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Farmall & IHC Tractors Discussion Forum
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What's with the MTA guys?

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FARMALLKID 58

10-22-2004 06:24:48




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I have been looking for a MTA in good condition for a long time now. I have 3- IH 400's, 1-IH 450, and I did not pay over $2100.00 for anyone of them. The one that I payed $2100.00 for was and is in "LIKE NEW FACTORY ORIGINAL CONDITION". You see the [400-450'S] advertised for $1500.00-$2500.00 all the time , and some of these tractors are in pretty decent shape, and with the fast hitch and power steering and hydraulics options on the 400-450's, they are a better/user friendly tractor than the IH M ever thought of being. If I am not mistaken the MTA's were built for approx. 2 years, as well as the 400's, and the 450's. My questions are, How in the he11 do these guys think that the MTA's are worth $4000.00 for junk and $8000.00 for a decent one. What is so special about them, for this kind of money? Any enlightenment on this subject would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Guys.

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Dean Minnesota

10-22-2004 17:32:22




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to FARMALLKID 58, 10-22-2004 06:24:48  
I bid $1350 on a SMTA last fall and didn't get it. The head was laying in the dirt, and the fluid had completely rusted many holes through the rims. It obviously hadn't run in many years.



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farmallkid From ONT.

10-22-2004 10:45:44




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to FARMALLKID 58, 10-22-2004 06:24:48  
I know of one for sale for $5000 CAN. Thats what they usualy sell for around here in Ontario. This tractoris in sweet shape, its restored, but still used on the farm along with there other 20 or 30 farmalls. Good ta in it. I"ll give you a web sight to check out some smta"s, these guys are in the states somewhere.



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Tim IN

10-22-2004 08:57:59




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to FARMALLKID 58, 10-22-2004 06:24:48  
The only thing I can think of is that it is sort of the "bridge" between the letter series and the hundred series. I believe that there was about 20,000 made so I don't understand the fuss either. But to each their own.



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Hayfarmer

10-22-2004 08:47:45




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to FARMALLKID 58, 10-22-2004 06:24:48  
I knew nothing about the SMTA or IH in general when I bought mine. Guy I bought it from said it was a SM. After looking it over and talking to folks I realized what it was but still didn't realize it was that "rare". I only bought it because the guy only wanted $100 for it and I figured the parts were worth that much (after market 3 point). I brought it home and had to try to get it running(was stuck from sitting out with bad muffler). Since then I have put a lot of time and money into it and now it is a good runner and user. I didn't buy it because it was rare, would prefer a diesel, especially a later model but this one handles my baler and other chores. Seems like the collecting thing is crazy, but not too different from realestate in my area. Guys will pay big bucks for little piece of land if it is in the right place.

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CNKS

10-22-2004 08:25:36




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to FARMALLKID 58, 10-22-2004 06:24:48  
Only made in 1954, it was the first Farmall with TA and live pto. Whether that is reason enough for it to be "worth" 2 or 3 times as much as a 400 or 450 in the same condition, I don't know. That's just the way collecting works.



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Andy Martin

10-22-2004 08:21:05




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to FARMALLKID 58, 10-22-2004 06:24:48  
Thanks.

I feel a lot better about buying a SMTAD for $300. I assume the diesels are less common than the gasoline models.

The seller couldn't get it to start, but he was sure it would start. It needed the carburetor cleaned out and needed tires.



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CNKS

10-22-2004 08:27:45




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to Andy Martin, 10-22-2004 08:21:05  
But, the seller did not realize what he had.



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Andy Martin

10-22-2004 09:44:48




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to CNKS, 10-22-2004 08:27:45  
Neither did the buyer.



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Van in AR

10-22-2004 07:42:48




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to FARMALLKID 58, 10-22-2004 06:24:48  
I"ve got a SMTA factory propane that needs everything redone. Needs paint, engine work, tires, I have turned down 1700 for it and wouldn"t take less than 2500 for it. I still have not found the time to restore it. They are very hard to come by these days and the cheap ones are gone I have found.
Van



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Novel Idea Guy

10-22-2004 06:47:13




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to FARMALLKID 58, 10-22-2004 06:24:48  
MTAs were only made for ONE year, 1954, not two. They're at least twice as rare as as any 400 or 450, and hence, worth twice as much.

While the 400s and 450s are basically the same tractor with a different hood, they just don't have the same je ne sais quois (I don't know what) about them that a tractor with the old M styling, but all the modern features has.



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rustyfarmall

10-22-2004 07:34:38




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to Novel Idea Guy, 10-22-2004 06:47:13  
The Super MTAs were only made one year, I guess that does make them rare, but there is no way I would pay $8,000 for one, but then I don't have $8,000 either. About a year ago I stumbled upon an original, unused operators manual for a 1954 SMTA. I did feel just a little bit guilty when I paid for it, because I knew it was worth more than the asking price, but I never in my wildest dreams expected to get $140.00 when I sold it on e-bay.

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Jay (ND)

10-22-2004 07:45:50




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to rustyfarmall, 10-22-2004 07:34:38  
I saw that auction - I thought it was nuts!

Ebay is a funny place. You can take a year old car with 5000 miles on it and nothing wrong, and take 50% beating compared to what you can get at home from the dealer. Then on the other hand, you can take a 40 year old rusted out non-running junk, and get twice what you thought was a high price.



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rustyfarmall

10-22-2004 07:49:00




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to Jay (ND), 10-22-2004 07:45:50  
Yep, I would have been satisfied to see it go for around $50. Took about a week after to get my chin scraped up off the floor.



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Dick Davis

10-22-2004 08:53:52




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to rustyfarmall, 10-22-2004 07:49:00  
Well FarmallKid, this is the way it is: the SMTA was the embodiment of the letter series Farmalls. It was the end accomplishment of almost three decades of superb IHC engineering. Like Kansas City, "Everythings Up To Date"..."They've Gone About as Far As They Can Go!" so naturally SMTAs are very valuable.

The 400 however was the first step down the "long hoods, more tin, less style,fewer guts, gas guzzling, design" so naturally they aren't worth much. Even when they are restored well they just look....well... red. My SMTA is running/rusty/badTA and worth $2000. My nickel Dick Davis LOL

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CNKS

10-22-2004 18:19:01




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 Re: What's with the MTA guys? in reply to Dick Davis, 10-22-2004 08:53:52  
I agree that I like the styling of the letter series better than the number series; the red and white 50 series were an improvement over the 00 series. But I believe the length and wheelbase of the MTA and 400 were the same and both had the C264 engine. I think the 400 had better hydraulics, plus fast hitch. So I don't think it was a step down, just not as much of an improvement as it should have been, because the letter series technology was getting old. In many peoples minds the 460/560 was the step down, because of the rear end problem, and because they were longer and less manuverable (so I've read). Also, some people say the 450 will outperform the 560, despite more rated hp in the 560's 6 cylinder. Perhaps IH should have skipped the 400 and 450 and brought out the 560 done right. Actually the ones done right didn't happen intil the 706/806 appeared -- too late. I'm getting too far away from the original question.

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