Vintage machinery worth £2.4m sold at Cheffins auction

Auctioneering firm Cheffins held its first vintage auction of the year on April 20 at its saleground in Sutton, near Ely.

The top price on the day was for a "stunning" 1928 Foden C Type steam tractor, with the hammer eventually falling for £190,000.

Auctioneers said an extensive restoration had made this model "one of the finest examples in existence".

From a similar era, a 1921 Marshall steam road roller made £38,000, while a 1915 Overtime model R was sold for £40,000.

A 1915 Overtime Model R was sold at Cheffins vintage auction at Sutton, near Ely (Image: Cheffins)

Among the 300 classic and modern tractors sold was an "immaculate" 1977 Massey Ferguson 1200 articulated tractor, which made £56,000, while a smaller Massey Ferguson 135 with just 855 hours on the clock, fetched £13,000.

Meanwhile, a Ford 7810 Silver Jubilee tractor made an "impressive" £46,000, and a popular County 1164, which made £40,000.

Cheffins said the trade for rare tractors continues to be strong, with a 1936 Ferguson Brown Model A, only the fifth one ever made, being sold for £38,000.

The Ferguson Brown No 5 was sold at Cheffins vintage auction at Sutton, near Ely (Image: Cheffins)

Tom Godsmark, an associate at the firm, said the April vintage auction offered a "star-studded line-up" for buyers.

“The trade for classic and vintage tractors continues unabated as buyers look for tractors they remember seeing or operating from their youth," he said. 

“The sale was a huge success, with over £2m worth of equipment sold in one day, in excess of 700 online bidders, and a packed car park in Sutton, made for a strong trade and some notable prices."

Alongside the tractors was a large selection of motorcycles with a top price of £12,500 paid for a 1929 Velocette KSS, while a 1928 Sunbeam Model 5 "Long-Stroke" made £8,100 - nearly double its pre-sale estimate.