Mass rally celebrates 60 years of MF137

More than 200 historic tractors came together for a mass rally at last month’s Newark Vintage Tractor and Heritage Show.

Some 203 Massey Ferguson 135s – a model which sold more than any others in the series and remains in use across the world today – were showcased at the event, held on 9-10 November at the Newark Showground.

One family which has well and truly caught the bug of collecting and restoring Massey Ferguson tractors is the Evans family, who farm 600ha (1500 acres) of carrots and parsnips at Retford, Nottinghamshire.

The historic model has had a place in the family’s hearts since Matt Evans’  first tractor – bought when he was 12 – won best restoration by an under-25-year-old at the show in 2015.

Martin and Susan Evans, along with sons Matt and Lewis and daughter Danielle, now have over 40 classic tractors in various states of restoration, and brought eight 135s, a 6499 MF and a Ford 6810 to the show.

Good and bad

“We buy them in any condition – we prefer the worse ones as we like to do the mechanical work on them,” says Matt. “The engines are relatively simple to do – we like rescuing them.”

Lewis has just finished restoring his latest 135, which was rescued from the grasps of the scrap man several years ago.

“I think the 135s are the best tractors; they’re simple to work on, have a foot throttle and hand brake, and plenty of power,” he says. “They’re comfortable to drive, with light steering – I put a different gearbox in this one so it does 30mph.”

After a complete overhaul and engine rebuild, Lewis was keen to finish it in time for the show – and displayed it alongside ‘Phill’ – another 135 awaiting restoration and named due to the amount of filler holding the rusty body together.

On the button

“We bought it in 2017 and it starts on the button,” explains Martin. “It spent its working life on farms in Pembrokeshire, mainly on potatoes, and has numerous farm modifications and repairs.

“These tractors are survivors and utterly encapsulate how many generations have worked producing food for the nation’s table. t’s what these tractors are all about – even in this state you can still run them and make a living with them.”

Fearless driver

And the history of the machines is interesting, too. “We bought ‘Evan’s’ from north Wales – it was built in 1965 and its sister is still on the same farm,” says Matt.

“The previous owner was Evan Jones, a real character and utterly fearless tractor driver.”

There’s a financial element to restoring tractors – of course it can be costly, but it can generate a profit, too. “I funded my Master’s degree by buying and selling Grey Ferguson parts,” says Matt, who is a qualified vegetable and arable agronomist.

“We bought ‘Covid’ (another 135) as a wreck from Plymouth for £1,000. We dragged it out of a hedge and it started straight up. We’ve done a lot of mechanical work, put on new tyres and body panels, and it’s worth about £5,000 now.”

But it’s unlikely to be for sale, instead being put to work and enjoyed on the farm. “We do working days, ploughing matches, mowing and baling hay,” he adds. “We get them out as often as we can, in all conditions – they’ve all got a story to tell.”