Farmall H price

I saw an H on Craigslist for $3,500. I asked the owner if he seriously thought he would get that much $$. He told me that is how much parts and labor he had into the tractor.

Does anyone seriously start a tractor restoration hoping to make $$?? Unless you find a rare tractor at a great price then tractor restorations are for hobby!!

It is only fair to break even, but that will rarely happen.

without question, you can easily put that much or more into an H to FULLY restore it. However,there are SO manys H's around to this day,that they do not have a high selling value.. Even with an overhaul and excellent paint and tires,i cant see one bringing over 2-2500!! and that is Expo.and absolute high end price!

If he's including labor in the price, he didn't replace many parts. Costs me about $4000 or more for a letter series for parts alone. I don't expect to get it back.

I have way more than that in one of my H's and the labor is free. Had every bolt out of it, new tires and rear rims, all new bearings in trans and rear end, several used gears. Complete engine overhaul, had pro paint hoods and tank. Sand blasted every part that could be blasted while it was apart. Will I get my money back. Hope I never have to try to find that out. Dad bought it new.

If I was doing it to make money, I would rebuild Hemi Convertibles!

I had over 4K into mine, and I just stopped counting. And that was just in parts, 15 years ago.

THERE IS A OLD SAYING- TWO FOOLS MEET, ONE OFFERS AND ONE TAKES. EVERY TRACTOR/CAR/TRUCK/ETC IS VALUBLE TO SOMEONE. BUT THIS IS NOT DETRIOT, WHERE IT WAS ASSEMBLED. SOME KNOW YOU CAN"T GET YOUR LOVE OF LABOR OUT OF A SALE. REALISTIC SELLERS KNOW WHEN ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. THEY HAVE A DOWN TO EARTH PRICE.

I had an experience with a calf killed in a vehicular accident years ago. The owner of the animal had an itemized list of what he had paid for the calf, veterinary expenses, feed, etc. The Judge informed him that it did not work that way. The calf at so and so weigh by the pound was only work so much. What he had invested was immaterial.

You arent thinking verry clear. I have sold restored As and Bs and they will bring some serious money. There are buyers out there who want one but either dont know how or more than that just dont want the hassle of restoring and arent dumb cause they know it takes money to restore so never question someones prices. If you think its too high just remember they arent building new ones anymore and to get one ready to show and enjoy is another deal.

I sold a farmall H last year,older restoration, new tires,motor ect $4200,the guy liked the tractor,was not able to do himself,so bought one done,every body was happy

I'm glad to see prices going up on them. It scares me sometimes with what they sometimes go for. I love letter series tractors, and have bought and sold probably 10 H's and M's before I was the age of 22, and at least broke even on all of them, and made a few bucks on most of them. I'm not looking to get rich off them, no one will, just a hobby I enjoy doing.

If you thought it was too much $$ and not interested in buying it, Why would you bother the seller in the first place ?

I have several nicely restored letter series Farmalls and I have less in the ones I purchased restored then the couple I have restored. Try restoring a H and you will find the $3500 is a bargin unless the restoration is just a weekend quick paint job. I have an older (done in 2005) H restoration with new tires (front and back), a complete rebuilt engine and decent Dupont repaint that I purchased for just the machine shop expenses on the engine rebuild. I plan on trying to sell the tractor later this spring as I need the room in the tractor shed for other additions, Hal.

Now Gene, you are talking about me!

I know very little about wrenchin' on motors, and don't have the tools or talent for all the work restoring old iron. I always tell people that I got very good at writing checks when I decided to have my H all prettied up.

I found our old "family H" in terrible condition and ended up with spending obscene amounts of money on it (North of $5000). I love that tractor dearly, am retired and I am careful with my money, but I grin like crazy every time I fire it up because I'm that kid again of so long ago.

I own a good fishing boat and have lots of fun while in it. But that boat never makes me get the shivers and increased heart beat like that tractor does...every time I climb aboard.
I always tell wifey that when I die she won't get but a fraction of what that tractor cost me as I could not have picked a more common tractor to spend dollars on.

When I take it to plow days that baby purrs so nice it's like it's telling me she's happy to be working again. I love her pretty red dress and her long legs.

So, if I told people that I would sell it for $5000, would I be asking too much? Not on your life. But if I wanted to just buy any old H I'd offer what the scrap price is worth since it has no emotional attachment to me.

Many hours + many dollars - Priceless memories!

Now, Gene, you keep an eye on a BN or Cockshutt 30 for me; a good one.

