Are prices going down?

Darwindo · Aug 11, 2010

Today at a large consignment auction in Pocahontas Iowa I saw some solid old tractors sell for less than I expected.
Farmall M with live hydralics,good rubber,12 volt, brought $950.00
Farmall H near perfect sheet metal,6 volt,fair rubber $850.00
Was it just a bad sale, bad time of year, too hot, bad economy? What do you guys think?

Bouncer · Aug 11, 2010

Prices don't sound far off to me.

Dave H (MI) · Aug 11, 2010

I agree. You have to watch that you don't compare with what some people are asking for their tractors. Still a lot of speculating going on.

Jeff Z. · Aug 11, 2010

They are just a little low but not real low.
I'm watching a fellow who is selling an Allis Chalmers B in pretty fair condition.
Should sell for 800.00 to 1200.00 but he want's 2000.00.
We'll see.
He might get it.
Pop always said there is a fool born every day but you might have to wait for him to grow up. LOL

Bouncer · Aug 11, 2010

Yep, asking and getting are two total different things. I peruse Craigslist and the classifieds here everyday, and the tractors that are priced right sell within a couple days to a week. The tractors where the owners "think" they know what they are worth are the ones posted over and over again. I most often see the ones that are repeatedly posted are also the ones that are the most incorrect and to the owners they are "restored" or in "parade" condition.

mkirsch · Aug 12, 2010

Auction's the most realistic indication of the market, and then only if you compare auction to auction...

If you saw similar tractors sell consistently for more money, then I'd say the market was down.

The auction I went to earlier this year had an H and M. They sold for similar money.

Nebraska Cowman · Aug 12, 2010

Lots of tractors for sale. When you have more sellers than buyers prices will be soft.

MN Scott · Aug 12, 2010

At an auction a few weeks ago a SMTA sold for $4950. Tin was fairly strait but rusty. Fair tires and they had the tractor running but the TA was out. Who knows what else was wrong under the inch of grease that covered it. Seems to me a pretty high price for the condition of the tractor.

gene bender · Aug 12, 2010

there werent many made so they will bring good money What do you think about the SMTADV that brought 51,000 not many around. Collectors will always want a low production model

MN Scott · Aug 12, 2010

I know but its going to take 4 or 5 grand to get it restored. Lots of money for a SMTA in the condition it was in. Still a good number of SMTA's around here in daily use. IH may have only made them one year but they made a lot of them.

mkirsch · Aug 12, 2010

Yeah, the Super MTA is by no means a low-production tractor. They made like 54,000 of them, and at least half of them are still in circulation.

What the Super MTA is, is a FAD. It's "cool" to own one.

You can buy a 400 for half what an MTA brings.

State of Jefferson · Aug 12, 2010

Check your facts bud. There were actually only a shade under 27,000 SMTA's built. And possibly only half of them still in circulation.
Yea, not real low production, but they're desirable, which makes them worth more...
They built nearly 32,000- 400's, which does make them a higher production machine, and theoretically, less desirable. But Mostly they're just not as handsome...

Ben

dhermesc · Aug 12, 2010

I had an older gentleman explain this to me a long time ago. Most people collect or buy what they thought was cool when they were young. Problem is, when they get too old they can't enjoy it anymore and the next generation loses interest.

This guy restored lots of Model Ts and Model A Fords. He was watching his customer base literally die off and the value of cars he "refurbished" (good paint, good running/driving condition but not a concours job) was actually going down. If you notice most 1950s cars have hit a plateau and only the best units increase in price with the other remain stagnant or even decline in value. The 1960s cars have also hit their zenith and only a select few will see continued increase in values.

The newest letter series tractor is now 56 years old their appeal is dieing with the people that used to run them.

Red Mist · Aug 12, 2010

(quoted from post at 13:21:11 08/12/10) I had an older gentleman explain this to me a long time ago. Most people collect or buy what they thought was cool when they were young. Problem is, when they get too old they can't enjoy it anymore and the next generation loses interest.

This guy restored lots of Model Ts and Model A Fords. He was watching his customer base literally die off and the value of cars he "refurbished" (good paint, good running/driving condition but not a concours job) was actually going down. If you notice most 1950s cars have hit a plateau and only the best units increase in price with the other remain stagnant or even decline in value. The 1960s cars have also hit their zenith and only a select few will see continued increase in values.

The newest letter series tractor is now 56 years old their appeal is dieing with the people that used to run them.

In general, yes, prices are weaker than they were a year ago. But, I think it is primarily the economy. However, as to the long-term trend.... that older gentleman was "dead on" the money. We don't want to believe it; but, it's true. Just because we like it does not mean the next generation will like it. In fact, most of the time, they don't. I like letter series Farmalls; my daddy liked steam powered machines. I like westerns; my sons like StarWars. I like revolvers and lever actions; they like Glocks and AR-15's. I like Boss Mustangs; they could not care less. It's just the way it is. Time marches on. Sell 'em now while the market is still hot, or take the hit later.
Mike

3500sport · Aug 12, 2010

I agree red mist, I'm 26 years old but I grew up with these lovely red lettered beasts, but out of 100 or so guys I work with only 4 or 5 share my interest (none of them own them)

My dad goes to consignment auctions all the time up in wisconsin and finds them going for far less than private sales, but thats the nature of auctions, they are going to fetch the price people are willing to pay that are there. Versus the internet where your marketplace is huge and they are able to be listed until they sell for a price you would like. I think it will be safe to say these will retain their value for a while anyways.

They can do a lot of work for the price, I know people with new kubota tractors that they paid 15000 for a 23 horse tractor that is quite small, my M that I paid 1200 for can do quite a bit more work and is a whole lot more interesting! Now his tractor has a lot of niceties that mine doesnt but I prefer the nostalgia of my old M...

CNKS · Aug 12, 2010

A little less than 27000 made. Mike at Steel Wheel Ranch had a line on one for $3500 (my price, Mike would have paid less), I agreed to it, but the owner sold it before Mike could get it. I bought a Louisville Stage 2 Super M from him instead for $2500, a little high, but in good shape.

David G · Aug 12, 2010

I think prices were too high a few years ago and the supply/demand is just leveling out. It takes a lot of money to restore a tractor, and maybe some people just dont have it right now.

mike paulson · Aug 13, 2010

i think the old machines will always be in to young and old, why buy a 20,000 dollar Kubota when you can buy a 4000 dollar IH that can do the same thing?

Al L. in Wisc. · Aug 14, 2010

Thanks for the good post. I agree regarding the age of the owner/tractor/vehicle posts. Local auctioneer says the value of the 'red belly' Fords has really fallen. The tractors of that vintage, be it Ford, Farmall, etc. don't have the 'niceities' such as live power, twelve volt system that some like, etc. True, a slower economy but, a good tractor or implement is going to hold value. I'd rather spend it there than on ipods, cable tv, cigarettes, golf... Now good coffee, a great bar burger and a few non-institutional beers on occasion...well.

IndianaRed · Aug 15, 2010

Economy driven. People need money and are selling more, or trying to, and less people have money to buy the higher supply. Has to mean lower prices. Plus, I always thought 1500 was too much for a good old H.

Are prices going down?

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Well-known Member

Member

Well-known Member

Member

Similar threads