The ONE that got away.......

Mark W.

Member
What is the one tractor and/or implement that you have sold or traded off that you regret letting go down the road?
 
The 4040 Deere that I bought new. I should have just parked it in the corner of the tool shed.
 
The DC4 Case that we traded off on a Case400 Diesel. We should have traded off the lemon JD G and let someone else live with the G's continuous problems.
 
Not ours but the neighbours case/ih 585 2wd open station that I had run a bunch for them. What a great little raking and tedding tractor. They traded it off on something wish I had bought it.
 
Father in laws ford funk with 6 cylinder newly overhauled. I had an 860 and did not think i needed it, but for the $1250.00 he let it go for I should have bought it just for his grandkids sake.
 
Not a tractor or implement but a '94 F350 7.3 Powerstroke (yes it was) that had only 188,000 miles and had been well maintained. I'll blame it on my late wife.
 
We had a 656 IH diesel we bought new. When dad was slowing down on farming I told him if he ever wanted to get rid of it, I wanted it. He sold it a few years later to a farmer up the road about 4 miles. I talked with that farmer about it over the years. One day he decided to sell it and rent his ground. It went to a tractor jockey and out of state. I asked him why he did not call me first. He said he thought I would not be interested in it.

We also bought a 1650 Oliver diesel new and after mom and dad died I bought it off the estate. It is not leaving the family.
 
JD 8400 and 4640. I might also add great grandpa farmed with a IH 600 before trading it off for a JD 830. From a collectibility standpoint t would still be nice to have that 600.
 
The one that got away from me was a Weber wagon. My Grandfather had it, Always in the shed overnight, parked on planks, to keep the wheels off the dirt. Extra well cared for. Later, when I met my girlfriend, Her Dad told the same story. Turns out that My Grandfather bought the Weber at Her Grandfather's farm sale. There was a double Family heirloom that somehow got away!
 

A Case 1490. It was built by David Brown, and even though it was a little weak at 71 HP for the 10 ft discbine, I could have gotten by with it. Instead I sold it and bought a 9 year old 96 HP Ford that I ended up dumping $11,000 into after nine years. I sold that Ford for $9,000 less than I paid for it.
 
Not so much a tractor but the IH 401 spring tooth dad sold years ago. Figures that when you sell something that the day will come sooner versus later that you will have a need for it. I wish I had my 1996 GMC PU again and I should have stood up firmer when the wife was nagging to be rid of it. We talk about man caves but I need a man's shed where it is understood that what is inside is not to be touched. On the other side of the coin there was the used tractor that dad never should have bought back in the mid-1970's. If I had a time machine and knew that I could have gotten him to listen he would have been better off with a new IH 1066 although smaller and lacking a cab.
 
New Holland 168 baler, great uncle had it and was selling things for what he paid for them years ago, he bought it for $600 on a consignment sale when it was almost new. On his auction it brought $17,500.
 
(quoted from post at 14:13:24 05/16/17) The one that got away from me was a Weber wagon. My Grandfather had it, Always in the shed overnight, parked on planks, to keep the wheels off the dirt. Extra well cared for. Later, when I met my girlfriend, Her Dad told the same story. Turns out that My Grandfather bought the Weber at Her Grandfather's farm sale. There was a double Family heirloom that somehow got away!

That's gotta hurt!
 
2 tractors a John Deere 730 diesel and a Cockshutt 50.
the 730 needed some engine work the Cockshutt needed a ring gear, starter and oil pump
 
64 Ford 4000 Elenco FWA with HD FEL. $3,200 in 1994 or so. VERY food condition but raining and I was in a hurry.

Stop back in a day or two but gone.

Dean
 
John Deere 530 original low hours. While at farm for service calls would always walk over to shed where 530 was kept and admire plus roll eng over to keep it from sticking. Owner passed and son consigned it for auction. Owners Nephew told me he was going to bid on tractor so I agreed to stay home but said you had better come home with it! Nephew's last bid was $2800 with tractor bringing over $8000.00. Had I been at sale tractor would have been mine and the Banks. Told Nephew "Look what people pay for a %^$#@! lawn mower"! This was 10/15 yrs ago.
 
Mine was a metallic blue 1987 1/2 ton Chevy, less than 100k miles. Often think of that truck and wish I had it.

