Posted by Dean on August 20, 2018 at 11:43:50 from (68.50.160.151):
Folks, I've thought for over ten years that the antique tractor market is over and will not come back (ignoring a few exceptions). Indeed, I (sort of) predicted that this would happen 15 or so years ago.
That said, I was an antique tractor enthusiast (mostly Ford) for 25+ years, though all of mine, restored or otherwise, earned their keep.
A few years ago my barn started turning orange. This process is now complete. I now own 5 Kubotas, which I use for all of my land related projects. I do not farm but I do a lot of mowing (only my property) in various conditions and do not like to change implements.
Over the last 2 or 3 years, I have divested myself of some of my collection of antique tractors, parts, and equipment but saved most of the best and most unusual things, thinking that I would use some of such stuff as my retirement project.
Recently, I retired for the second and final time and have been pondering what to do with my new found time. Folks, the antique tractor project is not going to happen. I have more money invested in the project tractor, parts, equipment, etc., than the project would be worth once finished even after the investment of considerably more money and countless hours. Though I would like to do this, the engineer, accountant, etc., in me is putting the foot down.
Bottom line: I will likely start divesting of my stuff within the next year or so. I have already tested the market a bit by posting a couple of ads. I have also been watching CL, etc., to see how old tractor stuff is selling. Generally, old tractors and old tractor stuff just sits there without selling (few exceptions, of course).
The antique car market waxes and wanes for various reasons, but generally, the market changes each time that it recovers. Among other things, the buyers become younger. So do the cars.
Frankly, I do not expect the antique tractor market to recover much, if at all. Primarily, the antique tractor market is MUCH smaller than is the antique car market. Moreover, unlike car buyers, tractor buyers have been a shrinking market segment for decades. I have not seen any waxing and waning.
What do you folks think? Should I just dump everything now or hold on a bit longer. Don't see much to be gained by holding.
There really are no other options. Each passing day makes it less likely that I will tackle my planned retirement project, and I have no local family. Moreover, I work alone and many tasks require another hand or (hopefully younger) back, which is not easy for me to arrange. (This is why I turned the barn orange with working machines.) Finally, even if I finished the project, if would be valuable to an exceptionally limited and diminishing number of folks.
Anyone think that the antique tractor market is going to recover?
Upload one or more videos to your post. Photo filesizes should be less than 300K and Videos, less than 2MB. Formats allowed are gif, jpg, png, ogg, mp4, mov, and avi. Be sure to use filenames without spaces or special characters, and filetypes of 3 digits lower case.
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. [ About Us ]
Today's Featured Article - Earthmaster Project Progress Just a little update on my Earthmaster......it's back from the dead! I pulled the head, and soaked the stuck valves with mystery oil overnight, re-installed the head, and bingo, the compression returned. But alas, my carb foiled me again, it would fire a second then flood out. After numerous dead ends for a replacement carb, I went to work fixing mine.I soldered new floats on the float arm, they came from an old motorcycle carb, replaced the packing on the throttle shaft with o-rings, cut new ga
... [Read Article]
Latest Ad:
1964 I-H 140 tractor with cultivators and sidedresser. Starts and runs good. Asking 2650. CALL RON AT 502-319-1952
[More Ads]
All Rights Reserved. Reproduction of any part of this website, including design and content, without written permission is strictly prohibited. Trade Marks and Trade Names contained and used in this Website are those of others, and are used in this Website in a descriptive sense to refer to the products of others. Use of this Web site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy
TRADEMARK DISCLAIMER: Tradenames and Trademarks referred to within Yesterday's Tractor Co. products and within the Yesterday's Tractor Co. websites are the property of their respective trademark holders. None of these trademark holders are affiliated with Yesterday's Tractor Co., our products, or our website nor are we sponsored by them. John Deere and its logos are the registered trademarks of the John Deere Corporation. Agco, Agco Allis, White, Massey Ferguson and their logos are the registered trademarks of AGCO Corporation. Case, Case-IH, Farmall, International Harvester, New Holland and their logos are registered trademarks of CNH Global N.V.
