Yep, here's the one I had in the early 2000s. Hated to sell it.
Posted on 01/10/2020 8:59:45 AM PST by DUMBGRUNT
Tractors built in 1980 or earlier cause bidding wars at auctions.
...last bought a new tractor, he opted for an old one — a 1979 John Deere 4440.
He retrofitted it with automatic steering guided by satellite, and he and his kids can use the tractor to feed cows, plant fields and run a grain auger. The best thing? The tractor cost $18,000, compared to upward of $150,000 for a new tractor. And Folland doesn’t need a computer to repair it.
“They cost a fraction of the price, and then the operating costs are much less because they’re so much easier to fix,”
“The newer machines, any time something breaks, you’ve got to have a computer to fix it,”
“The main reason we do this is to make money,” Folland said. “Older equipment is a way to reduce your cost per bushel to become more profitable.”
(Excerpt) Read more at startribune.com ...
Stepping down not setting
Here is an example of a 1950’s Farmall:
https://nh.craigslist.org/grd/d/north-hampton-1955-farmall-300/7041229325.html
I've never looked at new ones. I'll bet there are a few Jeep owners on FR who will share.
https://nh.craigslist.org/grd/d/north-hampton-1955-farmall-300/7041229325.html
https://nh.craigslist.org/grd/d/manchester-ih-cub-cadet-129-with-36/7050509653.html
https://boston.craigslist.org/sob/grd/d/hanson-2-cub-cadets/7048743714.html
Looking to buy new too.
Unfortunately, the car mfgrs pile on the extras to drive up the price. My wife and I have driven our 4Runner long enough to where we don't need and don't want a pushbutton 4WD, nav system, power locks and windows, all wheel drive,... all unnecessary.
This seems to be the trend with most consumer items. Can't buy a basic clothes washer anymore (with simple mechanical switches etc.). Are forced to buy the bells and whistles version that breaks down in a year.
Did you ever consider the late 1960’s-1970’s Toyota Landcruiser’s ?
A lot of those had GM 350 V8 engines prior to pollution controls.
Here is an example:
https://boston.craigslist.org/nwb/cto/d/north-chelmsford-1971-toyota-fj40-v8/7046099042.html
“My retirement hobby is restoring old woodworking machines (Old Arn).”
A few years ago our local HS terminated the woodshop program and put up all the tools for auction.
A friend of a friend won one of the 8 ft tall bandsaws and table saw and after some oiling and lubrication, new blades and adjusting they still operate like new. He said the manufacturing serial # id plates on the table saw are dated 1949.
All the metal knobs have the paint worn off and the metal underneath is polished from hands -almost looks like chrome.
I really Don’t
Want to work on
Vehicles much longer.
YES!
And our Prius V does the job well, plus if grandma wants to visit the grandkids at our son’s fifty-mile distant suburb and bring them home for lunch; 50 MPG, who cares!!!
Yep, here's the one I had in the early 2000s. Hated to sell it.
You can buy a “basic” jeep depending on what-all you really want or don’t want.
They are all over the place in mountain towns.
One problem is you will probably pay extra NOT to have some of the features you don’t want.
Another is that you might end up buying a really ‘basic’ model that hasn’t been well-restored, and it will break down on you.
I’m no mechanic but I love sitting in the open in what is basically a 4x4 convertible. I have purchased three jeeps and a Scout over the years and regretted every one.
p.s. Just google ‘vintage jeeps’ for a start.
Great. Just when I was in the market for an older, CHEAPER tractor.
Did you ever consider the late 1960’s-1970’s Toyota Landcruiser’s
Some had a GM six-cylinder, not 100% the same but almost.
I had herd Toyoda purchased the castings from GM??
I rebuilt one for a friend, IIRC rings, rod & main bearings were the same?
Modern electronic chargers are worth their weight in gold for infrequently used gear like that.
Electronic fuel control is an unmitigated blessing.
IMO there’s a sweet spot from the early ‘80s into the ‘90s where cars had electronic fuel injection but were still free of other complications.
Same thing is happening with washing machines, dishwashers... and other household tech horrors.
My best friend had one of FJ series ones similar to the Craigslist link I posted. It had a 350 GM v8 engine. It was a beast. Got about 8 mpg.
After that he had a 1975 K5 Blazer. We would take the top off of it in the summer. A full size 4WD convertible.
One day my 79 K5 will be roadworthy.
I just would rather deal with anything made by Toyota and GM rather than American Motors.
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