Antique Ford Tractors

When you are looking for the perfect tractor to restore, don't forget about old Ford tractors. They have a history that is buried deep in American roots. What many people fail to realize, is that Ford actually had a hand in co-founding New Holland tractors, as well as forming the Ford and Sons Tractor Company, also known as Fordson tractors. They are better known as the different models that became popular such as the notorious Ford 8N tractor, which was born from the predecessors, the 9N and the 2N.

What has made the Ford 8N one of the most popular antique Ford tractors was the notoriety it gained because it was the first Ford tractor that used the Ferguson (of Massey Ferguson) three point hitch, but didn't give credit or pay royalties for it. The three point hitch enabled tractors to pull all kinds of implements, and Ford had paid royalties on the 9N model that preceded the 8N. The resulting lawsuit cost Ford over a million dollars to Ferguson, but the publicity it gained for the old Ford tractors was well worth it in the long run.

Of course, Ferguson gained his own fame when he joined up with Massey Harris, but it was the Ford 8N that gained all of the publicity. Of course, Ford incorporated the best of the 2N and 9N tractors and improved on them. But the three point hitch was a large part of the popularity, as well. Before the lawsuit became public, many farmers weren't that aware of it, and it revolutionized the tractor industry.

When you are looking for old Ford tractors to restore, these three models come up the most often, although Ford made some other models that weren't as popular. Through consolidations with New Holland and later AGCO, these workhorses from yesteryears have become more popular with antique tractor collectors. If you are looking for a project to restore, the antique Ford tractors can certainly result in bigger profits when it comes to resale time.

If you have never restored a tractor before, it helps to start with one that offers American mechanics and is native to American soil. It also adds to their collectability and makes it easier to find parts. Many of the Ford 8N and 9N parts are interchangeable, including the engines. In fact, it is not unusual to find the engines from a 9N on an 8N or vice versa. You can tell from the serial number, if you can find it, because Ford made the numbers start with the applicable model number. On the collection market, it doesn't make a whole lot of difference, but certainly having the original motor with the original model increases value.

The hardest part of finding tractors to restore is finding out where to locate them. Our website specializes in offering a comprehensive list of the tractors that are on the market from private sellers and dealers. When you are looking for antique Ford tractors to restore, we can save you enormous amounts of time, and lots of effort, which is what has made our website a leading resource.

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