Peter Love reports on the record-breaking 65 Mk.2 and other interesting Massey Ferguson tractors auctioned by Cheffins recently.

Cheffins’ mid-summer sale (July 21st-22nd) saw an impressive 170+ vintage, classic and modern tractors under the hammer. There was a great deal of pre-sale interest generated by the interesting variety of lots, and the prices achieved for the later classics proved that the market remains very active in this sector. It was also clear that the more nuanced market for vintage tractors and machinery is still very much alive and kicking, with discerning buyers looking for something a bit special. 

While a freshly-painted and good-looking, 1965 Massey Ferguson 135 sold for £17,000, I would like to have seen some of the pits in the door panels filled more effectively; if the objective is to create a ‘good-as-new’ tractor, then blemishes like this will always let it down in a concours competition.

A 1970 MF 135 Multi-Power, that had been sold at Harrogate in the past, certainly looked the part and made £13,000, while a 1996 MF 8160 4WD (with 5,060 recorded hours) looked good and found a new home for £17,500 + VAT, despite having heat-crazed decals. However, it was an imported MF 3690 4WD that proved to be the sale’s ‘hot lot’, with the hammer finally falling at £25,000. 

As for the £15,000 that was paid for a very well restored, 1963 MF 65 Mk.2, well, that was a new record! All-in-all it was a good mid-term sale for Cheffins at its home base, and the event certainly built on the success seen at the John Simpson dispersal sale held back in June.

Picture caption: This MF 399 got to £15,000, but that wasn’t enough to see it sold.

This report comes from the latest issue of Classic Massey & Ferguson Enthusiast, and you can get a money-saving subscription to this magazine simply by clicking HERE

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