Superb and varied collection achieves high prices at latest auction

A 50-strong lineup of classic and vintage tractors, along with a rare collection of historical vehicles, has generated huge interest and some strong bidding leading to excellent hammer prices at a sale hosted by machinery auctioneers, Cheffins.

The Manor Park Farm Collection, which was owned by Peter and David Ingall and has been acquired over the past 40 years, was offered to the market on Saturday 29 June in Lincolnshire. Top price on the day of £60,000 was paid for a rare 1918 Latil lorry. This was originally used by the French military and was one of the first vehicles to be fitted with four-wheel drive and four-wheel steer. The winning bidder plans to ship it over the channel to a new home in France.

The collection also featured a superb lineup of vintage and modern classic tractors. A strong trade for these well-maintained examples saw bidding reach £50,000 for an excellent two-wheel drive 1995 Massey Ferguson 390T, with just 2,692 hours. A similarly aged and low-hour 1996 Massey Ferguson 372, fitted with a Trima loader, topped out at £34,000.

Classic Fords continue to be popular on the collecting circuit, with a four-wheel drive 1988 Ford 7610 making £31,000 and a 1990 Ford 5610, with just 1,603 hours, knocked down for £27,000. Elsewhere in the tractor lineup was a rare commemorative edition two-wheel drive Case 1594, in excellent condition with all the decals still visible, it made an impressive £15,500. A strong selection of Fordsons were offered at the sale, with the pick of them an unusual Fordson E27N DG4 half-track, which made £10,000.

Bill King, chairman at Cheffins, said the sale was a great example of how modern classics continue to be in high demand. “The strong trade for classic tractors appears unabated with collectors prepared to pay premium prices for good low-hour examples in original condition. The selection on offer at Manor Park Farm highlights that superbly presented examples of popular models continue to do very well at auction.”

Finally, a strong line up of plant machinery included a Caterpillar D9G dozer, which made £31,000, and a Ruston Bucyrus RB22 ICD dragline fetched £10,500. Two classic JCB loading shovels were in high demand, with the JCB 112 making £14,000 and a JCB 114 finishing at £11,500.

Bill concluded: “The quantity and quality of second-hand machinery coming to market continues to be strong and the auction calendar is filling up for the rest of the year with on site, vintage and genuine farm dispersals. Vendors are seeking to maximise returns, while interest in well-maintained modern, classic and vintage machinery remains at an all-time high.”