Auction Preview

This 3000 Select-O-Speed is one of 31 examples of the model on offer. This G-plate Ford 7810 (4500hrs) has been owned by Philip since 1991. Ford 7000 has been converted to fourwheel drive with a Schindler axle.

HUGE FORD SALE!

This 5000 (6X) has a later cab, PUH, power steering and front weights.

HOARD UNDER THE HAMMER

Below: Philip Warren’s collection of Fords lined-up for CLASSIC TRACTOR in 2005. He had 50 tractors at the time, but that tally has since risen to 83.

A huge collection of 83 classic Fords is to be sold by auctioneer Kivells in an on-site and on-line auction in Devon on 4 September. Sandy Cox has been perusing the catalogue.

MANY PEOPLE begin collecting tractors almost by accident, and that was the case with Devon farmer Philip Warren from Middlecott Farm, Beaworthy. He had no intention of buying a tractor when he went to a farm sale in the late 1980s, but the Ford 5000 Select-O-Speed he bought set him on a one-man mission to save Select-O-Speed models. He eventually ended up with 83 tractors in his collection, consisting of 31 Ford 3000s, 35 Ford 4000s, 10 Ford 5000s, a 7810 and Ford 7000 four-wheel drive models, an 1806-hour Ford 655 Special backhoe loader and four Ford 5000s in kit form. Included among them are a considerable number of Select-O-Speed tractors, which were the initial focus of the collection.

The poor reputation of the Select-O-Speed transmission and damage to them from misuse led to many being scrapped prematurely or converted to a manual gearbox. The fact that they were relatively uncommon by 1989 was what attracted Philip to these models. He decided to try to save a few. A number of the ones he bought were tractors that had been stripped of all parts that could be used to rejuvenate conventional gearbox tractors. This just left a transmission and backend, or even just a Select-O-Speed gearbox, for which Philip would acquire all the parts necessary to make a complete tractor again. Where the Select-O-Speed ’box was damaged, he repaired it with parts from his stock of other scrapped transmissions.

He rebuilt engines too, including relining blocks that had gone porous, and repaired front axles. He converted the Ford 7000 in his collection to four-wheel drive with a Schindler front axle. While mechanical gearbox tractors got some regular exercise on the farm, the Select-O-Speed ones were rarely used because of the scarcity of parts.

Back in 2005, the collection consisted of 50 tractors, but since then it has grown to 83 units, plus two Ford-based Collins Teleshift telehandlers, two Ford backhoe loaders and a Fordson Major. His forthcoming sale also contains a large number of parts.

Phillip, now aged 77, says: “I have enormously enjoyed collecting, rebuilding and tinkering with my tractors and hope that buyers at my sale will benefit in the same way as I have for so many years.”

Philip Warren’s sale takes place at 10:30am on Saturday 4 September at Middlecott Farm, Beaworthy, Devon, EX21 5DX. Viewing is on 2-3 September, 10am4pm. For further details call Kivells on 01409 253275 or visit: https://tinyurl.com/warren-ford-sale