Value of Ford tractor?

Hello, I know of a fordson "N" tractor, I want to make an offer on. I know littel about it. It apears to be complet and in good condition. it is on steel wheels. Can not think of any thing else to say. What is a fair offer and what would be a good price. How much have you seen them go for?

thanks for your help

Mac LEod

First you need to know if it is an 8N, 9N or 2N. As I understand it the 2N or the oldest and would then bring the most money. I have seen 8N sell for between 1500 and 1750 over the last few months. The steel wheels will make it about $250 more for the tractor. If it runs well and no dents in the tin work but needs paint, I would say the 1500 figure is about right. Just my opinion though - a rough guideline.

I believe these tractors are properly called "FORDS".

9N production started in 1939.

2N production started in 1942.

8N production started in 1928.

There may have been some overlap in model production, but experts don't quite seem to agree how much. As you can see, the number in the model designation corresponds with the last digit of the model year production started.

The 9N's and 2N's have a 3 speed transmission, the 8N's have a more desirable 4 speed.

The 8N three-point lift system is greatly improved over the 9N and 2N, and the 8N's have a improved brake and rear axle system, including better oil sealing to keep oil out of the brakes.

There are also some "hybrids" out there, as the engine, "belly section" with the transmission, and rear end will interchange as complete units throughout the years of production, and sometimes, to keep a unit working, the old farmers used whatever engine or tranny they could find!

Are you looking at the tractor for a museum piece, or to use it around your acreage?

If you intend to actually use it, an 8N would be a far better choice. Or move up to the next series, the NAA. This series went to an OHV engine with considerably more HP, as well as live hydraulics.




Ford tractor site

A Fordson N is the Irish built fordson.

The Fordson N was built from 1929 to 1945. The first ones were built in Cork Ireland and are quite rare. The later "N"s came out of England are are a little more plentiful. I would need to see a picture of this Fordson to know for sure what you are looking at.




http://www.enginads.com/photos/smokstak/pic69947.jpg

I just bought one like the one in the picture of the previous post. It's still in it's work clothes and does not run. It supposedly was driven to the spot where it was sitting 40-45 years ago and sitting there all this time under a piece of metal roofing. It is all complete and the tin work has a few minor dings. I gave $800 for it.

You guys are getting the Fordson confused with the Ford tractors. The Fordson name stuck around in Europe long after it was dropped in the United States. Here is an excerpt from an article I wrote on Ford and Fordson tractors. As far as the value goes, it beats me but I would prefer the earlier version of just about anything to a later model. Here is the article:

In 1917, the corporation of Henry Ford & Son was created, entirely independent of Ford Motor Company and under the complete control of Henry Ford. Its purpose was to build and market the machine that Ford has spent so much time and money developing.

1914 saw the onset of war in Europe. For decades Britain had fed her people by importing food from other European countries. This supply was upset by the war ravaging the continent and the problem was further compounded by the fact that a great deal of the manpower needed to produce food locally was off in the trenches of France, Germany and Belgium. Tractors were the obvious answer to the problem and tractors were imported into the country as fast as possible.

The first Fordson model F was built in 1917 in very limited numbers and mass production began in 1918 to meet the need for tractors in Britain. The Fordson name was a shortened of Henry Ford & Son, the company that was actually producing the tractor. 1919 saw the Fordson model F begin production in Cork, Ireland, closing the plant in 1922. In 1920 Henry Ford regained a majority interest in Ford Motor Company and the Henry Ford & Son Company became part of Ford Motor Company, retaining the “Fordson” moniker. Production of the model F would continue in Dearborn until 1928, when all tractor production was ceased due to declining sales.

1929 saw the introduction of the Fordson model N, a vastly improved and modernized version of the model F. Initially the N was built at Ford’s plant in Cork, Ireland and in 1932 tractor production was transferred to Ford’s plant in Dagenham, England, where it was produced until 1945. All tractor production was centered in Europe, tractors sold in the United States were imported from the plants in Ireland or England.

New models by Ford’s competitors in the United States made the Fordson look obsolete. Ford lost market share in America. Efforts in 1937 to revive sales through the introduction of a three wheeled version known in Europe as the Fordson All-Around were moderately successful while the same tractor, marketed in the United States as the Fordson Row Crop met with indifference on the part of the consumer.

Henry Ford decided to retake his once dominant position in the tractor industry and in the late 1930’s work began in earnest to develop a new model tractor that would replace the Fordson and could be produced in large quantities for the American market. It was during this time that Ford met with Harry Ferguson and the famous handshake agreement was made in which Ford would avail himself of Ferguson’s patents on implement attachment and control and in turn Ferguson would market the resultant tractor.

Ferguson worked with Ford engineers to produce the Ford model 9N, which was produced in Dearborn from 1939 until 1943, at which time war shortages would cause the company to replace the rubber tires and electrical equipment with steel wheels, hand crank and magneto and change its name to the model 2N, the tractor otherwise being quite similar to the model 9N.

The death of Henry Ford, in 1947, saw the beginning of trouble for Ford tractors. Henry Ford II disliked the lack of marketing control and decided that Ford should have its own distribution and marketing company to handle an improved version of the 9N.

The model 8N began production at Dearborn in 1947. Notable improvements included a slightly larger and more powerful engine, a four speed transmission, improved steering and changes to the hydraulic system intended to skirt the Ferguson patents. Unfortunately the changed to the hydraulic system were not substantial enough to prevent Ferguson for filing suit against Ford for loss of sales because of the termination of the marketing agreement and infringement of his patents. The lawsuit brought by Ferguson was lengthy, costly and combined with the competition by Ferguson’s own tractor, the Ferguson TO-30, cut short the life of the model 8N.

Denis, that is exactly what I am lookin at but it is red and gray. Wish I had more info to give, next time I get out that way I will try to get more info. thanks for the rough value ideas.

Mac Leod

Get the serial number of this Fordson N and I'll tell you exactly what you are looking at.




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