Value of a old Farmall Regular/F20

Hi guys
I am looking to purchase a old tractor for a local church auction where the proceeds go to support the work of missionaries around the world. At this auction there is usually about 10 old tractors of varying vintage, from collectors to usable hobby farm type (8N's and such. We are told the tractors sell low, so if you are in the Northwest it might be worth your time. Still kind of new to these old tractors, but I am pretty good at turning wrenches, so repairs don't bother me much. I would be lying if I told you I know much about these old ones though, mags and hand cranks are something still kind of new to me.
I have found 2 tractors, same money. Give me your thoughts. I am not the paint it up type and paint is almost wasted at this auction it seems. One is a 1930 Farmall Regular on steel. I have to admit it is the oddest looking tractor I have ever seen. With the narrow steel rear wheels it looks like a skeleton. I have attached a link here - http://yakima.craigslist.org/grd/5186777393.html. There is another one that is a F20 on rubber, looks pretty nice on the ad. The link for the F20 is here - http://portland.craigslist.org/clk/grd/5265321696.html. I haven't seen either in person, they are each several hours away. Which will have the most value? Not a huge value in Farmall, more the JD type buyers, trying to change that though. I can bring more iron for the same money. LOL Thanks for all your help. Blaine

if it were me in the same spot, I think something like this Cub

http://bend.es.craigslist.org/hvo/5225476009.html

would be a better money turner. Or an A or similar.

All steel wheel tractors are called skeletons for a reason.

Not much of expert on pricing so I quick reference/estimate..

Based on my asking prices on my near by Craiglist(eastern WI), F series Farmall's go for near the same price as Letter series.($500 for near junk to more then $2500 for complete recent restore) The average is near $12-1300.

I would think the F20 on rubber would bring a tad more and have better resale. The rubber makes it more useful, in sense, because not many townships would think to kindly of a tractor ride on steel on their paved road(not to mention the rough ride).

double n hay, which is better depends a lot on what you plan to do with the old tractor. The F 20 came after the regular, thus it has many improvements. The F 20 has four forward speeds and the regular has only three (slow, slower and are we moving???). The regular has only idle and wide open throttle settings, while the F 20 has variable throttle settings. The F 20 steering is much better, brakes are better, exhaust is much quieter. Rubber is much more comfortable to ride, etc.

The regular is a narrow tread and worth every penny of the asking price.

The F-20 looks like its a narrow tread as well which bumps the value up some. Its one rubber, but the rears are 60+ year old tires so who knows how long they will last if you start driving it and working it. The 1500 asking price is reasonable

Hi F20
Thanks for the reply, still having trouble getting a hold of the owner, but I think the "awe" factor of the regular is worth it alone. Just a great tractor to circle around before the sale and tell stories of when "I drove one of these when I was 10 on grandpa's farm." This tractor would also look good on a sale flyer. Thanks for the help.

Hi Kelly
I go back and forth with this every year. Do I buy a tractor that is usable (rubber tires, better comfort) or one that looks better in the driveway/yard. It seems in this sale if it is gonna be usable, it needs to 50's era (8n, Case LA). We have some small farms around but most are older farmers who are looking for yard art and nostalgia. Also buy getting these super cool old ones on steel it fills my old tractor fix for the year. I get to work on it and play with it for a year then donate it and get another for the next auction.

Spend $1500 then fix it up and sell it on a church auction? Unless the sale is better attended than I think it is you will never get your money back. You better just give the money to the church and do something else for fun.

Buy both.

OldF20 and Cowman are both spot on. The F20 still has the dual fuel manifold on it as well, and if it is not all rusted out and the flapper still works, that is another price bump as well. A narrow tread regular is not common.....not extremely rare, but not common either.

buying these and then making a profit will be iffy at the very best. Are they worth the asking price? IMHO, yes. Are they priced to flip and make money..............uh, not so much.

My opinion.

Hi Tom and others worried about making money on flipping. Funny thing is, it doesn't need to make money on the flip, if it does that is great!!! Don't take that the wrong way. lol This last year I put in a 1938 Case Model C on steel that was super cool, and froze when I got it, with a rusted out dual fuel manifold. After replacing the manifold and some other repairs it ran great! It only brought about $1,450 at the sale which was low, but thankfully right at what I was in it, not counting labor. Good thing I work cheap!! The ones that I lose the most money on is the ones I am no where close and I over pay by $500-800 dollars. If these tractors (regular and F20) are worth close to this money, I think they are worth trying on. I have gone back and forth on whether to just give the money and not donate the tractor, save the chance at losing money. If all of the donors of the sale took that mindset we wouldn't have a auction at all. This years sale raised $195,000 to send to missionaries, it is a pretty big sale. The donors are faithful to give and God blesses the outcome. Somewhere in the neighborhood of 1,000 to 1,500 people attended. Tractors always sell kind of low but are a big draw. I have attached a link if any of you are in the NW the 3rd Saturday of next October.
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