On the 20th of April, Cheffins held its first Vintage auction of the year in Sutton, Ely, with over £2.4 million worth of vintage and classic tractors, steam engines and other vehicles and petroliana going under the hammer.
Top prices on the day included £190,000 for a 1928 Foden C Type, which had undergone an extensive restoration. From a similar era, a 1921 Marshall steam order roller achieved £38,000 and a 1915 Overtime Model R was sold for £40,000.
For fans of classic and modern classic tractors, a 1977 Massey Ferguson 1200 articulated tractor sold for £56,000, while a Massey Ferguson 135, with a cabin and just 855 hours on the clock, fetched £13,000. There was also a Ford 7810 Silver Jubilee tractor, selling for £46,000, and a County 1164 which made £40,000.
There was also a real rarity at the sale; a 1936 Ferguson Brown Model A, which was only the fifth machine of its kind to be made. This sold for £38,000.
Tom Godsmark, associate at Cheffins, said: “The trade for classic and vintage tractors continues unabated as buyers look for tractors they remember seeing or operating from their youth. Ford variants such as County and Roadless, along with Muir Hill, are in demand. MB Tracs are also increasingly popular, with later high horsepower models commanding excellent prices. As is the case with all lots, tractor condition, hours and rarity are the determining factors in achieving premium prices.
“The sale was a huge success, with over £2m worth of equipment sold in one day, in excess of 700 online bidders, and a packed car park in Sutton, made for a strong trade and some notable prices.”
Alongside the range of tractors, a large selection of motorcycles went under the hammer, achieving an 80% sales rate. The top price achieved was £12,100 for a 1929 Velocette KSS, while a 1928 Sunbeam Model 5 Long-Stroke made £8,100, nearly double its estimate.
Petroliana and automobilia were also in high demand, with a Prices Upper Cylinder Lubricant cabinet making £3,000 – well above the estimate of £800 to £1,000 – while a rare Wayne 800 petrol pump restoration sold for £2,600.
For more information go to www.cheffins.co.uk