On a happier note.... I had always wanted a Blue Seal Feeds tin sign for the side of the barn, kinda brings back fond memories of me when I was a kid with grandpa. Looked high and low for one at a reasonable price for YEARS. No luck. One day the local Agway two towns over was closing for good. They were having a big sell off. They had the big 3'x5' tin sign on the side of the building. Two brothers owned the place so I talked with one of them and he would not budge off of $1000. Too expensive for me... Had to let it get away.

Three years later I'm in training at the state fire academy for volunteer fire fighting and talking about farming stuff with one of the other trainees and he said to me that he thinks he has one somewhere in a pile. We meet at his farm after class one day, and there it is.... The big 3'x5' tin sign. He says to me that him and his brother owned the Agway a few towns over that closed a few years back. Told me that his brother had some guy that wanted it real badly but his brother was asking too much. I ended up getting it for $50!!
 
AC 170 diesel. I bought it cheap, relatively low hours, with a cracked block. I carried water, ran it that way for a couple of years, then traded it. If I knew then what I know now, I would have kept it, and found a block for it, and fixed it.
 
If you are talking in terms of what should have been bought versus what should have been kept then the neighbor's very low hour 1972 4020 diesel at auction back in 1984. I was broke and in college at the time but maybe I should have borrowed the money. The farm needed quite a few other things worse on the other hand.
 
Ford 4000 SU. Ex county mowing tractor that I picked up for next to nothing. Did a little work to it and then made quite a bit of money with it doing small mowing jobs locally around home. Sold it 9 years ago to finance a 20 anniversary trip for me and my lovely bride. Still have the bride wish I still had the tractor!
 
UDLX MM #310552...
a160391.jpg
 
Ford 3000 gas that showed up on Craigslist, one owner, original paint low hours always kept inside 8 speed, power steering fantastic find. Money and time made me a day late, it sold the day before I was in position to buy it.
 
Nearly forty years ago in a local sale paper was '53 Chief "in a basket" for $1200 and I passed it up. A year later, same ad for $900 and I passed on it again. Still kick myself in the a$$ for that.
 
Yep, same same but as an old Farmer/Customer would say...."if my aunt had a bag she'd be my uncle". Kinda his way of dealing with hindsight and mistakes.
 
1960 John deere 630 all the options including front weights. Sold it for a woman no longer have the woman wish I still had the tractor LOL
 
Mark, Super 88 Oliver that my dad and I traded in 1988 on a industrial 1650 loader tractor. My dad and I stood in the road as it was hauled away and my dad turned to me and said I shouldn't of traded it. Also miss the 1950T we traded on the White I still have.
a160392.jpg
 
856 Farmall. Good solid tractor. I sold it, and after the IRS "recaptured" depreciation on my income taxes I had to pay the IRS about what I'd sold the tractor for. If I'd have just kept it, I'd have had a free tractor.
 
I see trucks so I'll go one more step away from tractors and say 1970 Corvette Stingray 350hp 4 speed convertible. Let it go.
 
I don't have that problem. I never sell anything. That is one of the last year Indian. My Indian story I found a four cylinder motor for a good price. I told someone about it, and he bought it before I could come up with the money. I did buy a 37 complete chief for 750.00 from the guy with the motor. It came with a four rolling frame. I have since found a motor, and now I have a 36 four cylinder Indian. Stan
 
6' tall blonde in 66 when Uncle Sam drug me away. Next was a 69 Dodge Super Bee that I bought brand new. Oh, sorry, I just noticed, but no tractors that I still dream about.
 
I was never a real big Indian fan, but one time walked into a Harley dealer on a repair and at the front door was a Knuckle, my speed. But there in the middle of the floor was a beautiful, gorgeous Chief, two tone burgundy and tan. Looked like it just came off of the assembly line. Perfect in every way. I get to my customer contact and ask what the story was on that Chief. He told me that an old electrician traded it in as a DOWN PAYMENT on a new Road King because he was getting too old to kick it over. A 100% in every way 1950ish Chief as a DOWN PAYMENT on a Road King. He was my customer so I kept my mouth shut. As I was leaving, I passed the Chief and stopped to take one last look at perfection and there was a tall, lanky old fella standing there looking at it so I shared the story with him. He looked at me sadly and said, "I never should have traded it in".

