English made Farmall B 450

KellyTidwell · Feb 10, 2016

I ran across a barn find today. It's a 1960 Farmall B 450, made in England, has a 4cyl. Diesel engine and factory 3pt hitch. The style of the tractor is along the lines of a Super M, with horsepower about the same (55hp). My intentions if I purchase this thing is NOT to resale, so I'm not really looking to find out what I could gain. My question is, what should I expect to pay? I should add that this tractor is not restored. It has typical paint, typical tire condition, no visible oil leaks(no oil plastered all over the motor, or anywhere else) the sheet metal is all straight. The battery is currently off the tractor and it is out of diesel so as of yet I have not heard it run, but owner says it runs quite well, and has LOTS of power and torque. Question number 2 is, how rare is this tractor. Internet offers little in the way of information. What little I read is that this is a really uncommon piece of equipment.

Thank you in advance for your insight.

Kelly

fastfarmall · Feb 10, 2016

There pretty common over there in the UK, but not to many people have taken the time and expense to have them shipped to the USA, They were made a quite a while there, not sure when they quite. But they look like they have a real good 3 Point hitch,which is built in, not added on. I seen one other in Michigan when they had there convention there. They have either the 264 or 281 engine.

KellyTidwell · Feb 10, 2016

Thank you for your reply. I'm in North Texas, from what I understand there were only a few places in the south this machine was imported to. Texas being one of them. As far as trying to figure out what I'd expect to pay....I'm looking at the Super M. Not the same tractor I know(apples/oranges) but similar in hp and style. They are priced from 2k-12k depending on condition.

The owner of the b450 offered it to me for less than what I can get a super m for. He just wants out of it what he gave for it. I should have jumped on it immediately, but really needed some more insight from people that know more than me

fastfarmall · Feb 10, 2016

I would buy it in a heartbeat!!

KellyTidwell · Feb 10, 2016

Well I'm a "weekender" as my neighbor calls it. Lol
I have a small acreage place and hobby farm it in all my spare time. I don't do it for a living. I've also developed a passion for antique tractors as well as antique implements(the stuff my grandfather used). So that being said, I could write a whole volume of books on what I don't know about what I'm doing, atleast I'm smart enough to know that I don't know, and know to turn to people with the knowledge and experience before I make an impulse decision. Lol

Old-F20 · Feb 10, 2016

if you need injectors or pump work its spendy.......

they are a cool tractor though with the factory 3 point on them

John M · Feb 11, 2016

IH shipped a lot back to Canada. Many of those found their way into the US.

John M · Feb 11, 2016

I had one. Get ready to spend some money, and hope it will start! Mine was running when I got it, but had a rod knocking. Spent WAY too much on that alone, since I had to order bearings from overseas. (Granted this was back in the 90s, and I'm sure some things have changed, but not much.) Napa was able to order my filters and such.

gene bender · Feb 11, 2016

question is realy what does the owner want for it and is his price with what you are willing to pay. How bad do you want one its up to you what you would be willing to pay.

fastfarmall · Feb 11, 2016

What do you mean by spendy,I talked to the guy , that owns Central Fuel Injection Service Co,out of Eshterville Iowa, he said he works on 5-10 of them a week, so the parts must be available. He was at the Huron,S.D. Red Power Roundup, in 2014.

George 3 · Feb 11, 2016

(quoted from post at 12:36:19 02/11/16) IH shipped a lot back to Canada. Many of those found their way into the US.

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There were no B450's ever sold in Canada. The only one I have seen is owned by a guy who immigrated from the UK to Canada back in the early 1980's and it was a standard model and not a Farmall. It looked a bit like a W400 with 3 point hitch and a differential lock.

John M · Feb 11, 2016

(quoted from post at 09:48:16 02/11/16)

(quoted from post at 12:36:19 02/11/16) IH shipped a lot back to Canada. Many of those found their way into the US.

Click to expand...

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There were no B450's ever sold in Canada. The only one I have seen is owned by a guy who immigrated from the UK to Canada back in the early 1980's and it was a standard model and not a Farmall. It looked a bit like a W400 with 3 point hitch and a differential lock.

I didnt say they were sold in Canada, I said they were shipped to Canada. IIRC, from there most were shipped on to Texas, I think it was. There was a discussion here about it a couple of years ago. Mine, I know for a FACT came from Canada. The owner brought it down here with him in 66, when he moved. Said it was a different tractor down here.

KellyTidwell · Feb 11, 2016

Well first I'd like to thank the ones who attempted to answer my question. But too many times, as I've seen on this forum and others. Someone will ask a good question with the genuine attempt at gaining some knowledge and benefiting from others experience, only to have several people answer a question that wasn't asked, as is the case here, and then people bicker over a subject matter that doesnt even relate to the question that was originally asked. There was never a question on where that tractor was shipped to. The dang thing ORIGINATED in England. I already knew that. It's sitting in a barn in North Texas. How it got from point A to point B was never asked. I simply wanted insight on what I might expect to pay from someone or someone's knowing the value, also hoped to gain some knowledge on if this thing being as rare as it seems to be really being worth taking this project on and restoring the ol girl or passing her up because it's rarity really doesn't play much of a factor...as I stated previously, I'm a "weekender" I'm new to the hobby and as many people do I have questions. But if ol girl had been to Canada before coming to Texas isn't important at this stage of the game.

But again for the couple of guys that did attempt to answer the question, your knowledge is greatly appreciated

Old-F20 · Feb 11, 2016

(quoted from post at 08:41:29 02/11/16) What do you mean by spendy,I talked to the guy , that owns Central Fuel Injection Service Co,out of Eshterville Iowa, he said he works on 5-10 of them a week, so the parts must be available. He was at the Huron,S.D. Red Power Roundup, in 2014.

you must be thinking of MD to 450D parts he was working on. theres now way he can work on 5 to 10 a week since ive only ever seen less than 10 B450's in my life........

