Barn find 66

rrlund

Well-known Member
I can't really say "find" because I've known about it all my life,but not many others did. It's been on a 40 acre farm over 4 miles west of me all my life. I thought the old guy bought it new,but his grandson said it was two years old when he bought it. I thought it was original paint too,but it's been repainted a long time ago apparently by the look of the ignition switch plate and shift pattern plate,but the paint's worn off the fender where somebody had their hand on it will working it.

The old widow died in 2011 at just a few days shy of 105 years old,so it's been sitting a while. Her husband passed away in the 80s. It's still 6v. The generator works,the rear 10 38 tires are original,it still has the rubber bumpers under the battery and the original battery hold down. I put a new battery in it and it fired right up. It just needs new rubber torsion springs for the seat. It's a 54 model with disc brakes,serial number 4501 542. Despite the wrong muffler,the hood isn't even cut. They've taken care to make a heavy curved bent pipe so it comes straight up through the original hole.

I plan to just buff it and try to bring back a shine and put new decals on it. It's just way too nice to paint. You can see from the hole in the drawbar how little use it's had.
cvphoto23480.jpg


cvphoto23481.jpg


cvphoto23482.jpg

cvphoto23483.jpg


cvphoto23484.jpg

cvphoto23485.jpg
 
Ya,inside and outside,and the tires are loaded. Or he says they're loaded anyway,I haven't checked them to make sure. It'd be fine with me if they weren't.
 
$2500. I had offered $3000 several years ago,but they weren't ready to let it go. It was still quite a process. They had sold the farm and the new owners finally said they weren't going to store it anymore and pulled it outside about three weeks ago. The grandson took it to his place,but he lives in town and didn't have anyplace to put it inside. We had some issues on the phone earlier in the week because it was too emotional for him. He called Thursday and said that since I'm a collector and live right in the neighborhood where it's always been,and he can't give it the attention it needs,he'd sell it to me. It was an emotional thing for him this morning when I loaded it up and paid him for it. I gave him full visitation rights.
 
I'll get a better picture tomorrow,but you can just see the edge of the hold down in this picture I took of the original fuse block. The hold down still has square headed bolts and they aren't even froze up. They turned right out. I've got the side covers off right now,so I think I can get a picture of those bumpers through the side.

cvphoto23523.jpg


cvphoto23524.jpg
 
Gonna show it. Our club's first show is coming up this next Saturday right here in town. Being a local tractor,this one has to be there. I wonder how many people will remember it or will have known it was still there in the barn? There were two farms on one side of the road and one right across the road that were all Oliver back in the day. I should have bought the 1600 that the one across the road bought new when they had his estate sale,but the steering was bad and there was a 10% buyers premium. That didn't sit well with me. I ran it up to the end,but let it go. To live that day over again! If I'd had any idea that I was going to start collecting neighborhood Olivers,I'd have more anxious to bid more.
 
If you were too cheap to pay for a 77,you were probably too cheap to pay for hydraulics too. LOL

I'm wondering if maybe money was why he bought this one in 56 and if maybe it was "new" when he got it. The Supers came out later in 54. This one might have sat there waiting for a cheap Dane to buy it instead of paying a little more for a Super. LOL

I got my 1850 from the original owner. He told me he bought that one new in 68,but the serial number shows it's a 1966.
 
Maybe like my F-550 Ford truck built in Dec 1998 titled as a 1999,I bought new off a dealers lot in 2000,was going to buy a F350 but got the 1999 550 cheaper than a 2000 350.
 
as far as cleaning up the paint try a little comet cleanser and some water on a lightly dampened rag it works wonders on bringing back paint
 
I washed it yesterday with dish soap and hot water,rubbed it out just a little with rubbing compound. She's starting to shine up real nice. I'll get some new pictures when I've had a little more time to work with it.
 
Good find Randy! Now we have twins! I have a 1954 66 wide front with disc brakes as well. 6V, all pressed steel as yours, but no weights. Has power lift, original tires. About the same shape yours is in, but it didn't come with side curtains. Bought a set for it though. I'll have to dig it out of the back of the barn this summer. Was going to get the 3 66's, the Super 66, and the 660 crew out last summer and take a picture of them, but didn't get time. My brother has a 66 with a wfe as well, has hydraulics and a 3 point. I think it's a later tractor with disc brakes, but can't remember for sure. His is farm fresh... Good find, glad you were able to get it bought and get it home to your place with no other issues.

Ross
 

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