What's your favorite antique tractor?

W5FL · May 31, 2000

Re: What\'s your favorite antique tractor?

I have spent as much time on old tractors as I want to. I really like the new Kubotas that have a roll bar, brakes that work, hydraulics that work and work properly, electrical systems that are not rusted out, and the list goes on. Nope. Prefer to buy a new one, drive it for 20 years, and then you can sell it for what you bought it for - but not buy another. Sure better investment than the stock market! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

JimBinMI · May 31, 2000

Re: What\'s your favorite antique tractor?

Wen,

You're investing in the wrong places! Although my tractor was a great investment, it can't touch my tax shelter!

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

W5FL · Jun 1, 2000

Re: What\'s your favorite antique tractor?

and that is.....

JimBinMI · Jun 2, 2000

Re: What\'s your favorite antique tractor?

Wen,

I sure wouldn't invest in something that said that if I put in $20,000 today they would give me back $20,000 in 20 years! You wouldn't either, I don't think.

I'm no wizard of this stuff either! My school district limits the number of companies that we can work with because they don't want to have to handle the paperwork on too many before tax contributions. And remember, when investing you're in it for the long run usually. I have three separate Mutual funds that have earned between 16% and 44% over the last year as an average rate of return.

The stock market isn't doing so well right now but when prices are low my investment buys more with less money, then when it goes up again, you have more to go up. They say the secret is to know when to move your money to more conservative investments before you retire!

See a reputable investment company, there are a lot of folks out there investing in companies that don't exist and losing their retirement nest egg, that's scary!

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

W5FL · Jun 2, 2000

Re: What\'s your favorite antique tractor?

Most people invest it in a car instead. Invest $20,000 now and in 20 years it is worth $300. Tractors really do better. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

If you are sure your mutual funds have made 10-20% this year, then I would re-check them very carefully. Most lost that much in the past 60 days. /w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif

JimBinMI · Jun 2, 2000

Re: Investments

Wen,

That's why I stated that investing is long term! I gave you figures from the first quarter of the year. I know they go up and down but long term they go up...if they didn't you wouldn't have all kinds of people investing at the rate they do.

There will be many, many people retiring as millionaires because they invested wisely and for the long term. And, although a million dollars is not what it used to be, it's still a lot of money! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

And I agree with you that a tractor is a much better investment than MOST cars! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

In investing, slow and steady wins the race, the majority of day traders LOSE big time!

JimBinMI

We boys and our toys!

Anonymous Poster · Jun 5, 2000

Re: What\'s your favorite antique tractor?

Ha Ha! I have to laugh when I see how far off track some of these posts get! Getting back to your original question, that is if you're still listening, I almost bought an antique myself before finally buying a new one. I decided I don't need a hobby right now, but rather a tractor to do some work. Someday I still want to buy an antique and restore it and use it for a few things. Anyway, here's my advice. If you're going to be doing anything with it besides driving it in parades, get something with a 3pt hitch like you mentioned and LIVE HYDRAULICS or it won't be "user friendly" at all. That leaves out the Ford 8N, the Ferguson TO-20 and TO-30, a lot of the John Deeres and Farmalls, and most of the old Allis Chalmers. Oliver Super 55 and 550's are nice, the Ford Jubilee, NAA, 600 series, 800 series are good too. I think the Ferguson TO-35 and Massey Ferguson 35 would be good if you get the Deluxe. John Deeres are way over priced. An Allis Chalmers D-14 is worth considering, but hard to find and you'll have to get a 3pt adapter. Personally, I'd like to have a Ferguson since Harry Ferguson was the inventor of the 3pt hitch. Whatever you get remember, it's old and it's gonna need repairs. Good luck!

Thomas · Jun 5, 2000

Re: What\'s your favorite antique tractor?

Danny,
I agree with most of what you have written,but if I rememeber Farmall A with the cutter bar also 1951 Farmall Cub with mechanical lift are very well balance also the B model.
The bigger model Farmall with out hydraulic, well that what I call the old armstrong hydraulic.....I'm sure some of you gentleman have heard of that term well.

Yes indeed there nothing like hydraulic when one gets older.

How ture about repairs,but one of the good things is some parts you can still get at your auto store or make yourself.....just a part of owning yesterday iron.

For some of us there are still a use even if it doesn't have hydraulics.
That little extra tug when the other tractor stuck,hauling bail hay back to the barn etc... and lets not forget the memories when we were young also what we have learn and able to pass on.

May you find that Ferguson in which you desire and have a grand time restoring the tractor....you won't be sorry.

Take care and good luck.

Thomas..NH

sjvalin · Jun 5, 2000

Re: What\'s your favorite antique tractor?

Danny,
What do you mean by live hydraulics? I took a look at a 1950 8N and 1954 NAA this weekend. The NAA seemed a bit beefier, but didn't appear to be any more capable. The NAA, with dearborn loader, box scraper, and post hole digger, was $3K. The tractor itself was fully functional and ran well. I'll check it out in more detail if I end up going this route. I've bought tired old sports cars before. There isn't much difference between an old car and an old tractor. I figure I can buy it, keep it running for a couple of years, and either restore it, or sell it for what I paid.

Ok, then I can step up to a 10 year old or newer compact diesel with more modern conveniences for less than $10K. It's not collectible, is likely to be japanese built (no cool americana heritage there), but more reliable. My wife actually OK'ed the purchase of a new tractor, but it will mostly sit idle for the next 18-24 months, and that doesn't sit right with me.

ejb · Jun 5, 2000

Re: What\'s your favorite antique tractor?

OK, I am going to disagree with just about everyone so far...I say if you really don't need a new tractor for 2-3 years down the road, and have some minor work to do, go ahead a and buy a decent older one and enjoy it for a few years...once you get serious about needing a more capable machine, you will have spent a few years learning about tractors and their capabilities and the shortcomings of various models...and then, you are probably right, you can sell the antique you buy for pretty close to what you paid for it and use the money for a new model if you want.

Especially if the machine is just going to sit idle for a most of the time (and is this property far from home where it can't be kept safe?) I'd much rather have a $3-$4K machine sitting somewhere for a few years than a $15-$20K machine.

Good luck.. (oh, and MY favorite antique tractor is a BO Lindeman crawler...not very practical, but I am still going to get me one some day!)