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Best tractor from late 60s early 70s

P

Puller10001

New User
Was wondering what you guys think the best tractor was, or what one you could have if you could have anyone.

Allis chalmers d21 or 220
Case 1570
International 1466 or 1566
John Deere 5020 or 6030
Oliver 2150 or 2255
Minneapolis moline g1350 or g1355
Massey ferguson 1150 or 1155
 
The 1570 of course, but the 2255 fwa would be a close second just for the coolness factor.
 
I'll bite - its been a few since we did this.

Best one isn't on there. I would say either the 856 or 966 IH. Our 856 was a wheatland so I never use it for PTO or 3 point stuff. It was very reliable and pulled like an ox. I never remember it being in the shop (except for the one time they did a rebuilt on the engine). The 966 was the other go-to. The cab was pretty comfortable considering no air conditioning.

I like the JD 4440 just because of that engine mainly, but the cabs are pretty nice. Can't seem to get an A/C compressor that lasts, but that's an option not a necessity. Unless you are going to bale in Kansas, of course.

Love my Farmall M, as well. Just a good old workhorse.
 
If you really mean late 60s early 70s, there is not much debate. 756, 826, 856, 1256, 1456. Mid 70s, 966, 1066, 1466, 766. Also decent, 3020, 4020, 4320, 4520. Mid 70s 4430, 4230, etc.
 
Late 60's/ early 70's would be 180 MF

Late 70's 1105/1135 MF

These girls may not be the purtiest/most comfortable to run but they sure have treated my right.
 
I think overall would have to be the D21 Allis!! Size, Power, All around the best, And I dont even have one!! Just spent some quality hours on one!!
 
Hard pullers.
a131321.jpg
 
Your right, thought I was forgetting something I like them to. Heard they had some problems with the motors though.
 
I guess I must have dreamt about seeing all the broken Allis trannies and rear ends out behind the local Allis dealer in that era, and about three nearby farmers whose Allis engines ventilated themselves!
 
Of the ones you mention I like the D21 or the 6030. But the 4430 and 4630 John Deeres was a step above everybody else. For the cab alone. And a 40 series was in the Seventies also. My neighbor bought a new 966 with a Cab and air. I drove it once, was like our 4010 with a year-round cab.
 
(quoted from post at 03:27:58 10/07/13) I was just talking of all the big ones, not the smaller ones.
Click to expand...

Ford 9000 has the same amount of horsepower as the others you have listed. Plus its twice as reliable and pulls twice as hard :p
 
In its day,1967 thru 1969, a 1256 was the 'big dog' for IH.It had a 407 ci engine rated at 116 hp,many/most(mine included)were 130-140 hp.I personally know of one that puts out 180 hp.The one pictured is still my big horse,it has nearly 20,000 hrs.So where do you 'get off' saying this is a little tractor?
 
I don't believe I have been on a single one on your list.

Barely seen any of the ones on your list, other than the xx66 IHC which is still on most farms around here.

Paul
 
Like this debate but, it is a little broad. Some of these tractors were offered a 'open station' , and the quality of the cab/AC seems to be a big factor in most conciderations of "the best" tractor. I look at this question, as it is asked. How many of these tractors are still relied on in everyday serivce, to me that would indicate the best tractor. Tractors from the late 60's tractors were some what more primitive , than the 70's, eg no power shift. In my area you still can see some IH 7-1466 tractors, and a few 4430 Deer, some Case 1070's and the odd MF 1100 , and some Cockshutt/Oliver 1855/1950. All others have long since gone off to the bone yard But these are pretty well all 1970's tractors. Late 60's tractors are not really in the same class. I still like and use my Case 930 and 1030, Big tractors in thier day , and still going strong.
 
Best selling on your list? Probably the IH 1466. Smaller tractors out-sold those biggest tractors by wide margines. I would have thought the IH 1066 and JD 4430 would have been the highest selling in that era. Few farms used the biggest tractors available.
 
The Essex Tri-Directional. Hands down the best tractor in its class. Never another one like it. Hard to find, though.
 
