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1955 Ford 850 Question

U

umfan11244

New User
Hello everyone:

My family has owned a Ford 850 for going on the last 30 years. My dad traded his boat for it when he purchased 20 acres in 1990. The tractor is super reliable and is one of my best memories as a kid. A few months ago, my dad gave me the tractor. Since getting it home, I have tossed around the idea of restoring it, which I have finally found someone to do so and plan on transporting this weekend. My question in short - how rare is this tractor? I can't seem to find any at all for sale. I'm going to restore either way, but I would like to know some backstory. Thanks!
 

They are really very common. They sold very well when new, because of their usefulness on the many small farms starting up at the time. There are still many out there working in semi-retirement for property maintenance. They are a great alternative to a compact diesel, and can be bought for 1/5 the money. My uncle had one as his main "horse" along with two other Fords when I was kid. Some ten years ago, just before he died he told me that he had it rebuilt three times during the 15 years that it was his primary tractor. The milked around 40 head at the time and grew a fair amount of corn. During silo filling time that tractor pulled the one row corn chopper at nearly full throttle in first gear hour after hour day after day week after week.

Here is my 1961 901
49840.jpg
 
Great looking tractor! I'm hoping to have the same quality when I get mine back. My son is 3 months old and I can't wait to see him drive it in parades when he gets older.
 
A lot of those ads are expired. It seems I see a lot of 8N/9N tractors but no 850's. I know they made a ton, but it's still odd...
 
(quoted from post at 05:31:12 06/20/17) A lot of those ads are expired. It seems I see a lot of 8N/9N tractors but no 850's. I know they made a ton, but it's still odd...
Click to expand...

Another very big factor was that up until 1955 there was just one model of ford to choose from. In 1955 there were four series, with multiple options within each series. Though the 800 series was probably the largest seller, a shopper could also select from the 600 700 and 900 series tractors.
 
(quoted from post at 08:31:12 06/20/17) A lot of those ads are expired. It seems I see a lot of 8N/9N tractors but no 850's. I know they made a ton, but it's still odd...
Click to expand...

Most folks who have them like them so much there are not many for sale even though there are a good number of them out there.
 
Definitely not bad. I'm looking at having about $5,000 in this when all said and done. I didn't pay anything for the tractor and it has tons of sentimental value, so I cannot wait to see what it becomes!
 
(quoted from post at 10:15:14 06/20/17) Definitely not bad. I'm looking at having about $5,000 in this when all said and done. I didn't pay anything for the tractor and it has tons of sentimental value, so I cannot wait to see what it becomes!
Click to expand...

Foe that amount of money you will want to use good paint. The way that I see it there are three basic ways to go with paint: Low end, which is alkyd enamel from an equipment dealer, TSC, or the like; high end which is 2K urethane with hardener, show piece top quality paint; or middle of the road, economy 2K urethane. I use one from the third choice; the Nason line from PPG. I just got what I needed for my '67 roadster that I am rehabbing, for $320.00. That includes high build primer, base coat, clear coat with their activators, hardener, and reducers.
 
I have an 850 as well as two 860 fords. The 850 does not have live power but is great to rake hay with and pull the wagons. I believe it has slightly more power than
the 860 fords
 
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