committee made a decision, that would prove to be very important for the future of Massey-Ferguson. The rapid pace of technological development, and the trend towards larger and more powerful tractors - especially in the North American market - made it clear that the company was weak in the higher power range of tractors. It was decided to plan for a whole new range of tractors including larger ones, and to incorporate the Ferguson System into all of them.
With this, the DX tractor programme (Detroit Experimental) as it was known internally, was launched. Initially the 100 and 1000 tractor series as it was later to be known, consisted of the following models for the US market:
MF 135, MF 150, MF 165, MF 175, MF 1100 and MF 1130
In the US the new line of tractors were praised as the „Rugged new breed“, whereas the new tractors were called the „Red Giants“ in the UK and parts of continental Europe. The initial models launched at the Royal Smithfield Show in London on December 7th 1964, were:
MF 130, MF 135, MF 165 and MF 175
In France the initial models were:
MF 122, MF 130, MF 135, MF 140, MF 145 and MF 165
Some models, like the MF 175 and the bigger MF 1100 and MF 1130 were completely new, while the smaller models were based on earlier models like the MF 825, MF 25, MF 35 and MF 65.
Further models were later added to the 100 and 1000 tractor series, mainly at the upper end of the power range. In the first years following the initial launch, some models - like the French-made MF 1080 from 1967, or the MF 1150 for instance - were made in the same design as the 1964-65 models. In 1973 a little handful of restyled models were produced primarily for the North American market: MF 1085, MF 1105, MF 1135 and MF 1155.
Although new tractor series were later introduced, some of the initial 100 series tractors were produced until the late 1970s, and with a bit of luck, one might still see some of them in active duty today.
Best regards
Jens