Just about all the tractors are collectors.The 1570 unless the red,white and blue one and the 1155MF,IH1566,5020 are the least desireable.Tractors not listed are any sidecounsel JD,1456IH 1206IH would outsell any listed except the 220A/c which are hard to find and open station 6030s are pricey.Minneapolis are large cubic inch and some pullers like them.Any tractor that is a low hour original w/o cab sell very well right now.
 
My part of the country of the ones you listed most sold was definitely the 66 series IH followed by the AC then the Deer.
 
I would like to have a new Massey 35 diesel with power steering and live PTO. Best little tractors ever made. All those big horses that have been mentioned were used on the larger farms for mostly tilling. I have had some of them and they were all good for heavy work but the little massey was used for something everyday.
 
(quoted from post at 04:55:18 10/07/13) The Essex Tri-Directional. Hands down the best tractor in its class. Never another one like it. Hard to find, though.
Click to expand...

Yes, best in it's class to it's few loyal followers, but I believe that the last year of production was 1959 and it never made it over 75 HP so it doesn't really fit this class.
 
Best all around tractor isn't on your list. 1969-1972 John Deere 4020 powershift (with a loader and canopy top) rated at 96 hp. The 404 engine is almost bulletproof, ran many many hours without major issues, and the tractors are still widely used on many farms today.

This may have been a little small on the hp for your list, but you just can't ignore it.
 
a 4630 wasn't the pinnacle of tractor technology, a 1370 Case would destroy one in the field, start on a cold day and use less fuel, I don't like the little cab jd had, I like the big roomy cab on a Case better and it doesn't have a post in front of your face, I suppose if all you had ever driven was a deere you'd think they were pretty good.
 
I'd pick any of the 1965 and up Deere Dubuque or Waterloo tractors. Great hydraulics, power steering, wet power brakes, live/independent PTO, differential lock, hydraulic hi-low, hydraulic reverser, etc. all available at standard or option.

For a small to mid-sized low utility tractor, I can't think of anything that beats a 1020, 2020 ag (or 300 and 400 industrial).
 
Don't under estimate that 2150 Oliver. Some don't care for that 478 Hercules engine,but the longer I own this 2-135 White the more I like it.
Don't forget too that the G1355 Moline was available as an Oliver.The 585 engine in that is expensive to work on and hard to find parts for though.

Given everything on that list,all things being equal and I was buying it to use,I'd take the 2150.
 
I have heard of IH having a T/A to provide extra gear
reduction and raise drawbar pull at the expense of ground
speed.
Never heard tell of Ford with a trans dimmensional
time/space warp drive .to pull twice and much and age at 1/2
speed.
 
JD 2520 diesel and JD 4020 SC diesel since you said ANY tractor versus pulling something off the list. I'm not really familiar with the high HP Case 2 wheel drives you list as there were very few tractors sold around here above 130 PTO HP back at that time. For a 2 wheel drive chopping tractor probably a 1466 but maybe a Case 2470 for tillage. If you want to include the mid and late 1970's then that changes everything.
 
I have (I believe) the last rendition of the 35/135, a 2007, 533.

It's a refined 135 with 4X2 sliding gear transmission, drum brakes and a derated 202 CI Perkins with 44 PTO HP (seems to be a bit more).

It's in no way modern but it's perfectly adequate for pulling a 6' rotary cutter and it cost less than half of what a 45 PTO HP CUT would have cost.

Dean
 
Have to agree with you on the 1020 and 2020. Unfortunately I'm told on here that they have no value.
 
(quoted from post at 18:33:08 10/06/13) Was wondering what you guys think the best tractor was, or what one you could have if you could have anyone.

Allis chalmers d21 or 220
Case 1570
International 1466 or 1566
John Deere 5020 or 6030
Oliver 2150 or 2255
Minneapolis moline g1350 or g1355
Massey ferguson 1150 or 1155
Click to expand...

Puller: Bad question because of the selection offered.

Would not even consider the AC's as AC was noted from tranny issues. Never see any in fields around here/

Case 1570 isn't a good tractor to use on a snow blower with the power shift. So that one is out.

IH 1466 and 1566 are OK in my book although the 1566 was considered by many to be a fuel hog.

Don't know enough about the JD's to say yes or no.

