I'm lookin' at a...

Sheet metal is all there. Cast piece down the center of the grille has been welded up, but they did do a nice job. Pan above trans that the seat sits on is rotted out pretty bad. Wiring's been butchered, voltage regulator hanging off the side of the hood. Fuel change-over control jammed. Sheet metal dinged but not butchered. It's had a fairly recent "spraycan overhaul" that I'd have to strip and redo, after some bodywork. Rear tires hold air, but I'm not sure how. No signs of cracks or welds on the frame or engine block. Flywheel seems pretty tight, can't wiggle it with my hands, anyhow.

It started and ran when I was looking at it in September, didn't try it today, awful cold.

Thinking I might wander into the showroom with $500 in cash and see what they say.

Whatcha think?

Of course, my machine value ideas would be affected by the area (Raleigh, NC) I live in, where there's a high demand for under 50HP machines and a fairly small supply of used equipment in any condition. I looked at several 1970 vintage machines (that were in worse shape than that 'A' sounds from your description) that were in the $8k to $10k range. That's what sent me over to the dealer to buy a new machine. I couldn't see the logic in parting with 1/2 the cash of a new machine for a used one that was worn smack out.

What I'd do at this point is take a hard look at the 'A'. Run it around and look, listen and feel for serious driveline troubles (I'm sure you know what the warning signs are). All the other items require some time and effort, but if the main machine is fairly sound, then I'd say $1000 is fair. By now, I bet the dealer is willing to take that for it, too. I remember how low the cash flow became in January and February when we had our JD dealership (so many years ago now)! An extra thousand bucks might just be sounding r-e-a-l good to him right about now. By the time you're done you'd have a nice machine for $2-3k and that's not bad.

As far as the value of JD's vs. other decent tractors goes, I have a couple of ideas for your consideration. One is that JD is the only remaining company that survives intact today. Parts are still available from them for their old machines. The other is that the 2-cyl machines are of a different design than the others. I have always liked the sound they make far better than the 4-cyl machines. The sound from the simpler machine seems to communicate the fact that life (farm life, anyway) was simpler back then than it is now (at least is does to me)..... .

Yeah, that seems pretty reasonable. Problem is, I could get the wife to live with it for $500, but for $1000, I'm going to have to take a LOT of guff.

We'll see. I'm headed back up that way first of the week, if it's still there, I'll make him an offer and see what we see.

See my replies to Spoker1d and Pappy for my overall view of the situation.

What else can you buy for $500 that will make you any happier. It might be a good investment.

If I could get it for under $1000, I'd have to give it serious thought.

Thanks.

Maybe I'm being prejudiced (I grew up with a '49 B and a 5? A, and I own a JD now) but I wouldn't pay that kind of money for any other brand in that condition, why should I pay it for a JD?

Seems like old JD's command a higher price than similar units of other brands. Can't imagine why.

Not trying to start trouble, just trying to understand an observable phenomenon: Deeres consistently bring more money that a comparable tractor of another brand. Having been mostly around Red ones and Green ones, I just don't see enough difference to justify the difference in cost, but it's there, so I assume there must be some sort of reason.