Fuddy Duddy
Well-known Member
I had never heard of a 500 series Ford tractor. I had bought a kit to rebuild my 861 top plate. Looking at it, it said for 500 to 4000 series tractors. I googled the 500 and got a few hits. But none really explained the 500 series. Best I got was:
"The British "Fordson Major" series and "Ford 5000 Diesel." In Great Britain, a separate design team was responding to European market pressures by building larger diesel tractors. From 1951-58, they built the "Fordson New Major" with 45 HP. That was succeeded by the "Power Major" from '58-60 with 52 HP, and the "Super Major" from '60-63. The Super had the same horsepower but with better draft control hydraulics, disk brakes and a manual differential lock. The "Super Major" was imported back to the U.S. and sold as the "Ford 500."
So the 500 is bigger than the 600 series tractor? It is really a Fordson?
I'd like to hear more about this tractor. Any one here own one?
Sound like a very interesting and maybe little known part of Ford Tractor history.
"The British "Fordson Major" series and "Ford 5000 Diesel." In Great Britain, a separate design team was responding to European market pressures by building larger diesel tractors. From 1951-58, they built the "Fordson New Major" with 45 HP. That was succeeded by the "Power Major" from '58-60 with 52 HP, and the "Super Major" from '60-63. The Super had the same horsepower but with better draft control hydraulics, disk brakes and a manual differential lock. The "Super Major" was imported back to the U.S. and sold as the "Ford 500."
So the 500 is bigger than the 600 series tractor? It is really a Fordson?
I'd like to hear more about this tractor. Any one here own one?
Sound like a very interesting and maybe little known part of Ford Tractor history.