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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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something special about a farmall m?

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James Fisher

11-01-2004 13:06:21




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I am selling my 51' M, along with a frontend loader, bush hog, and posthole digger. It is a great running tractor, not restored but priced reasonably. My question is this. Is there something special about a farmall m that people are looking for? The same type of person keeps coming out to look at it. Older men, retired, wealthy, driving Cadillac's and expensive foreign cars. They call to come out and don't seem interested in hearing about the tractor. They don't ask questions about it when they get here. They don't want to hear it run. They just look at it for a few minutes and then thank me for my time. I get the feeling they are looking for something specific. What is it?

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Tim Malin

11-03-2004 09:52:25




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 Re: something special about a farmall m? in reply to James Fisher, 11-01-2004 13:06:21  
What I have found special about a Farmall M: you can have as many side by side as you want, and you will never, NEVER find two identical Farmall M's. They all have had modifications over the years, making every single of the how many hundred thousands of them unique. If I was a trillionaire, I think I would buy a few of them, too. The lint in my pockets runs thin just in repairing my old machines, yet new ones just seem to continuously find a spot in my shed. Tractors do have a way of finding an owner for them that will take care of them, especially when they get to be that age.

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gusc

11-02-2004 21:14:32




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 Re: something special about a farmall m? in reply to James Fisher, 11-01-2004 13:06:21  
James,

I'm one of those old guys. I drove an M when I was a youngster on a ranch in Oregon and they bring back a lot of memories. When you are in your '70s you will understand a lot better! One day, if you're lucky, you will be one of these old guys!

We are looking for decent tractors that are reasonably original and not clapped out junk that has obviously been abused. I do all my own work but don't want to start from junk. The loader actually decreases the value for us old timers, loaders did not exist then that I remember. A loader puts a tremendous strain on the front of an old tractor never designed for one.

We aren't dumb, don't try to sell us an overpriced piece of junk. A lot of people think something is valuable just because it's old? A lot of old tractors are being advertised at ridiculous prices, especially JDs, but not to this old guy.

The '88 Cadillac I am driving belongs to my wife who inherited it from her Mother, otherwise you would never see me driving one! Driving a Cadillac does not mean one is wealthy. I know I'm not one of the guys who looked at your tractor, this is to show you not to be so quick to jump to conclusions.

Take the advice of one poster and ask why they aren't interested. I have looked at tractors and antique trucks that I had no interest in hearing run.

We have no interest in modern tractors, my newest one is a '58 and I use both of them, they are not show tractors and never will be but they run and look good. If I wanted a newer tractor I would get one.

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Brian in NY

11-02-2004 07:49:38




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 Re: something special about a farmall m? in reply to James Fisher, 11-01-2004 13:06:21  
Is your tractor mostly original? Does it have cuts in the hood or other modifications untrue to OEM style like plastic battery box or the wrong wheels, etc.

Does it have cracks/welds in the block or frame or axle housings?

Those things can devalue a tractor for a collector, even though they might make it more practical for someone who wants to just use the tractor as a tractor.

These older "rich" guys are probably looking for either a totally restored tractor, or an unmolested original or one in pristine condition. Or as others have said, they may be looking to see if you might have a rare tractor that someone repainted and put the wrong decals on (happens more than you might think).

Don't be afraid to shoot the shinola with the guys that come to look at your tractor. Most guys like to talk turkey, and if you are honest and upfront with them, they will tell you what they are looking for and why the aren't overly excited about your tractor. You won't be selling the tractor to them, but you will no doubt get a lot of insight from them and will be glad you took a few minutes to talk to them.

I find it amazing how much great knowledge I have gained from talking to other tractor guys. And the only way that knowledge will survive for future generations is to keep passing it on.

Good luck selling your tractor....sounds like one I would be interested in if I was closer to you.

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JD 5020 guy

11-01-2004 18:40:52




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 Re: something special about a farmall m? in reply to James Fisher, 11-01-2004 13:06:21  
There is nothing special about the Farmall M except it is the icon for the American farmer of the past.



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old don

11-01-2004 15:43:47




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 Re: something special about a farmall m? in reply to James Fisher, 11-01-2004 13:06:21  
Jim,I'll tell you what I think they are looking for and it's the same as most of us baby boomers, they want a loader tractor with wide front end, live hydraulics,power steering and 3 point hitch is a plus. All of that for pennies. less than 1500$ because most of them are farmer wantabee's with approx 10acres and want to play on the weekend on thier spread. I know because I fall in that category kinda (without the acreage) but I'm an ex farmer and I know when you add all those features you aren't going to get it for that price. They see ads advertising M's for 1000-2000$ and don't really know how bare that tractor is. Still a nice tractor, I grew up with them.I wouldn't lose any sleep over it. Get what you think is a fair price and go on if I was twenty years younger I'd be interested but then I couldn't have afforded it if it was 500$. You should have been tracking Allen NE's plight to put power steering on an H with a loader just to move snow we're serious people.

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dhermesc

11-01-2004 15:30:03




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 Re: something special about a farmall m? in reply to James Fisher, 11-01-2004 13:06:21  
Sounds more like these guys are looking for something more along the lines of a 424 or MF135 (utility tractor with three point ans power steering). They don't have any idea what a letter series Farmall is and what it is meant to do. Kind of like the guys that came to look at my 1964 Ford F250. I was tired of questions like Power steering? Airconditioning? Automatic tranni? Where's the radio? 5 speed?

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TimV

11-01-2004 13:29:59




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 Re: something special about a farmall m? in reply to James Fisher, 11-01-2004 13:06:21  
MD's are also popular restoration tractors, due to their (relative) scarcity. From the sounds of it, the guys you have looking at the tractor have plenty of money and want a rarity.



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rustyfarmall

11-01-2004 13:16:51




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 Re: something special about a farmall m? in reply to James Fisher, 11-01-2004 13:06:21  
Don't know, are these guys wearing dark suits and sunglasses?



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John *.?-!.* cub owner

11-01-2004 13:15:05




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 Re: something special about a farmall m? in reply to James Fisher, 11-01-2004 13:06:21  
super MTAs have gotten to be real polpular restoration tractors lately, they are probably checking to see if it is one of them rather than a standard M.



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