Out of here, I gotta go to the shed and stand there and look at that tractor and dream.
LA in WI

Now Gene, you are talking about me!

I know very little about wrenchin' on motors, and don't have the tools or talent for all the work restoring old iron. I always tell people that I got very good at writing checks when I decided to have my H all prettied up.

I found our old "family H" in terrible condition and ended up with spending obscene amounts of money on it (North of $5000). I love that tractor dearly, am retired and I am careful with my money, but I grin like crazy every time I fire it up because I'm that kid again of so long ago.

I own a good fishing boat and have lots of fun while in it. But that boat never makes me get the shivers and increased heart beat like that tractor does...every time I climb aboard.
I always tell wifey that when I die she won't get but a fraction of what that tractor cost me as I could not have picked a more common tractor to spend dollars on.

When I take it to plow days that baby purrs so nice it's like it's telling me she's happy to be working again. I love her pretty red dress and her long legs.

So, if I told people that I would sell it for $5000, would I be asking too much? Not on your life. But if I wanted to just buy any old H I'd offer what the scrap price is worth since it has no emotional attachment to me.

Many hours + many dollars - Priceless memories!

Now, Gene, you keep an eye on a BN or Cockshutt 30 for me; a good one.

Out of here, I gotta go to the shed and stand there and look at that tractor and dream.
LA in WI

You got that right. Something about those two words just makes the wallets open right up. I never had much desire for one even when they could be bought reasonably, but sure wish I had one to sell now.

Lowell over the years i have met a bunch of people at shows and like you what good is the money if you cant enjoy it and your tractor mite just bring more than you have in it as yours is a great one. I didnt know you still wanted or was interested in a BN. There has been a couple worth the money just a little travel time. Im done with my rebuilt one now comes the cleaning and paint wont be original but it will look good with the exhaust lift two-way plow. How soon is spring coming is the snow pretty dooep. Im getting over the new left knee and its time to get down to the shop.

I have a whole shed full of old tractors. You have to love this hobby and have some money if you want to enjoy it. I buy a tractor and try to fix all the problems. then I fix all the leaks. then come the paint job. I do body work for a living so I guess I overdo them. I ussually spend around 1200.00 on each tractor in just paint and primer, but the paint I use will never fade and like I tell my buddies I only have time to do things once so I use the best I can find. I have a couple tractors I have over 4500.00 in without labor, you got to love the hobby I guess.

Anything is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it. I saw an IHC cookie cutter go for $750 on ebay. Same for a Louisville IH marked padlock just last week.

someone paid more for these items that I have paid for some of my tractors. I paid an obscene price for an IHC F-4 Mag combination wrench and feeler guage......but I now have one, and it's still in the orginal part bag. don't ask me what I paid for NOS heat shield, distillate manifold, and VERY good condition distillate carb for a C-113 engine, you REALLY don't want to know.............but they are going on a 1939 4 digit A that I am restoring. I even am going to buy the original dished pistons to put on display to show what the conversion was because the distillate option package used them. I was willing and happy to get them, so the prices were what I had to pay.

So, long story short. Depending upon what your want and your circumstances, it will dictate what the price will be. Chances are, you will not get all the $$$ out of a complete and correct restoration, BUT is that why you did it in the first place?

My 48 H wide front also cost a bit too! for used radiator,complete rebuild top end,gaskets and seals every where,12 volt conversion,Pertronix ignition,complete seat assembly ,belt pully assembly that i may never use!,tires,paint and than i just put a two way hydraulic 3 point saginaw hitch on it & i love the tractor that much......

If you do it yourself, parts/ labor add up.
If you bought it new, and kept it stored, you got a gem. If it was Dad's or granddad's, how do you price it? I have a "working girl" "H" that has paid for itself a couple times IF you believe they don't make 'em like that any more- I do. I have a restored "H" from a dear friend who passed. I get all fired up over both tractors because they fill in what I need. The fancy "H" has local history and sentimental value to me. The next guy, no. Yes they made oddles of this model, but they can't repeat the legend it has created. The widow let it go for less than offered at auction, but not cheap. I know what went into that"H", and I wouldn't do as good of a job on my working girl! She told me that she wanted my boy and myself to have that tractor.I was in a position to offer what she wanted w/o quibbling, for the owner has given me more than money can buy. How do you price them? You have your own scale and that's that. I love my tractors like I love my family- they all have their own uniqueness, qualities, personalities, good points and bad.When I see a tractor, I see generations of things that can't be taken away or lost to the imagination.