Top 10 Greatest Tractors of All Time

I think these are the 10 greatest tractors of all time. I based "greatest" on popularity, influence on the industry, and innovation. I threw in some honorable mentions too because it is not easy to nail down to just 10 tractors. Let me know what your 10 greatest tractors list looks like.
(Argh, re-uploading - messed it up trying to edit in YouTube)

Music by Jason Shaw.

[cartheltaylor]

Not everyone will agree with this list because we all have our favorites. I like this list. Thanks.

[natethegreatone]

Great list! But i am a little disappointed that Minneapolos Moline didn't even make an honorable mention. They produced great tractors and were quite innovative. They made the first factory installed fully enclosed cab, were the first ones to offer lp gas as a fuel option, first to use shift on the go transmissons in small tractors, they were on the front lines of the front wheel assist tractors, first to offer a 100hp row crop tractor with an engine they built themselves, and one of the first major brands to build a articulated fwd tractor. On top of that they had the Uni-tractor line and made a 4-cylinder 60hp front wheel asist tractor in 1962.

[trdd]

I tried like hell to wear out our 8N. Did have to overhaul the engine once. Didnt have quads yet, so it did all of the running around fixing fences, chasing cows, and other stuff in addition to regular tractor stuff like pulling the rake, cultivating the garden, running the rotary mower, plowing, discing ect... Had a scoop for the back, angle blade, platform to carry equipment, you name it. That tractor was perfect for our 40 acres.

[RuralRoute]

I've owned several of those tractors over the years and love how my current 71 year old Ferguson T0-30 is still getting the job done!

[thomasbeck]

I have been running the same 8n Ford for 30 years. Best piece of equipment I have ever owned. I haven't done anything to it except for the water pump. It's definitely way overdue for a overhaul. But it doesn't smoke or knock.

[leinie]

Im not a farmer but grew up in a small farm town. I miss the days of driving through the country side and seeing all the small farms and the diversity of tractor colors in the fields. It was also great hearing the farm boys parroting their dads tractor preferences at school

[wildturkey]

I'd put the John Deere "D" on the list. It was a general purpose tractor, not a row crop, and plowed the plains like no other. The big two cylinders would lug through tough spots where other tractors would have to stop and shift.

It was produced for a total of 30 years, getting updates and styling changes as time went by.

If you want to hear an engine work, search for vintage tractor pulls and find the D's great-grandson, an 830, pulling hard. .

For modern tractors I really liked our 4520 -- a turbocharged 4020 engine with a bigger rear end. Spent lots of hours on it.

[larryreese]

All those old tractors sure bring back memories, especially the old Ferguson and the old John Deere. The hydraulics on the old Ferguson were strong and quick and the platform plenty stable. I've followed an old John Deere for many a mile, loading square bales on a hay wagon.

[apollomoon]

I have a 1947 Oliver 88 Rowcrop purchased new in 1947 by my father-in-law. It’s been in our family for 75 years and still runs the same. I bailed countless bails of hay with it way back when.
Might have mentioned that Olive introduced “live” rear power takeoff on this model which put it a big step ahead of other manufacturers. No need to stop ground travel to engage or disengage pto. Good list. Thanks.

[jimhubbard]

I have a 1952 Ford 8N that I bought rebuilt in 1972 and had overhauled somewhat in 2013. I still enjoy having it to help me with my farm chores.

[chrisduby]

I have driven many different makes and models of tractors, while working with the Farm Labour Pool, and I found that the best all around tractor, for ease of operation, fuel economy, reliability, power to weight ratio, and tremendous pulling ability, is the David Brown 1412. It has the most wonderful shift on the go, power shift, as well as that famous David Brown Selectamatic hydraulic system, with Traction Control Unit, etc. With its turbo charger, it has the economy of a smaller horsepower tractor when doing light work, as well as the extra power needed with the turbo charger, when doing heavier work! I have seen some of these tractors still running excellent even after more than 10, 000 hours!

[bj]

Can't believe the JD 4020 was just an honorable mention. One of the most common tractors around in the Midwest!

[ronfullerton]

BC, I must admit that you were very brave and thick skinned to even attempt this analogy of top ten farm tractors. All of us old farm boys had our own favorites as well as those we didn't want to be caught dead on. I grew up on Johnny Poppers, but enjoyed operating any I got the chance to climb on top. Others were, should I say, more picky. My first drive was the model H John Deere. And before Dad retired, we had model A's and B's, and had worked up to a 3010 diesel. Neighbors and family gave me the chance to experience Farmals, Fords, Massey's, Oliver's, AC's, and Cases. There were a few Mini Moes around, but never got to operate one. Thank you for the video as well as many great memories!

[be]

Everyone had their experience and favorites. Mine is a bulletproof Oliver 1650. 25 years of daily chores and overloaded in the field work, it never balked.

[jasonsechrist]

Ford 3000, I saw a lot of them growing up.

[fangdanian]

Nice vid! I have to say that your choices were well thought out. I liked your info about: engine; drawbar and pto H.P.'s. No matter what, I still prefer my A.C. WD 45. I still use it to: grind and mix pig feed; brush hog occasionally and pull a disc once in awhile. Don't know what I'd do without it. I think it was built in 1954.

[edwingooderham]

One that should have got a mention is the McCormick Deering WD40, it was produced in the middle 1930's and was the first diesel tractor produced for farming. although it was petrol start with automatic changeover to diesel, and 3 fwd & 1 rev. very hard to steer because of its weight. My Dad had one for years, used to pull a 12 ft chisel plough and was used to pull dead trees to make new cultivation.

[SPARTAN_Cayde-]

In Finland most popular tractors top 10 would be:
10. MF 35
9. Valtra/Valmet 6400
8. Valmet 705
7. Ford 6610
6. Valmet 500
5. MF 65
4. MF 135
3. MF 165
2. Ford 5000
1. Valmet 502
And other very popular tractors: Valmet 535, Valmet 602, Valmet 702/702S, Valmet 903. And some more famous tractors: Valmet 1502 one of the only 6x6 tractors ever made, Valmet 1203 Comprex a tractor with a comprex system (a type of forced injection).

[andrewwilson]

Why no mention of the Fordson Major? Surely one of, if not the best tractors ever made!

[brendttraicoff]

Thank you for putting that together. These old machines touch your soul - if you didn't grow up on a farm you won't understand.