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Garry -- That's a tough one to answer, sight unseen. (It is always helpful if you post photographs of the tractor in question.) A wide variety of factors affect the value of the Fordson Model F. Bear with me as I list a few factors which generally affect the value of a Model F... Examples:
Is it complete? Many tractors were used to keep other Fordsons running. Carburetors/vaporizers are often missing, and it is costly and time-consuming to find replacements. Duane Helman in Rosewood, Ohio, makes excellent-quality reproduction manifold/carburetor/vaporizer setups, but they run anywhere from $350 or so for the manifold alone to around $1200 for the ready-to-bolt-on-and-go complete manifold/carburetor/vaporizer, last I knew... How badly is it rusted? Often the wheels rot through (where they contact the ground) after sitting in one spot for decades. The fuel tanks also are highly susceptible to rusting through, and they are not easy to find, either. Expect to pay over $250 for one on eBay, on the rare occasions when they are listed for auction. Fenders (which many farmers removed and discarded because the vibration and buzzing would drive you half-crazy) are a desirable feature, but again, they may be severely rusted. Any freeze damage? Check the air washer; if it wasn’t drained (or if water leaked in) before winter set in, it may have frozen and broken. Same goes for the radiator and, God forbid, the engine block. Does the engine turn freely? Grasp the starting crank and turn. If the engine’s stuck, you can often free it up, although it’s not a certainty. (Also, a tractor that's not running is a lot harder to load onto a trailer or truck.) Are the parts original to that tractor? If you’re a nuts-and-bolts restoration enthusiast, you’re going to want the machine to be as historically accurate as possible. Many farmers bought parts from junkyards or “cannibalized” other tractors to keep theirs going, and they didn’t care whether a 1920 part went on a 1927 tractor (practically all Fordson Model F parts are interchangeable, regardless of the year. Kind of like Model T automobiles.) You can find most parts on-line, either by auction (like eBay) or specialty suppliers. Check out The Fordson House in Escanaba, Michigan –>Link This is by no means an all-encompassing list, but just a few things I’ve thrown out as “food for thought.” I’ve seen Fordson F’s pulled out of the woods or the back corner of someone’s pasture and sold for $150 or so. (Rarer are tractors stored under cover, in a shed or barn, and they cost more accordingly.) A running tractor often goes for 500-750 or more, and a fully restored Fordson often sells for $2000-3000 or so. As my grandfather used to say, “It’s not what it’s worth, it’s what it’ll fetch.” You’ll have to come to some sort of agreement with the current owner. (Unfortunately many farm folks have these tractors that have been in their family for many years, and the sentimental value to them often causes them to establish a price that exceeds market norms.) Another thing to keep in mind: if restoring a tractor, you’re going to spend more money fixing it up than it will ever be worth (most likely). (Remember I said that fully restored Fordson F’s often sell for $2000-3000.) Old tractor nuts do it because they love these old machines and enjoy the challenge. Now, as for your situation: Your best bet is (as with any deal) to find the lowest price that the seller is willing to accept. If that number doesn't exceed your pain threshold (and you can't find anyone else on the area to offer you a better deal) *and* you have your heart set on owning a Fordson tractor, go for it. Sorry for the long posting, but there just isn't a one-line answer to your question. Good luck, whatever you decide. -- Maine Fordson
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