'Stunning' 1928 steam tractor expected to fetch £200k at vintage auction

A "stunning" 1928 steam tractor valued at more than £200,000 will top the bill at a major East Anglian vintage machinery auction.

The restored Foden C Type, described as "one of the finest examples existence" will be one of 300 tractors going under the hammer at auctioneer Cheffins' first vintage auction of the year at its saleground in Sutton, near Ely.

The model was treated to an extensive "nut and bolt" restoration by its previous owner, which has given it pre-sale estimates of between £200,000-£220,000.

Auctioneers said the sale will feature more than 2,700 lots in total, including several "one-of-a-kind" tractors, steam engines, vehicles, motorcycles and automobilia.

Cheffins associate Tom Godsmark said: "This is a mammoth sale, with some hugely important historical tractors alongside some models that have been subject to extensive restorations.

"Some of these machines haven’t changed hands for several decades and being able to offer them to the market again is a privilege."

The Ferguson Brown No 5 tractor will be one of the lots at Cheffins vintage auction at Sutton, near Ely, on April 20 (Image: Cheffins)

Another sale highlight is one the earliest Ferguson Brown tractors, which was "almost certainly" a pre-production demonstrator and carries the serial number 5.

Mr Godsmark said: "It is a stunning example, and its early serial number signifies its huge historical importance."

One of the oldest tractors in the sale is a 1915/16 Overtime Model R tractor, believed to be one of the earliest working models in the UK.

A 1915 Overtime Model R tractor will be one of the lots at Cheffins vintage auction at Sutton, near Ely, on April 20 (Image: Cheffins)

This mid-war example was rescued from the undergrowth in 1959 and was a mainstay on the rally and show circuit until 2018.

Other lots include an" immaculate" 1973 County 1164 and a 1932 Fordson Model N, which is one of only a handful of "transitional" models produced when manufacturing moved from Cork in Ireland to Ford’s Dagenham site in Essex.

The pick of the other vehicles is a 6.2-litre V8 Bentley T-Type Mulliner Park Ward 2-door coupe, described as "an immaculate early example and one of only 79 right-hand drive models built between 1966 and 1971". It has an estimate of £50,000-£60,000.

There are also 55 classic motorcycles including a 1929 Velocette KSS, 1928 James Model 12 V-twin, and a 1929 Douglas EW.

The sale starts online at 9.30am on Friday April 19, and at Cheffins’ Sutton saleground at 9am on Saturday April 20.

A 1932 Fordson Model N tractor will be one of the lots at Cheffins vintage auction at Sutton, near Ely, on April 20 (Image: Cheffins)