I would be OK with an Oliver provided I could find a decent parts source.

MM, nope not in this life.

MF? Same crappy dealer I would have to go through with an Oliver.

Rick
 
(quoted from post at 09:48:47 10/07/13)
(quoted from post at 18:33:08 10/06/13) Was wondering what you guys think the best tractor was, or what one you could have if you could have anyone.

Allis chalmers d21 or 220
Case 1570
International 1466 or 1566
John Deere 5020 or 6030
Oliver 2150 or 2255
Minneapolis moline g1350 or g1355
Massey ferguson 1150 or 1155
Click to expand...

Puller: Bad question because of the selection offered.

Would not even consider the AC's as AC was noted from tranny issues. Never see any in fields around here/

Case 1570 isn't a good tractor to use on a snow blower with the power shift. So that one is out.

IH 1466 and 1566 are OK in my book although the 1566 was considered by many to be a fuel hog.

Don't know enough about the JD's to say yes or no.

I would be OK with an Oliver provided I could find a decent parts source.

MM, nope not in this life.

MF? Same crappy dealer I would have to go through with an Oliver.

Rick
Click to expand...
actually the d21 had a good trans, most just dont know how to work them, and the latter 220s had way better trans and differentials. allis had a bad design in the early years but allis quickly realized their problem and fixed it
 
If we were buying one today that had a repower I would be
tempted by a 5020 with a JD 619 that had a crank-driven oil pump.
The 1570 would probably be alright as a straight ahead in the field
tractor. About the only one I would have a lot of trouble warming
up to would be the MF's.
 
That g1350/1355 would be my pick, best ones made, best rear
ends same with Oliver, still find most parts, and external pump
fixed most motor problems, the 2255 would be sweet to.
 
Well I can tell you did not see any D 21 or two-twenty landhandlers in that pile, the hundred series 190, 200 etc early on had some issues but the later models were beefed up. Did not help that people turned them up way beyond there factory setting.
 
The 1456 is the big one of the series, so that would make your 1256 a smaller one, its not the big one, you can turn any of them up I mentioned to be 180hp, not to mention the MM/oliver John Deere, case and international I mentioned came with at least 130hp
 
I think almost all the tractors built in that time period were very good. It was the competition between makes that made them great, each brand incorporating and improving on the best features of the competitors. Best overall package would probably have to go to the JD 4020, judging from its popularity then and still popular and useful now.
 
A 1256 and 1456 were not built concurrent.The '12' was built from '67-'69.The '14 from 69 thru '71.Yes the '14' was the big '56' series tractor.But it did not exist yet in 67...
 
IH tractors with torques are alright now, since most are parade tractors. Back in the day they wouldn't stay together one season. In the 60's and 70's IHC was number one in this area and AC was no two. Now JD is first and NH is a distant 2nd. 4010-20-30-40-50's were just to good!
 
I dont have any AC tractors but the 301 AC engine is a fireball, not too many XT190's had less than 110-115hp, the D21/220 didn't have much trans problems and I think that D21 is a good looking tractor
 
Hate to tell you but there is no white 2-140 or 4-140 there a 4-
150. And a 2-150 along with a 140 workhorse.
 
I agree the ford should of been listed. But i dont think that the
ford pulls twice as hard i would hook it up to my 585ci g1355 or
a cat v8 in a 2255 and i know id out pull your ford. The oliver/
MM outweighs it and has the over under and a lotta cubic
inches that lug hard.
 
Either way I didn"t even mention the 56 series, I personally don"t like ih tractors because of the TA and rearend problems, but them and Deere would probebly be the easiest parts along with Massey to still get the oliver and moline parts are out there also
 
I have a 185, a fellow down the road has a 180, slapped duels on it, turned it up to and pulls a 20' disc with it, they were not made to pull that much. But he has been going strong for 10 years now.
 
The Trans Dimensional Time/Space Warp Drive saw first light on the Essex Tri-Dimensional although I believe it was a prototype as I never saw a production model set up that way.
 
You gota remember when ever d crack a$$ is involved femmeco is king even the a case cab is about the same quality as a regal heater cab and the hydraulics whine like a 2 year old
 
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