960 · Feb 11, 2016

I bought one east of Dallas about 10 years ago not running for $1500 and paid to have it hauled to central Illinois. I recently sold it for $2000 which was less than I had in it as despite my sincere desire to restore it the budget I came up with was far in excess of what I could have ever recovered. Mind you I have been in this hobby for 40 years and have a restoration shop open during non farming season for 25 years. While a very unique and interesting tractor in the US for a collector and as much as the hobby is about the challenge I personally have other tractors I would rather own for the significant time and money to restore a B450.

Larry B 1486 · Feb 11, 2016

I owned a B450 several years ago. It was a powerful tractor. Rated same Hp as the American 450 and SMD, The B450 would walk away from them. It has a BD264 motor and NONE of the parts from an American D264 will interchange. Parts were almost impossible to find back in the 1970's thru 1985 the year I sold it. It had a factory 3pt hitch with a transmission differential lock. I was up in central Illinois last spring and a CIH dealer had one on the lot. I had to stop and look it over. I sure did want it regretting have sold mine. Went in and asked how much. They wanted $15,000.00 . It did run. I still have the operator and parts books for the one I had.

KellyTidwell · Feb 11, 2016

Thank you very much for your reply, very helpful! I've decided to go back and IF it will crank and run and load on a trailer that I'm going to get this old piece of history.

KellyTidwell · Feb 11, 2016

Thank you for your help. I've decided if she will crank and run and load on the trailer, then she'll be good enough to bring home, clean up, and restore to the very best of my ability. Ol girl will only be for showing off and for parades as I'm not going to work her. She may pull an occasional trailer around the place but nothing hard at all. But agrees about parts. I'd hate to have her sitting for years waiting to find parts. So if she's good enough to load on trailer under her own power I'll be bringing ol girl home. Again your reply is much appreciated, thank you

KellyTidwell · Feb 11, 2016

(quoted from post at 04:39:59 02/11/16) I had one. Get ready to spend some money, and hope it will start! Mine was running when I got it, but had a rod knocking. Spent WAY too much on that alone, since I had to order bearings from overseas. (Granted this was back in the 90s, and I'm sure some things have changed, but not much.) Napa was able to order my filters and such.

Thank you, yes parts availability has weighed a lot on my mind. Cost of parts too, but more just the availability. But I think if she'll start run and load on a trailer under her own power, she'll survive what little bit ill ask of her.
Your info is appreciated, thank you

Bill from Scotland · Feb 12, 2016

Well this is interesting that you came across a B450, what do you want to know? This was the first tractor I bought (31 years ago) and I still have it. It was a fairly rare tractor here in Scotland when I bought it back then although a few have appeared over the years. Engine parts were real difficult back then but much better now with several specialists supplying pistons and liners etc.Often difficult to start particularly so when the temperature drops but once running for 55 hp they take a lot of stopping, lots and lots of torque. My one has a fairly high top gear which sees it turining in a good by the day 24mph.
This is a couple of pictures of my tractors with oldest son driving the 450 three or four years ago.
Bill

KellyTidwell · Feb 12, 2016

(quoted from post at 18:20:16 02/11/16)

(quoted from post at 04:39:59 02/11/16) I had one. Get ready to spend some money, and hope it will start! Mine was running when I got it, but had a rod knocking. Spent WAY too much on that alone, since I had to order bearings from overseas. (Granted this was back in the 90s, and I'm sure some things have changed, but not much.) Napa was able to order my filters and such.

Click to expand...

Thank you, yes parts availability has weighed a lot on my mind. Cost of parts too, but more just the availability. But I think if she'll start run and load on a trailer under her own power, she'll survive what little bit ill ask of her.
Your info is appreciated, thank you

Bill that is a beautiful B450!
At present I've had everything answered I had questions about. Is it worth buying? YES! Are parts going to be available? Yes! I found a good parts source for British made Farmalls this morning. All that's left is go pick ol girl up. Hopefully I can get this done on Tuesday. Thank you for this pics, I love the big wide belt pulley on yours. I hope I can find one for the one I'm going to buy. If I do, I'll have to move the battery box.

Bill from Scotland · Feb 12, 2016

That pulley is a one off made by a local engineer, the thought behind it was that with the high torque from the diesel motor it could still drive the thresher at lower rev so save on fuel. Fuel costs are always an issue here in Scotland as compared with what you guys pay in the US. As I said I have some knowledge of these tractors (had two at one time)so let me know if you need anything, I may manage to answer. Ive also got a newer International 614 and two 634 models with the larger BD 281 engines so along with a recent purchase of a 660 from Canada I suppose its fair to say Ive got a nice line up of difficult to start old beasts.
Bill

KellyTidwell · Feb 12, 2016

(quoted from post at 16:16:45 02/12/16) That pulley is a one off made by a local engineer, the thought behind it was that with the high torque from the diesel motor it could still drive the thresher at lower rev so save on fuel. Fuel costs are always an issue here in Scotland as compared with what you guys pay in the US. As I said I have some knowledge of these tractors (had two at one time)so let me know if you need anything, I may manage to answer. Ive also got a newer International 614 and two 634 models with the larger BD 281 engines so along with a recent purchase of a 660 from Canada I suppose its fair to say Ive got a nice line up of difficult to start old beasts.
Bill

Bill, that's awesome! Thank you for your offer of help, I'm certain I will be needing some education on this thing from time to time! Lol

English made Farmall B 450

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