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Well, James, my experience is pretty limited, but I'll try to help out if I can. Four Wheel Drive (FWD) and Manual Front Wheel Assist (MFWA) seem to have entered fairly regular use in the late 60's or early 70's. The first of the FWD were an attempt to put big horsepower (150+) on the ground. These were tractors like the John Deere 8010 and the Steigers. MFWA is used quite extensively in lower HP tractors. It makes a big difference in tractive effort on relatively light tractors. For an example, I have a JD 750 utility which is an 18-20HP 3 cylinder diesel, with MFWA. The amount of work that little tractor can do is nothing short of incredible. As far as how old, I'd say it depends on the general condition of the tractor. As far as I know, the technology hasn't changed dramatically since it was introduced. A 1975 tractor in good condtion should be functionally equivalent to an 1995 tractor of the same horsepower and weight. As far as brand, nearly every major manufacturer makes an MFWA utility diesel: John Deere, Ford, Massey Ferguson, Kubota, CaseIH and others. I like my John Deere, but they tend to be pricey, especially when you consider that it's really a Yanmar with green paint. Look around, you should be able to find something suitable. Hope this helped a bit.
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