Mark
 
1969 K-20 with Dana 70's front and back and a 292 inline six that could climb a tree. Never ever should have done that.

Mark
 
Can't really think of one I sold that I wish I hadn't guess that's why I have so many now(LOL)Maybe an Oliver 99 I had but I didn't do anything but look at it and used the money to
buy a couple tractors I could use.
 
Got 2, really more, but two biggies (unfortunately not tractor/implements).
1. Bought a 61 Porsche 365B from an officer coming back from Germany in 1974. Paid 500 for it. Had original engine, twin carbs, was a joy. Transferring from Fort Lee to Fort Lewis, driving across Colorado, had transmission problems and sold it for 900. I was so proud.
2. At Lewis during that 2 beautiful weeks of spring, went to get a motor cycle. Olympia, some motorcycle shop. I had fixed amount, he had a brand new Yamaha tx650a, and a 51 Indian Chief for the same price...............I bought the Yamaha.
 
my 1979 ford f150 ranger i bought new and drove out of the showroom in thorhild alta. black with the orange yellow reflective decals on the side., factory roll bar. factory mags, 400 4 speed. my buddie then order one just like it. the only two trucks i have ever seen like that.
 
I used to work for a farmer down the road from our place,
Tramping silo, picking up hay etc. I bought a I928 willies 1/4 ton pickup for some of my accumulated wages. I think I was 15 yr. I drove it home and my mom kicked up a row. She made me take it back. I was quite embarassed. I always think of that. Ed Will Oliver BC
 
'57 Pontiac 2 door hardtop, bronze and white with leather seats, 4 speed Hydramatic. Bought it for $175 off the back row of the Olds dealer in Olympia when I was a sophomore in college. Loved that car. Lost a soft plug and all the coolant, engine seized. Did what everyone did in those days- sent it off to the junkyard.
 
Case 430 , my first tractor . Sold it to a idiot , for 2 grand , and the fool droped a tree on it , crushed the rad , and ruined the front tin. Then instead of getting the right parts to fix the tractor , he tried to put the rad out of some old car on it , and that didn't work very well. Left it sit out for a few years , and wouldn't sell it . Finally he went broke , and some one cleaned up the place , off to the scrap yard the tractor went . I never should have sold it !
 
(quoted from post at 14:56:49 05/16/17) What is the one tractor and/or implement that you have sold or traded off that you regret letting go down the road?

1975 Ford 5000 gas with 727 loader. I have lots of loader tractors, but miss that 5000's weight and power. (oh, and the pin-on forks I had for it too)

not a tractor, but,.......every single one of my pick-ups that I've sold or traded...with a manual transmission.
Who knew that there would come a day when you couldn't order a 4x4 manual trans full size truck.
 
420jd utility with wide front, 3 point and 11.2X34 rear tires, handiest little tractor dad ever had. Worked circles around those useless n fords I ran for the neighbor.
 
1941 Farmall H. Great grandpa bought brand new. Grandpa parked it in the pasture after the H spun a rod bearing in 1974. I wanted to restore that tractor in 1985. Instead grandpa sold it.
 
Not farm related.Should have kept my 1934 Plymouth five window coupe.Put a lot of time and money into it.It was a street rod.Had the latest and greatest steering,suspension,brakes and a 440/auto.Fast and lots of fun but now I just farm lol.

Paul
 
Pop scrapped a TD-14 dozer cause he didn't want to fix the seals on one of the final drives and fix the clutch that would not stay engaged without holding it. Gosh, I wish I had that dozer back!

The scrapper screwed Pop big time on the price, too. Used the excuse "I didn't cut it up into small enough pieces". And just for the record, He burned a lot of other people on the heavy stuff, also.
 
(quoted from post at 18:49:01 05/16/17) 6' tall blonde in 66 when Uncle Sam drug me away. Next was a 69 Dodge Super Bee that I bought brand new. Oh, sorry, I just noticed, but no tractors that I still dream about.[/quot

If you had kept that blonde you would have been dead twenty years ago
 

We sell tractor parts! We have the parts you need to repair your tractor - the right parts. Our low prices and years of research make us your best choice when you need parts. Shop Online Today.

Back
Top